My daughter will soon take up the clarinet. I too have become passionate about playing and feel the need to get another mouthpiece. We currently are playing the Yamaha 250 model with a 4C mouthpiece and 2.5 reeds (not sure what brand?

I have been playing for three weeks now six to eight hours per week. I am making proper notes and can hold them in time.

Will a better quality mouthpiece and or reed # brand serve me well or should I just get another 4C?

Would I notice a sound quality improvement with the better quality mouthpiece/reed #

One more question about mouthpieces; considering the fact that I have a Yamaha 250 class clarinet at what price range does the mouthpiece stop making improvement.

If you want to buy a new mouthpiece, a Vandoran B45 is a great step-up beginner model. It will serve you better than the 4C. It will have a little more focused sound and probably better intonation.

Although, since you have only been playing for a few weeks, you might want to wait on getting a new mouthpiece until you have a solid embochure and technique. For a beginner tone, technique, embochure, etc. are WAY MORE important than what kind of mouthpiece you get. I didn`t get a good mouthpiece (a Vandoran M15) until I had been playing the clarinet for 5 years and I`ve made All-State Band, so I don`t really think that it hurt me by playing on a stock mouthpiece for 5 years.

But as I had already stated, a B45 is a great beginner/intermediate mouthpiece and you would not be going in the wrong direction by buying one.

If you do buy a B45 or any Vandoran mouthpiece, than you will want to buy a box or Vandoran reeds. 2.5 or 3 will do you just fine for your level of playing. Of course as you get better and you start learning high notes (above 3rd octave C) you will want to graduate to 3 or 3.5`s.

Hope I could help! Sorry if I didn`t.

Oops! I forgot to say something! An EVEN BETTER mouthpiece to buy would be the Clark W. Fobes Debut clarinet mouthpiece.

It`s 26.95 at this link:

http://www.wwbw.com/Clark-W-Fobes-Debut-Student-Clarinet-Mouthpieces-i71980.music

here`s some info about it:

Without a doubt, the finest student model mouthpiece on the market and with the newly designed tip, they are better than ever! Hand finished and play tested to insure consistency, these mouthpieces promote proper embouchure development and focus of sound.

Clark Fobes Debut Bb Clarinet Mouthpiece

Build Good Embouchure and Tone
The Fobes Debut mouthpieces have a fairly close facing that insures good resistance and focus to the sound. The result of this is better muscular developent of the embouchure

Hand Finished / Play Tested
Each Fobes mouthpiece is hand finished and play tested to ensure consistency and quality.

The Best Overall Deal
Because the Debut is made from Clark`s professional mouthpiece specs, this is a mouthpieces that a student could potentially play through high school.

Material Acrylic
Tip Opening 1.00 mm
Facing Medium

Here`s reviews about it:


As a clarinet instructor, I frequently work with students that are using a borrowed clarinet with an inferior mouthpiece. You might imagine what that sounds like ! The 1st order of business is to improve the tone quality. Typically we improve the embouchure and emphasize breath support in playing long tone exercises. If we are still not satisfied after that, trying new mouthpieces is a reasonable 2nd step. I have tried the Clark Fobes Debut mouthpiece and compared it to the Vandoren B45 which I have played for many years. While the sound from the Debut is "drier", it is pleasing. I find it easy to control notes from low to high end, resistance is just right using a 3.5 strength reed, and overall it is an excellent mouthpiece for students at a very reasonable price, making it a very good value !

This mouthpiece greatly improved the tone of my daughter`s rented Selmer and has given her the confidence to play more expressively. When used on the older wooden French Clarinet I had refurbished for her the results were stunning.


The Debut or the B45 would be a great choice, but I personally would get the Debut. (I will be buying a Fobes Professional line CF+ soon). They are absolutely wonderful!

Thank you Carrie, great information! Like I stated, I need to get another mouthpiece for two to play on one clarinet and I didn`t know what I should do in my case.

You`re most welcome! I am glad that I could help you! I hope everything goes great for you and your daughter! Good Luck!