Will someone please help out this newbie with a little mouthpiece boot camp. I understand that at this stage of of my development, the very, very, very start of it, it will not make that much difference to my playing. I am told that mouthpieces are a very personal choice and the right one is the one that works best for me. O.K. I can accept that, but doesn't that infer that what will be best for me in the future will depend on what I get used to at the start? That being said, here are a few questions.
1. Tip opening: How does this affect the mouthpiece's ability to play in the different registers? Is an open tip easier to play in the highest register or harder or does it matter? Does a closed tip make it significantly harder to blow through or is that just my imagination? How does tip opening affect changing the registry? Does using an open or closed tip facilitate this or make it more difficult?
2. Facing: This appears to me to be the area that is the most prone to be "it's what you are used to".Is this correct or are there other factors? How does the facing affect the mouthpiece?
3.Material: From what I've read and heard, hard rubber is a very good if not the best choice. Wood is both expensive and inconsistent, plastic is cheap, consistent but doesn't produce the best sound. Glass or, excuse me, crystal seems to be more of a gimmick than a real advancement in technology and besides that I can't afford those mouthpieces that cost more than my clarinet.
4. Are there other factors that I am not considering?
For the time being, I'm using a Vandoren B45 because it was recommended to me. I'm hoping that this is a good middle of the road unit.
1. Tip opening: How does this affect the mouthpiece's ability to play in the different registers? Is an open tip easier to play in the highest register or harder or does it matter? Does a closed tip make it significantly harder to blow through or is that just my imagination? How does tip opening affect changing the registry? Does using an open or closed tip facilitate this or make it more difficult?
2. Facing: This appears to me to be the area that is the most prone to be "it's what you are used to".Is this correct or are there other factors? How does the facing affect the mouthpiece?
3.Material: From what I've read and heard, hard rubber is a very good if not the best choice. Wood is both expensive and inconsistent, plastic is cheap, consistent but doesn't produce the best sound. Glass or, excuse me, crystal seems to be more of a gimmick than a real advancement in technology and besides that I can't afford those mouthpieces that cost more than my clarinet.
4. Are there other factors that I am not considering?
For the time being, I'm using a Vandoren B45 because it was recommended to me. I'm hoping that this is a good middle of the road unit.