Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-05-22 22:14
You ask some really good questions. Firstly, there are German mouthpieces made with French facings. However, since the M3+ IS a German facing, I would assume that the "French" designation means it is adapted to fit the barrel of a French clarinet. I would double check with Wurlitzer though. They are good about responding to inquiries.
Then there is the dimension thing. The German mouthpiece facing is quite different from that of the French (as well as a lot of other factors that are different as well, which is why there are some slight pitch accommodations that are unique). But even just taking the French mouthpieces by themselves, the tip opening is only ONE part of a crucial equation. The longer the facing (on the same tip opening) the SOFTER the reed will play. The shorter the lay with the same tip opening, the harder the reed will play.
But back to your issue. You say, "I have been practising at playing longer pieces with my firm embouchure, but my face hurts and I stopped playing more than an hour ago. That seems like a strong steer that I need to fix something." This is NOT right and you need to find an approach that does not cause undue physical strain. If you don't mind me saying, I believe you'd benefit from the German mouthpiece, at least as a transition to better practices on the Boehm mouthpiece (this is what I wound up doing in the end).
Here's the bottom line. When you get your M3+ with 2 1/2 White Master Traditional reeds, your first thought will be, "Well I'm playing like a rank beginner!" At least this was my knee jerk reaction to my first few minutes on this set up. I played for a about 20 minutes and put it away. It was the next day as I reflected on the previous day that I realized that the excerpts I played had dynamics and actually sounded pretty good. Going back to the set up I realized that it was the FEEL of the thing that caused me to have an initially negative reaction. Now I know that this feeling indicated just how much unnecessary effort I had been using for forty years!
I never regretted the time (and money) spent on the foray into the German mouthpieces. For me, it was an essental step, and I could have stuck with the German mouthpieces just fine. I only wanted to prove something to myself about the Legere Euro Cut reeds (then they were called European Signature) which led me back to Boehm mouthpieces.
Whatever you decide to do, pain (discomfort) is NOT a part of playing the clarinet properly.
.............Paul Aviles
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The Clarinet BBoard
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