From C'net to alto sax: "COMPLEMENTARY" MP IDEAS?!

[curious]

Been playing clarinet a couple of years and will begin on alto sax shortly.

1. I'm using a Hite Premier on the clarinet and will change to a HR.. since I'll be doubling, I read Vandoren 5rvLyre was good for doublers, mainly cause it was so easy... Any views? Hite advertises its Model J as "preferred by" sax doublers. Anyone have experience that bears this out? Other clarinet MP suggestions?

2. If you already do a reed instrument, does that mean when you take up sax you're beyond "beginner" (i.e. more closed) mouthpieces, and should start out on more open sax MP? Or is the embouchure, etc, just too different? IF NOT, is starting on Vandoren A28 a good idea?

3. In the same vein, is there any reason why a doubler should have a more open mouthpiece on the clarinet...seeing as sax mouthpieces are more open ... or is there no relation here?

4. I may go with stock yani #5 HR mouthpiece (on A901) for 6 months, but wonder if this is too open for a beginner, clarinet or no, [i.g. could start on A28 and move to the yani 5]

Any ideas on sax MP particularly good for a doubler to move on to? e.g. thoughts on VD JAVA? or Morgan Jazz? In medium open ranges.

Many thanks!

[JfW]

I've been playing clarinet a couple of years and will begin on alto sax shortly. My mouthpiece questions are:

1. I've been using a Hite Premier on the clarinet and want to change to a HR piece.. since I will soon be doubling, I read that a Vandoren 5rvLyre was recommended for doublers, mainly because it was so easy to play... Any views? On the other hand, Hite advertises its Artist Model J as "preferred by" sax doublers. Anyone have experience with this model that bears out the claim? If not one of these two, any other good clarinet MP suggestions doublers?


I have a Selmer S80 C*, which seems to be popular among classical and band players, It works fine. I wouldn't know any issues with it for anyone coming from clarinet other than the usual problems with learning a different embrachure.


2. If you are already accustomed to a reed instrument, does that mean when you take up sax you may already be beyond "beginner" (i.e. more closed) mouthpieces, and could (or should) start out on something more open? Or is the embouchure, etc, just too different to traslate over right away?


You're not a beginning musician for sure, but there is always the lingering issue of generating a good tone, which is caused by improper saxophone embrachure.