 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 05:03
I have returned to playing my clarinet after a 40+ year hiatus! My biggest problem is one I never recall having before when I played as a kid and teenager. (I played for appx 8 years before I allowed my clarinet to gather dust in the closet for 40 years....)
I bought a new mouthpiece because my old one was shot. (I purchased a Vandoren CL5 mouthpiece.) The first, and most frustrating problem, is that I seems to be salivating a WHOLE lot more than I remember from the old days. I have a very 'breathy' sound which because almost like a sputter due to the emission of what seems to me to be a lot of saliva. Is this normal when getting your embouchure back? I have only managed to play about 30 minutes a day for the last five weeks and my mouth is usually tired after about 10 minutes of play. I am hoping as my embouchure and face muscles strengthen, the excessive amount of saliva will decrease. Has anyone else had this problem when starting to play again after a long absence? If so, do you have any advice for me?
I really want to become a good player so I can join a community band. It's funny, the first thing to come back was my memory of reading music. But placing the reed on my mouthpiece consistently, tightening the ligature consistently, and 'salivating like a dog at a barbecue' has me worried and a bit frustrated!
By the way, I also purchased a (fake) leather ligature from Rovner, but it seemed to me I could never get it on the mouthpiece the same way twice. I gave up and went back to the somewhat flimsy metal ligature that came with the Vandoren CL5 mouthpiece. Any advice about ligatures would be greatly appreciated also.
I'm so glad you guys are out there. Your words are encouraging to read and greatly appreciated!
Have a great day and thanks, in advance, to those of you who are able to give me some pointers.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-01-30 05:10
The CL5 is a bit open and would probably cause undue stress which could lead to the low endurance and perhaps even emphasize the salivation.
That mouthpiece is a little specific (the CL4 is a kinder gentler model......I use this one, but also requires a bit more "oomph" to get a good sound). I would try a Vandoren M15, 5RV Lyre or M13 (in that order for you). None of those should be a struggle to use.
Of course, if you are "stuck" with that mouthpiece, just try softer reeds (keep going down in strength until you achieve the ease you are looking for).
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-01-30 00:17
A couple of basic questions:
What was the old mouthpiece you say was "shot?"
What reeds are you using on the CL5?
Karl
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2014-01-30 06:00
"I really want to become a good player so I can join a community band. "
I highly, highly recommend taking a couple of lessons with a private clarinet teacher to get your chops back. They can be very affordable and enjoyable for you and your prospective teacher.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-01-30 01:03
Paul Aviles wrote:
> The CL5 is a bit open
Paul, I would have guessed that from the reed strength Vandoren recommends in the PDF "datasheet" I downloaded from their website about the Masters mouthpieces. But I can't find anything that actually shows their facing measurements the way the datasheets for the Series 13 and Traditional series do. Is there a source for the tip and length measurements somewhere on the Vandoren website or elsewhere?
Karl
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Author: muppie
Date: 2014-01-30 06:47
I saw a tip somewhere to swallow the saliva before starting to blow or as often as you can. I'm interested to hear tips from experienced players too.
It also helps to play far far away from any BBQ
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 07:55
I'm stuck with the mouthpiece at this point, having used it for five weeks. But, I'll try a softer reed. I went from a 2.5 to a 3 pretty quickly, so that might help. Thanks for the suggestion!!
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 02:59
My old "shot" mouthpiece is so old I had to use some charcoal to rub into the warn out etching. (The mouthpiece was used by my dad when he was in a dance band in the late 1940's.) Two names appear on the mouth piece: Tomarin (I think....) and Brilhart. The number 4 appears just below the word Brilhart. It's unusual in that the mouthpiece is white with a black insert where the upper lip or teeth would rest.
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 03:02
I'll try to swallow more frequently. I hope this problem goes away, at least mostly, after my facial muscles get stronger. 
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 08:11
I missed one question. I am using a Mitchell Lurie Premium (Rico) number 3 reed right now.
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Author: muppie
Date: 2014-01-30 08:16
With facial muscle - perhaps you are biting / clenching / tensing? Someone else can probably analyse / explain it better.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-01-30 08:22
Quote: "My old "shot" mouthpiece is so old I had to use some charcoal to rub into the warn out etching. (The mouthpiece was used by my dad when he was in a dance band in the late 1940's.) Two names appear on the mouth piece: Tomarin (I think....) and Brilhart. The number 4 appears just below the word Brilhart. It's unusual in that the mouthpiece is white with a black insert where the upper lip or teeth would rest."
