I am self-taught and have an older R13. For quite a while, I was playing on a Portnoy BP2. It just seemed that I was blowing against pressure all the time. I tried several mouthpieces at a local music store. The VanDoren M30 felt good and more open. I probably would have bought it right then but the demonstrator was the only one they had and they wouldn't sell it. Lucky for me, as I saw it at WWBW for about $30 less. I had been checking out the JodyJazz site and finally ordered one of his #5 clarinet mouthpieces. I found it to be quite open blowing and comfortable. And seems to work well with Rico regular and Rico Royal reeds. Worth a look and a try.
