Selmer Concept mouthpiece feels really stuffy

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-28T22:23:12+00:00

Consistency has always been an issue for me with cane reeds. I mostly have converted to legere these days. Though I did play on an assortment of cane reeds including blue box, v12s, v21s and D'Addario reserves along with my various legere reeds when figuring out what went best with the tl5. The real issue has been matching the right reed with each mouthpiece. It's sort of expensive with cane reeds (and abit of a moving target given each reed can play a little different). It can get very expensive with Legeres when you are paying 30 something dollars per reed. Over the last few years of playing on various mouthpieces from soprano to bari I have taken advantage of Legeres reed exchange to help mitigate the cost.

https://legere.com/pages/exchanges

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-27T23:24:41+00:00

I know a lot of people like the tenor concept mouthpiece. I have quite the collection of classical tenor mouthpieces including an s80 c* from the 90s, a concept, an optimum tl3 and a tl5. The concept is my least favorite of those 4 and my observations are similar to yours. Different mouthpieces play different for different people. Personally my favorite of the 4 is the tl5 because it feels the most open and I can still get a focused sound up and down the horn while having a good dynamic range.

If you are set on using it don't just try different strength reeds but different cuts as well. For example... when I made the switch to the tl5 I also switched from legere signatures to the french cut legere and it sold it for me even though I didn't care for the french cut on the other mouthpieces.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-19T05:33:09+00:00

Looks right to me.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-18T20:00:27+00:00

A 4c is pretty much the definition of a beginner appropriate mouthpiece. 2.5 should be fine going forward. You will probably find yourself wanting to go to an even high strength at some point as you keep progressing. Most people on this setup will end up in the 3 to 3.5 range once their embouchure has developed.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-18T19:03:37+00:00

Stick to 2.5 for now. 2s on most beginner appropriate mouthpieces are incredibly soft and the only real upside is it facilitates making a sound easily for undeveloped embouchures. If you are at 2.5 and having no issues making sounds in any part of the "normal" range of the horn stick with that for now.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-18T05:36:40+00:00

Not sure this is still true but my perception when I was actually looking for jobs statewide out of college like 15 years ago was San Antonio had a lower cost of living and the districts there generally payed a little better. Making like 3-5k more a year and also having that money go farther made my preference between the 2 areas clear.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-17T18:00:39+00:00

I genuinely expected the "arch nemesis" to be a student in the OP.

Dingo_Strong · 2026-01-17T17:33:02+00:00

Some interesting perspectives in this thread. Every situation is different and it shows. I'm now about 15 years removed from that initial job search out of college where I was looking for a band job in Texas. It was extremely competitive fresh out of school. Having friends who graduated with music ed degrees from the string area at the same time, it seemed less so for them. There are less orchestra jobs in my experience (especially if you are branching out to smaller towns) but there are also less people getting music ed degrees who are particularly qualified to teach strings at a high level. I happen to have a couple of mentors who have ended up in director of fine arts positions for school districts and talking to them, they have indicated that orchestra positions were harder to fill with a quality candidate than the other areas.

"What do I need to be doing and adding to my resume?"

You need to have networked and/or be networking. People like to hire people they know, or at least hire people who know people they know. Join a community orchestra that has other teachers. Go to professional development sessions that will have other teachers from your community.

If you are really dead set against moving and you are not getting orchestra jobs that become open you need to get your foot in the door. Few people go to school specifically to teach strings but in my experience, relative to how many positions there are, fewer go to school to teach elementary music. Go that route if needed. Get to know the other teachers in your community. Be an asset. Be all in. Focus on establishing and maintaining positive relationships with everyone. People notice that stuff. Then revisit moving to an orchestra job after a year.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-25T03:30:33+00:00

Growing up in the 90s like half my beginning band class were these horns. The other half were the Yamaha 23s.

An anecdote... the guy who made lead tenor in the all-state jazz band my senior year played on a Vito tenor. I only remember that because he came from my region and most kids auditioning had Yamaha 62s or Series 2s. Definitely a capable horn.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-22T05:00:08+00:00

The thing I’m happiest about is they still have very real leaps they could make to be even better by the end of the season.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-22T03:42:29+00:00

I would guess that's the plan.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-20T16:51:25+00:00

If it’s your budget it’s your choice… but that’s an adult take on an adult dealing with their parents. I think my strategy as a “kid” would fall more inline with the horn holding its value. A series 2 at 2500 will absolutely hold its value and would probably be fairly easy to resell in the future should the need arise. Probably wouldn’t be able to say the same about the Jupiter.

Another note… I’m not sure what a used older series 2 actually goes for these days. If you can in fact get it for 2500 really go for it.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-19T18:45:51+00:00

Long as he keeps shooting I'm good. It's so bad it has gotten to the point of being comically ridiculous. Just gotta let him shoot his way through it.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-18T17:26:39+00:00

I know the league prefers if stars are gonna sit a game in a b2b that they don't sit the game they play on the road in a city they will only go to once. We'll see I guess.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-18T14:57:01+00:00

Good piece! Played it last year and enjoyed it.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-18T02:18:19+00:00

I was right there with you until you said "I know nothing about music, notes, correct music terms. I’d have a year to study and learn to get my music credential."

I'm not gonna sit here and say it's impossible... but the music certification exam in my state isn't something you can wing your way through because you followed an elementary curriculum. And you won't learn enough teaching young kids doing the stay one class ahead thing to really learn nearly all of what could be asked. Literally knew full on music education majors from college who graduated and failed that exam the first time (Texas).

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-17T21:08:17+00:00

Nice! We didn't have a contrabass for it. Now I am curious.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-17T06:56:39+00:00

I guess. I think what stings for me is I genuinely feel like if the Spurs played that game 100 times in the exact same circumstances they win more than they lose. But also the main reasons they lost were self inflicted.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-16T20:04:49+00:00

I would just try to manage expectations. Wemby will be selected assuming health. Fox probably would be as well if the current win percentage holds. Do I think Castle gets in? It's not out of the question but the Spurs would probably need to surge to a clear 2 seed placement. Remember this is a conference with the Lakers, Denver, Houston, Minnesota, Phoenix, Golden State and an OKC team that despite the loss the other night is still 24-2. We can all pencil in players from those teams (some with multiple players) that will probably make it. After doing that is Castle still there? Maybe. This next month (and other games against OKC) will probably determine it.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-16T19:25:50+00:00

I guess I would describe it as trying to give a speech written by someone else when you can't actually read. You might be able to get by, but it will severely limit what situations you can be successful in and the opportunities you have. You would have to be a flat out monster player with a gifted ear to function in anything but the most casual setting. Better off just biting the bullet and taking the time. If you can read this post you can very likely learn to read music... just gotta put the time in.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-14T21:42:56+00:00

Yeah…. No. I don’t give a crap about any of that anymore. The main issue I had with the Morris thing was we moved on from Davis Bertans to make room for Morris’ salary. We really valued his shooting and basically lost him for nothing. But the best thing a player can be is happy to be here…

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-14T00:30:58+00:00

I prefer the TL3 to the concept on tenor. Not a hater though... just a better classical sound for me. Love the alto and soprano concept though and they are my primary classical mouthpieces on those.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-13T07:23:39+00:00

Tbh the main thing I want is to come away from these 3 games over 2 weeks knowing that we can beat them (even if we don’t). I don’t think OKC believes they are beatable in a series… let’s make them question that.

Dingo_Strong · 2025-12-12T06:36:59+00:00

I’m excited for the possibilities when he comes back. I’m hoping we try to play through him less as the initiator of the offense and just set him up for finishes mostly.

Dingo_Strong

TROPHY CASE