That's a #4 Brilhart Tonalin - a good-enough mouthpiece. Buy #2 reeds for it and don't get sucked in to trying harder reeds just because it's the "manly" thing to do.
Give the MP a good wash up in dish detergent water.
About ligatures, use the metal one or buy a Luyben.
Right now you have bigger fish to fry than refining your mouthpiece and/or ligature.
Good luck and happy playing!
Bruno>
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Author: gkern
Date: 2014-01-30 04:07
Hi KaryAnn - I started playing again after missing out for over 53 years, and one thing my guru kept saying was "Use a softer reed! Try a 1-1/2 for a while". I did until my chops were back in shape, and since I have moved to a 3-1/2 and 4. However, there are days when I need a different strength to realize a comfortable amount of resistance. Your Brilhart Tonalin 4 mouthpiece is quite open and will require a softer reed anyway, so don't be afraid to move down. You might want to try a Bois ligature, they are the simplest to put on, and are available on that auction site.
I too, slobber all over the mouthpiece and occasionally need to wipe it off during a long practice session, say of 2 - 3 hours. When I put the clarinet away after swabbing and drying it, I thoroughly clean the mouthpiece with rubbing alcohol, and sometimes it is even necessary to scrape dried saliva off with my fingernail.
By all means, take at least several lessons from a qualified teacher, and do not be shy about joining a community band - those were the best things I did to help accelerate my "old man" playing ability... And it would be wise to have a tech look over your horn - if there are leaks playing will be difficult.
Whatever you do, don't give up on it, in my case, playing a clarinet badly is better than not playing at all!
Gary K
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Author: KareyAnn
Date: 2014-01-30 09:51
To muppie, Bruno, and gkern:
Thanks so much for your responses and for the correct identification of my father's old mouthpiece. (I have always kept it for sentimental reasons, but never used it myself. It's in good shape, so there is no reason I can't use it.)
Now, here is a potentially dumb question. I googled the Brilhart Tonalin and there were several comments about it being the mouthpiece of choice for saxaphones back in the 50's and 60's. My dad also played the saxaphone, so is it possible that this was his sax mouthpiece rather than what he used on the clarinet?
The actual mouthpiece I used 40 years ago was solid black and probably a cheap one. It disappeared long ago and the only one I had in the clarinet case was the white & black Brilhart Tonalin. Knowing how old it was, I purchased the Vandoren before I started playing again a few weeks ago. I just now tested the Brilhart Tonalin and it fits in my clarinet neck just fine, so I assume it can be used with a B-flat clarinet.... Anyway, my real question is whether I should use this old Brilhart Tonalin or continue using my new Vandoren???
I will definitely go back down to a number 2 reed. I'll also find a good clarinet teacher for some private lessons. Great advice!
Thanks again for answering these last questions about which mouthpiece to use.
Best regards to you all.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2014-01-30 10:00
KareyAnn, the Brilhart Tonalin is for a Bb clarinet. I have a 2* Tonalin and use it when I want to really blast with a good tone. They are occasionally listed on that auction site, and sometimes command a fair amount of dollars. If you do use the Brilhart, clean it with a slightly warm - not hot - water and dishwashing soap.
Arnold Brilhart, I understand, was an outstanding saxophone player and did make mouthpieces for saxes.
Gary K
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-01-30 11:08
KareyAnn wrote:
> My dad also played the saxophone, so is it possible that
> this was his sax mouthpiece rather than what he used on the
> clarinet?
>
It isn't possible for a sax mouthpiece to work on a clarinet. A sax mouthpiece fits over the end of the sax's neck, which has cork around it. A clarinet mouthpiece has the tenon with a cork around it that fits into the socket of the clarinet barrel.
Karl
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Author: Wes
Date: 2014-01-30 11:56
Try a drop of white or red nail polish on the center of that Rovner ligature if it helps you to align it on the mouthpiece, as I do. Good luck!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-01-30 13:07
Yes, those old white Brilhart Tonalin mps are much sought after. Don't discard it.
Bob Draznik
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