Klarinet Archive - Posting 000249.txt from 1994/05

From: 00smgeidel@-----.EDU
Subj: Reeds. . . a general observation for your comments
Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 17:15:35 -0400

Greetings!

My observation after "fighting the reed battles" for many years...

While a student at Juilliard I spend countless hours working on reeds. I
developed my own approach to reed preparation and adjustment, and had mixed
results with it.

While playing professionally I again spent countless hours working with reeds,
adjusting them, preparing them, managing them...I had mixed results.

As a university teacher I AGAIN spent long hours working with reeds...by this
time I had developed a routine I felt good about. After my efforts adjusting
them, manipulating them...well, I had mixed results.

Now that I am in my second career as an administrator in an academic library, I
find I have no time to devote to reeds. I simply try out the reeds as they come
from the box. I ENCOUNTER VIRTUALLY THE SAME RATIO OF USABLE REEDS VERSUS
UNUSUABLE REEDS THAT I EXPERIENCED WHEN I DEVOTED HOURS AND HOURS
TO WORKING ON THEM. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT I'VE GIVEN UP WORRYING ABOUT
THEM. And, it's my belief that since I no longer worry about them, I
concentrate simply on PLAYING THEM. To me, concentrating on PLAYING reeds means
developing flexibility. I feel this has made a signifcant difference for me
in that I no longer need to find the reed that suits me; I can successfully
play reeds of differing characteristics.

Your comments, please!

Stan Geidel
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Stanley M. Geidel | Personal replies to:
University Libraries |
Ball State University | Internet: 00smgeidel@-----.edu
Muncie, IN 47306 | Bitnet: 00smgeidel@-----.bitnet
(317) 285-5143 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org