Mouthpieces WILL get dirty…and if left alone, they WILL get nasty! If you see a white build-up beginning to form inside the mouthpiece….you’ve not been taking care of your mouthpiece. But it’s not too late.

BASIC RULE FOR BRASS PLAYERS: You can run warm water through the mouthpiece as often as you like.

REALLY cleaning your mouthpiece requires a few everyday items and a few minutes of your time, approximately every 2 weeks.

Stuff you need:
Mouthpiece brush: it’s tapered especially for brass mouthpieces
Bottle of white vinegar(NOT brown) OR lemon juice

Small juice glass (large enough to hold your mouthpiece
Pour enough vinegar/lemon juice into the glass or bottle so your mouthpiece will be covered completely.

Place the mouthpiece into the container, shank(small end) first. Let it set for about 10 minutes.
Take the mouthpiece out; scrub the inside with the brush. Place the mouthpiece back into the vinegar/lemon juice for another 3-5 minutes; scrub again.

Now rinse the mouthpiece in WARM water and wipe it with a paper towel. If you still see some deposits, repeat the entire process. DO NOT scrape the mouthpiece with any object.

Be sure you’ve rinsed the mouthpiece thoroughly…unless you just like the taste of vinegar or lemon juice!

While you’re at it….be sure the shank(small end) is perfectly round. If not, then air is leaking when you play and playing the instrument is more difficult. Take it to a qualified repair person for correction.

Woodwind Mouthpiece Cleaning

Mouthpieces WILL get dirty…and if left alone, they WILL get nasty! If you see a white build-up beginning to form inside the mouthpiece….you’ve not been taking care of your mouthpiece. And if it’s brown….ick!!! But it’s not too late.

BASIC RULE FOR CLARINETS & SAXES: Do NOT leave your reed on the mouthpiece after you’ve finished playing. Doing so will eventually become a health hazard. Wipe the back of the reed off & put it into a reed holder.

Wipe out the inside of the mouthpiece.

REALLY cleaning your mouthpiece requires a few everyday items and a few minutes of your time, approximately every 2 weeks.

Stuff you need:

Mouthpiece brush or old toothbrush (NOT the one you’re using now)

Bottle of white vinegar(NOT brown) OR lemon juice

Small juice glass(or plastic medicine bottle)

Pour enough vinegar/lemon juice into the glass or bottle so your mouthpiece will be covered about two-thirds of the way up. (Clarinets -DO NOT submerse the cork!)

Place the mouthpiece into the container, tip first. Let it set for about 10 minutes.

Take the mouthpiece out; scrub the outside with the brush; then scrub the inside of the window area. Stick the mouthpiece back into the vinegar for another 3-5minutes; scrub again.

Now rinse the mouthpiece in WARM water (NEVER hot) and wipe it with a paper towel. If you still see some deposits, repeat the entire process. DO NOT scrape the mouthpiece with any object. (No, you can’t put mouthpieces in the dishwasher!)

Be sure you’ve rinsed the mouthpiece thoroughly…unless you just like the taste of vinegar or lemon juice

If your mouthpiece begins to look brown/green, that means it’s made of hard rubber and is not plastic. That’s good. The color is just the reaction of the sulfur in the mouthpiece with the vinegar or lemon juice. It will NOT affect the playing.

Woodwind Mouthpieces

Plastic – inexpensive, non-durable

Composition – some mixture of plastics, hard rubber, other materials a little more costly and generally better designs

Hard Rubber – more expensive, dimensions more stable; better quality and more variety of facings

Metal – usually saxes only, although some manufacturers have tried clarinet versions. Much more costly; tend to be favored by jazz players. Look for models which play the ENTIRE range of the instrument easily.

I test all woodwinds with my mouthpieces and reed combination and the instrument
sings! Then the customer tries his/her set-up and the sound is dull or choked.

Even if a student is using a school-owned instrument, he/she should invest in his/her OWN mouthpiece…and not the least expensive one out there.

Mouthpiece ComparisonCharts

These are available in books, catalogs and online. For the most part, the comparisons are only for tip openings. Of course there are numerous other dimensions which comprise a quality
woodwind mouthpiece.

REEDS

The reed comparison charts wort about the same as the mouthpiece charts in that only one aspect of the reed is compared. Keep in mind that Vandoren alone ofer numerous “styles” of reeds!

Enter the category of synthetic reeds! IMHO marching band is the best place to use them, although some newer brands offer decent concert tone quality. Most, if not all, are not “adjustable” by scraping, clipping, etc.

Rico Plasticover: actually a cane reed with a plastic coating. They are among the least expensive.
Initially used by some players who experienced a reaction to natural cane.

Legere: a proprietary blend of plastics. They offer a number of cuts and strengths. Some of their models have relatively thin tips. The company seems to always be in the research & development mode.

Fibracell Premium: seems to be the closest to the “feel” or texture of cane. Some players complain of a ‘buzz” or edge to their tone.

Forestone: a product from Japan. These are a unique blend of natural fibers and a plastic material. Once again, the tips seem a bit thin.

Bari Reeds: there 2 “models” from which to choose. One is a clear plastic, the other bronze colored.

Hartman Carbon Fiber: again, several different styles for different playing needs. They have a very unique “look” and very sharp edges.

BRAVO: the newest entry in this category. All are solid black in color and come in standard “graded” strengths. IMHO these have the closest to the tonal quality of cane. The company continues to add reeds for most all single reed instruments.