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Re: Closed and Open Mouthpieces

Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-03-21 02:59

I use a David Hite D facing at about 1.05 mm which makes it med-close.

As to whether you will sound one way or the other depending on tip opening is doubtful..a finely made mouthpiece with a good design can improve anyones playing.

I have seen so many players over the years worry about whether a mouthpiece may be to open distract from the general thought--

its about how you want to sound. The means of getting there are personal taste in feel and the effort of making the tone!

I have heard numerous colleagues play on tip openings so much smaller than mine, who have a more open and less focused sound you would normally associate with the facing designation they play on.

Again...it is approach.

Most classical players probably on average play somewhere in the middle of a rather delicate set of numbers...usually between 1.06 to around 1.19 being the majority...not a great variance. The leagnth of the window and baffle decide a tremendous amount...and with gifted people like Mr. Walter Grabner and Greg Smith on the board they can tell you alot more than I about the subject.

Normally with tips around 1.00 mm which is closed to about 1.19 or 1.27 which is medium open....the baffle is actually the area which decides so much how you are going to sound...and of course the shape of the players oral cavity and physical makeup. In fact even the language and chest cavity I feel has an awful low to do with how you sound.

More to the point it may be alot harder to play comfortably on an incredibly open piece unless you prefer the sound and colour of the way the maker has designed the piece. Quite few people realize jazz clarinet is as much about approach and concept than equipment. ....

Music is about about approach, and especially in the clarinet realm...sound comes down to your own mental concept a great deal!

If it isn't broke...don't fix it!!!

David Dow

Post Edited (2004-03-21 03:05)

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