THE EDUCATOR

HANDBOOK
A Step by Step Guide for Clarinet
and Saxophone Success
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..................................................................................3

Product Catalog
Reeds...................................................................................4
Mouthpieces.......................................................................6
Ligatures..............................................................................8
Accessories.......................................................................10

Product Care and Advice

Reed Care and Rotation
Break In.....................................................................12
Rotation.....................................................................13
Mouthpiece Care.....................................................14

Additional Resources.................................................................15
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the world of reeds,
mouthpieces, ligatures, and accessories. It’s
been our passion since 1905.

Vandoren is a fourth generation company

that wants your band and private students
to find success at every stage of their
musical journey.

This is our guide to get you and your

students started.

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 CLARINET REEDS

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

JUNO V•12
Designed for beginners, JUNO reeds are designed with Compared to Traditional reeds, V•12s are cut from thicker
a flexible cut, giving the student an immediate response cane and feature a longer vibrational palette. This allows
with a full sound. Our most affordable reed. Available more of the reed to vibrate to give you a sound with more
for Eb, Bb, and Bass clarinets. depth and richness. V•12s also have a slightly thicker tip
which adds more body to the articulation and holds up
TRADITIONAL better over time. Available for Eb, Bb, and Bass clarinets.
Perfect for advanced middle school and beyond,
Traditional reeds are available for every clarinet family 56 RUE LEPIC
member. They have the thinnest tip and one of the These reeds are cut from much thicker cane with a more
thickest hearts, giving you a crisp and easy response noticeable taper towards the heel, or bottom of the reed
in articulation and lets you play with a very clear and (similar to a German style reed). This design gives the reed
even sound in all registers. a rich and pure sound with ultimate stability and easy
response. Available for Bb clarinet.

V21
These reeds combine the profile (or cut) of a V•12 reed
with the shape of 56 rue Lepic. This gives you a smooth
and warm sound with easy response in all registers. This
reed makes a great choice for someone coming off of Blue
Box, looking to add a little more depth and focus in their
sound. Available for Eb, Bb, and Bass clarinets.

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 SAXOPHONE REEDS

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

JUNO V•12
Designed for beginners, JUNO reeds are designed Cut from a thicker cane than Blue Box reeds, V•12s
with a flexible cut, giving the student an immediate have a longer vibrational palette. This gives you a
response with a full sound. Our most affordable beautifully dark, velvety sound in all registers. Available
reed. Available for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and for Soprano, Alto and Tenor saxophones.
Baritone saxophones.
V21
Featuring the profile (or cut) of the V•12 reeds on a
TRADITIONAL
unique conically shaped blank. Gives the player a
Perfect for advanced middle school and beyond, warm and centered sound with clean articulation and
Traditional reeds are available for every great projection. Available for Soprano, Alto, and Tenor
saxophone family member. saxophones.

Of all of our Vandoren reeds, Traditional reeds are JAVA GREEN

considered the most versatile and are suitable for The original jazz reed from Vandoren. Featuring a thin
all styles of music. They have the thinnest tip and and flexible cut, JAVA Green reeds provides players
one of the thickest hearts, giving you a crisp and with a bright, flexible tone that projects well in any jazz
easy response in articulation and lets you play with ensemble. Our most popular jazz reed.
a very clear and even sound in all registers.
JAVA RED
Designed with a little more heart and thinner rails than
JAVA Green. This helps create a rich, centered sound
with body and powerful projection.

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 CLARINET MOUTHPIECES

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE TO
INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
M13 LYRE M15
The M13 Lyre has grown to be a top choice amongst With its closed tip opening and long facing, the
students, band directors, private teachers, and professionals M15 is designed for harder reeds, and is known for
alike. its rich sound and incredibly quick articulation and
response.
This mouthpiece is very closed and is known for its
beautifully smooth, dark and flexible sound. For students, we M30
recommend using strengths 2.5 - 3.5 reeds. With its medium tip opening and long facing, the
M30 is loved for its round, warm, and extremely
5RV LYRE flexible sound. Excellent for classical, jazz, and
One of the most popular mouthpieces in the world and doublers.
favorite among beginning band directors. The medium tip
opening and facing makes it easy for students to produce a BD5
controlled, colorful sound with quick response right away. With a medium tip opening and facing and a unique
internal design, the Black Diamond series delivers
a sound with unparalleled depth and richness with
dynamic response.

B45
Featuring a medium-open tip and a medium-
long facing, it’s loved for its versatility. With great
projection and flexibility, it gets the job done in a
wide variety of situations.

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 SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECES

BEGINNER TO
ADVANCED
INTERMEDIATE JAZZ
CLASSICAL
CLASSICAL
AL3 AL5 Ebonite V16 Series
The standard mouthpiece for band The AL3 with a wider tip opening. V16s are jazz mouthpieces designed
directors and private teachers. Allows for slightly easier projection to give you the perfect balance
while maintaining the Optimum’s of power and flexibility needed
With their round tone chamber characteristic tone. Perfect for to compete with brass or rhythm
and unique beak design, the AL3 advancing high school players. sections, along with the warmth
is known for its round, warm sound and body needed to blend within a
and easy playability and control. AP3 section.
The Profile mouthpiece has a soft
For all saxophone family members, and rounded shape. The more Available in a variety of tip openings
we would suggest starting on the tapered beak allows increased and chamber sizes. Here are our
following. playing comfort and greater recommendations for middle school
flexibility. to high school jazz students.
Soprano: SL3
Alto: AL3 Soprano: S6
Tenor: TL3 Alto: A5S+, A6S+, A5M, A6M
Baritone: BL3 Tenor: T6, T7
Baritone: B7

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 LIGATURES
M|O LIGATURES

The M|O continues to grow in popularity for its ease of tightening,

free blowing feel, and crisp articulation.

