Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 1993/11

From: Anthony G Taylor <agtaylor@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Tips
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 12:00:07 -0500

Peter Hadcock used to say that your reed only need to be hard enough to
allow you to play the entire upper range in tune. My guess is that many
players play on as soft a reed as will allow them to do this. If a 2 1/2
reed only allows you to play to high F comfortably, then while playing
that reed you may imagine that as the highest note possible for you at the
time.

The goal should be good sound, not higher reed strength. As the
embouchure strengthens, work into harder reeds, but past 3 1/2, 4, or 4 1/2
(somewhere in the medium-hard range), be critical of the sound so you
don't sacrifice its quality in order to "graduate" to a higher reed number.

---Anthony Taylor at FSU