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Re: Squeaks on Middle B, C, and D

Author: jjkimtennis
Date: 2011-05-05 23:47

Hi, I'm sorry, I don't know why I said middle B, C, and D haha... I actually meant low B and A. Jeez, I was way off. I must have been tired. Anyways, I looked at my mouthpiece again closely today, and I noticed that I do have some small chips. Nothing very big, but when I run my fingernail along the tip, there is one chip that my nail stops in, as well as a couple that cause some friction, rather than a smooth run. Along the rail, there is another chip that the tip of my thumb nail can rest in. None of these chips are huge, but they are noticeable with a careful look. Can small chips such as these really make a difference? I used this mouthpiece in marching band, and through most of my preteen years (AKA I was pretty careless/clueless about my stuff).

The squeak comes almost every time I play a middle B and sometimes on the notes below it. My notes in the upper register are fine. It's just middle B, A, and G, with most of it at B. When I play these notes, I can hear the notes for a fraction of a second, and then the squeak kicks in.

I've been experimenting with my embouchure, and when I play with less mouthpiece in my mouth, the squeaks get a little better. But it's very little mouthpiece compared to how I've been playing all these years. And throughout many of these years, I've had private instruction, and none of my teachers ever had me play with that little mouthpiece. So I don't think that's the best solution.

So far, it sounds like it's the mouthpiece. I tried my wooden clarinet (the one that got repadded) and my plastic clarinet. And both seemed to have the problem. But it's strange that it's only on certain notes, particularly the middle D. I use a Van Doren B45, I believe. Would you guys suggest replacing it? And if so, do you know of any good deals? I am not exactly made of money at the moment haha.

Thanks!!

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