Available for the entire clarinet and saxophone family in a variety

of platings. Try the black, pewter, and silver models for clarinet and
the gold-finish for saxophone.

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OPTIMUM

The Optimum ligatures are ideal for any

clarinetist or saxophonist looking for a warm
sound and the ability to refine their tone color
with 3 interchangeable plates included.

Clarinet version: silver plated

Saxophone version: gold plated

CLARINET SAXOPHONE

LEATHER

The Leather ligatures produce a rich,

velvety sound for clarinet and saxophone
players. Refine your response with the 3
interchangeable plates included.

Clarinet version: silver plated

Saxophone version: gold plated

CLARINET SAXOPHONE

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 ACCESSORIES
QUAD PACK
The Quad pack holds 4 reeds and is an excellent
introduction to beginner reed rotation. Holds 4 Bb
and/or Alto saxophone reeds.

VANDOREN REED CASE

Our Traditional blue case has a hard shell
exterior, and grooved ridges on the inside
to promote air circulation. An affordable
case with protection.

HYGRO REED CASE

The Hygro Reed Case uses air
circulation and a small sponge to TOO DRY
ADD WATER
maintain reeds in optimal humidity
conditions to prevent warping and
deterioration. Each case holds 6 OPTIMAL
HUMIDITY

reeds, with numbered slots for easy

organization and rotation.

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CORK GREASE
Cork grease protects the cork of your clarinet
mouthpieces and saxophone necks for
years to come. Our cork grease comes in a
pleasant smelling apple scent!

MOUTHPIECE PATCHES
An often overlooked accessory, a simple
mouthpiece patch can make all the
difference. This gives all levels of players the
ability to form the correct embouchure on the
mouthpiece.

Comes in a pack of 6 in clear (thin) and

black (thick) patches.

NECK STRAPS
Our neck straps make the saxophone
playing experience comfortable. The string
and sliding V system prevents tangling and
is easy for kids to adjust.

Choose from our regular or deluxe versions

to find the right fit for your students.

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 REED BREAK-IN & ROTATION
A good break-in process allows reeds to adjust to their new
environment and gradually get used to making music.

After breaking-in your reeds, start a rotation plan. The basic goal
is to play a different reed each day or playing session. This ensures
the maximum lifespan and performance of that reed while keeping
your embouchure in tip-top condition.

1. Remove reeds from packaging.

2. Wet your reeds.

3. Play each reed for a few minutes.

4. Remove from mouthpiece, wipe down, store.

5. Play reeds progressively longer

each day for a week.

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5 STEPS TO STARTING A REED ROTATION

OPEN
Open your reeds from the FlowPacks and
carefully remove from the packaging.

1. Start by breaking in 2-4 reeds.

LABEL
Label your reeds to keep track of which reed
you just played and which is next in line. This

2. can be done in a variety of ways (numbers,

letters, colors, etc). This example uses days of the
week, which works wonders for beginners.
M&W
TU & TH

ROTATE
3. Rotate your reeds according to the
days of the week.

STORE
4. Next, wipe off excess saliva and store reeds in a quality
case between sessions. Inspect daily for damage or filth.
Discard damaged or gross looking reeds immediately
regardless of their age.

5. REFRESH
At the beginning of each month, “refresh” your rotation by
replacing your old reeds with fresh, broken-in reeds. This is the
key to a successful and hygienic reed rotation.

PRO Pro Tip #1: Grow your rotation! Professionals routinely

have 5-10 reeds in rotation to ensure success regardless

TIP
of variables at play.

Pro Tip #2: Replace reeds based on performance - not

the calendar. Professionals replace reeds based on what
they hear, feel and see.

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 MOUTHPIECE CARE
WHEN TO CLEAN YOUR MOUTHPIECE?
With a secure grip on the mouthpiece, use a soft tooth brush to gently clean your mouthpiece with
mild soap and cold water. Hot water will cause discoloration of your mouthpiece. Rinse and dry
with a soft cloth as needed.

WHEN TO UPGRADE YOUR MOUTHPIECE?

Mouthpieces can wear down over time due to normal wear and tear. On average, regular players
often notice their mouthpiece changing slightly after 2-3 years. Here are some tell-tale signs that it
might be time to consider a new mouthpiece.

1. You’re experiencing more reed issues than usual. If you are consistently finding your usual reeds
are giving you fits, it might be time to try a different mouthpiece or ligature.

2. Response issues – articulation getting muddy, too harsh, or even squeaky? Compare your setup
to a new mouthpiece of the same model.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE MOUTHPIECE PATCHES?

Very! Mouthpiece patches are an easy solution for students to grip the mouthpiece with the top of
their teeth. Refer to our accessories page for a look at our two varieties of mouthpiece patches.

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 RESOURCES
1. DonorsChoose | www.donorschoose.org
Have your school music projects funded from people all over the
country. This includes reeds, instruments, learning materials and
more.

2. Be Part of the Music | www.bepartofthemusic.org

Resources, newsletters, and videos, all to keep your music
program healthy and alive. Join Scott Lang’s newsletter to receive
email templates for recruiting, advocacy, and more.

3. Vandoren Downloads
Classroom Posters, Phone Backgrounds, Reed Care Info
and More.

4. Vandoren WAVE
Our weekly educational newsletter designed to give you
articles on clarinet, saxophone, reed tips, and additional
topics.

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WITH
YOU
EVERY
STEP.