Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-08-25 05:03
If you didn't already have several mouthpieces at hand, I'd agree with the other posts about Behn or Fobes. But if you already have them, I don't see a reason not to use one of them. My choice for a beginner would be the M13Lyre, but you might have your daughter try the M15, too. I have a personal prejudice against starting with open-tipped mouthpieces like the B series facings (but I never moved to them even after I grew up) and I don't know anything about the Cadenza.
Given the facings on the M13L or M15, I'd start with a #2-1/2 Rico. I'm not very sure the sound quality is meaningfully different at the very beginning regardless of the reed quality. I wouldn't make a strong argument against a #2, but I think chalumeau notes on a too soft reed can give a beginner a false sense of ease and lead to a flabby lack of control that can be hard to correct once it becomes a habit.
I would consider your daughter's first few attempts as a trial. If she takes to it fairly easily, go with it. If it's a struggle (depends on the size of her hands and the ease of producing a tone), you might reconsider whether giving her a "head start" is worth the risk of frustrating her. I've certainly started 4th graders on clarinet - it used to be the norm until they started putting 5th graders into middle schools - but some kids back then weren't ready yet but wanted to start with their age peers. If her age peers aren't starting until next year, there may not be an advantage in the earlier start unless she really takes easily to it and can enjoy the extra year.
kdk (Karl)
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