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Re: Legere European cut is too flat

Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2018-04-13 15:04

The standard barrel for RC is 65mm. So your instrument should be quite sharp with a 62mm barrel. The intonation has got much to do with the reed strength. We are pressing the reed against the table curve of the mouthpiece causing a tension to the reed. If the reed is soft there is less tension and if too soft the tension is not enough to raise the intonation to level sharp enough. It is like you were trying to shoot an arrow with a bow having a too loose string, the arrow doesn't fly very far.

So an important part in developing a good enbouchure is to strengthen the muscels round your lips, that you are able to use strong enough reeds. I would say, that 2,5 reed is too soft for vandoren B45. I try to develop students to play at least nr.3 reeds with that mp.

It is of course a matter of taste to some extent how strong reeds one uses, but that choice should happen within certain limits. One good way to test this was taught to me by my professor decades ago. Play an octave from second register A to third register A keeping your embouchure the same, not tightening it. If the high A is flat or doesnt come at all, your reed is too soft to your mouthpiece.

Reed stregth versus mouthpiece is a quite simple thing. Close tip and long curve need stronger reeds and are easier to play in soft dynamics. Open tip and short curve tolerate softer reeds and are easier to play in loud dynamics. Tone quality has more to do with the dimensions of the sound chamber and the material of the mouthpiece. Softer reeds are easier to play in soft dynamics and stronger reeds are easier to play loud.

I am playing Buffet RC Prestige clarinets having a 65 mm barrel in my B clarinet using PlayEasy B1 mouthpiece, that has a 1,20 mm tip and 20mm curve according to my own measurements and i am using legere european signature nr. 4 reeds and have no problems playing in 442Hz pitch in a professional orchestra.

Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland

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Legere European cut is too flat new

Mattis2

2018-04-10 19:44