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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 2004/07
From: Rhondda May <rmay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Aging reeds -> softer? (was: Great Reeds)
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 09:14:09 -0400
Hi Angela,
Reeds get softer because your saliva breaks down the fibers.
Think of the life of the reed as a continuum; when it's really new, the
fibers have just been exposed by your scraping, as you play on the reed,
more fibers are broken down; and a dead reed has been digested too much.
Yes, you do have to think about this when you're making reeds to sell,
especially if you're making them for students, because students don't
usually have the embouchure to play on a reed enough to break it in if
it's too hard and "fresh."
Probably the best way to do this is: when the reed is beginning to be
"playable" - that is, it doesn't kill you to play on it but it's not
finished yet - play gentle scales or short melodic exercises on it for
5-10 minutes and then let it rest. Make 4-5 reeds at one sitting, and
don't try to finish each one of them, just get them to the same point.
Then put them away. Make sure they dry completely.
Do your main practice on a really good reed. If you only play on very
"fresh" reeds or dead reeds, you will not only not recognize a great
reed when it's at its "great" point, you'll never learn to play below a
mp or end a note properly. For that you need flexibility, and
flexibility takes time and gradual scraping.
As you break in the new reeds, probably some will not get sold because
they'll turn into great reeds (relatively speaking, of course), and
maybe others that you didn't give much chance to initially will improve
as you play on them.
Good luck!!!
Rhondda
Angela Wells wrote:
>
> Hi List,
>
> I'm wondering how many of you have the same experience as Sameer. Do your
> reeds "break in" to feel softer?
>
> I know that I get used to my reeds... IF I keep one around for as long as
> three or four weeks. After that they start to feel dead, though I don't
> notice that they're softer. I'm mostly used to playing on a reed once or
> twice.
>
> I ask because I'm trying to make a little bit of extra money by selling
> reeds. I've never thought before that I may want to experiment with building
> more life span into my reeds. Hmmm.
>
> :-)Angela:-)
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Sameer Alabdullah" <simsim29@-----.com>
> Reply-To: doublereed@-----.org
> To: doublereed@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [DR-L] Great Reeds
> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 02:09:57 +0300
>
> Strength.....hmmmm....I ordered no. 4 which is a medium. I"m not a Pro but
> been playing for 4 years and I think 4 is what most people like. It's a bit
> strong in the beginning but then the reeds become softer in a week or so. I
> always liked reeds that are a bit heavier when new. This way i know after a
> week of playing them they will be perfect. If they dont I usually get my
> reed knife and just scrape a tiny bit of the tip. It's better than getting
> reeds that are "perfect" when they first arrive and then have them become
> too soft after a while!!!
>
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> http://dollar.msn.com
>
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