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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000051.txt from 2002/11

From: Weiss440@-----.com
Subj: [Doublereed-l] diet and double reed playing
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 15:52:07 -0500

Whatever it is you choose to eat, be sure you brush your teeth/rinse your
mouth before playing! I try to avoid foods like corn on the cob, spinach,
ribs -- anything that gets stuck between your teeth and later finds itself
going down your reed. We all know about the gunk that can build up inside a
reed (putting your performance at risk) when good oral hygiene isn't
observed. We also know which foods make us feel overly full, and can distract
us from playing our best. Being too hungry doesn't help, either.

Just use common sense and your diet won't interfere with your performance.
Nervousness before a performance is another issue. I wonder if there's a
study out there dealing with this? What do astronauts get fed before
lift-off? Prize-fighters before a match? (!)

I like the idea of having something like "instant breakfast" for a quick
pick-me-up before a concert (with nothing to get stuck in your teeth). So
often there isn't sufficient time to eat properly, and you know you're gonna
need some stamina for the next 2-3 hours.

Onstage, I always have a small bottle of water. I rarely use it, but it's
nice to know it's there.

Bon apetit,
David Weiss