 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: takiko
Date: 2002-03-19 23:22
would a high schooler benefit from those super expensive mouthpieces (greg smith, bay, etc)
how many high schoolers out there are actually playing super expensive mouth pieces? like over $100
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-19 23:49
Tricky question - if I was a parent and my daughter whined at me to buy a $400 mouthpiece - I'd tell her to "soak her head" and be a little more realistic - however ... if she then got into the Boston Symphony, then yes - I'd buy her whatever she wanted.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-03-20 00:12
I think there is an education gap to blame somewhere. Many parents go down to the local music store and pay close to retail for a new pro horn for their high school student because they are ready to "step up." I would imagine that very few decide to put a $200 mp on a used horn and come out with a better sounding rig.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-03-20 00:53
I always feel that an advancing student (even younger than High school) benefits from a good quality mouthpiece. Many are playing on junk which holds them back. A good mouthpiece/reed combination on even a student instrument will yield great results. I don't know however, that I would recommend a $200 mouthpiece, unless it was for a VERY exceptional student. I would rather find something workable that is in the price range of a Vandoren or some of the mouthpiece lines that people are making that are good quality, yet not at that high end of the spectrum. I don't think that is needed at that level. There are many mouthpieces made at a somewhat lower price point that will be great.
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2002-03-20 01:12
I, being a high schooler myself, was playing on a lower quality mouthpiece for five years and found that I had little problem with it. I then found that I was not advancing, and my new teacher told me I should try out some different mouthpieces. My dad decided that I was trustworthy in my decision to play clarinet, so he agreed to get a better mouthpiece. I have advanced in leaps and bounds since I started playing on this higher quality mouthpiece, but I feel that it would have made little difference a few years ago when I was less experienced. IMHO, I think it depends on the level of the musician, and whether or not they plan to continue on clarinet or quit at the end of high school.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-20 01:19
I got my daughter a Pyne Polycrystal and even that (an enexpencive stydent MPc) was a big improvement in her tone and playing ability. I think any good handfaced MPc will be better than what comes with the clarinet.
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2002-03-20 01:27
Hi,
Spending over 100$ is not necessary to get a good mouthpiece. In fact most pros that I have met have numerous mouthpieces and use from time to time (sometimes most of the time) "main stream" mouthpieces.
Vandoren has an extensive collection and if you try enough mouthpieces chances are that you will find something good.
There many other fine manufacturer who sell <100$ mouthpieces:
Selmer, Larry Combs, Roger Garrett, Pyne, Hawkins has a student model, Hite, Pomarico, Ridenour, the list is almost endless.
-S
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Author: Simon
Date: 2002-03-20 01:44
I am an advanced High School student and would like to offer my views on the subject.
I play on a Pyne Bel Canto which I believe goes for around $200 [maybe a little more or less]. For me, it has provided a world of improvement! I first tried my teacher's mouthpiece [the same kind] when I played on an E-11[about 7 months ago], and the difference between my old mouth piece and the Bel Canto, was just great! I currently play on an R-13, with my Pyne Belcanto and would never change the setup!
If a highschool student is thinking about getting a new mouthpiece, which costs a lot, I believe that they should "test" a mouthpiece before they buy it. By doing this, they will be able to see if there is a big difference.
Just my thoughts! Hope I helped!
Simon
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Author: Carmen izzo
Date: 2002-03-20 03:03
Since I have been using my Richard Hawkins mouthpiece my overall sound and playing have greatly improved. Now thisis definately a product of my increase in practicing , but none the less, if i were to be playing on my old Hite premiere, my playing would differ, since i am not to the point where i have complete control over my playing and that it remains consistent on ecery change in setup that i go from
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2002-03-20 03:45
Carmen say:
since i am not to the point where i have complete control over my playing and that it remains consistent on ecery change in setup that i go from
I wish I could say the same :(
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Author: Sam
Date: 2002-03-20 22:09
I'm also a high school student who purchased a Pyne mouthpiece that retails around $200. Previously, I played on a Vandoren M-13 and my sound was alright, but very inconsistent, with many kinks that I never was able to work out. I'm sure if you went through several Vandorens, you could find a satisfactory one that sounded good, but the more professional mouthpieces are more consistent in their quality. My teacher, in my searching for a good mpc, told me to look into the professional ones if I was going to pursue a musical career beyond my high school years, so I went with that, and I love it.
Sam
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Author: james
Date: 2002-03-21 15:13
If you are a GOOD high school player, then yes a moutpiece is important. It is the the most complicated part of the clarinet and not to mention to most critical. One who plays on a crappy clarinet with a good mouthpiece is more likely sound better than a person on a great clarinet with a crappy mouthpiece.
They make all the different. When I got my hawkins mouthpiece, just like Carmen, my playing changed a lot, i had a lot more freedom, reeds worked better and my sound was better. If you are a parent shoping for your kids mouthpiece, forget it, just give the student one becuase if someone who is in high school isn't independant enough to go out and get their mouthpiece then it really doesn't matter. Also why are we talking about how expensive the mouthpiece is? What is expensive? 70 dollars or the 450 some pay to get a chedville? No one should go out looking for mouthpieces to get the most expensive one or in an immediate price range (ie. I want a 200 dollar mouthpiece, and the richard hawkins is only a 100, that must mean its not good enough) To be honest that strikes me as so stupid it makes me laugh. In the top line mouthpieces they are all extreamly high quality, the real only thing varies is the price. I know people that uses smith's upper priced mouthpieces, but i know for a fact at eastman john manassee and his students (for the most part) use the Vandoran M15 which is only a fraction of the cost of the smith. So would a high school student benifit from an expensive mouthpiece? Maybe... Would a good high school student benifit from a good mouthpiece, of course
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Author: John
Date: 2002-03-22 23:17
i also say it's not necessary to get a highschooler, especially not the average player, a $200 or so mouthpiece. $100 or around there is very reasonable though. i got my vandoren B45 mpc in 6th grade for about $90 and it has really been great
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