Klarinet Archive - Posting 000152.txt from 1994/12

From: Christopher Avery u <aver0420@-----.CA>
Subj: Practice Reeds
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 1994 15:06:51 -0500

Hey guys (gals)

O.K., so maybe I'm just a wet nosed little student, but I saw
something in a posting by Steven Klimowski that disturbed me a little.
(December 10th) He had mentioned the concept of "practice reeds". Well,
from my experience as a person learning the clarinet (2nd year here at
Laurier, but I took lessons with Victor Sawa for 1 1/2 years before that)
I've toyed with the concept of a practice reed. The conclusion I've
drawn is that there should be no such thing. I find it difficult to
practice properly unless I know what I'm going to sound like "for real".
It is very difficult to work on articulation and sound especially when
using a poor reed, which is what I assume you mean by practice reed. For
example, over the summer I began some woodshedding on the Daphnis
excerpt, and I found that in order to practice it properly, I had to have
a workable reed. Ditto for some of the jumps in the Nielson, the
peculiar and specific style of articulation required for Poulenc, etc.
(sorry about the block paragraph folks) Now it is understood that there
some reeds are better that others. However, MOST reeds can be trimmed,
sanded, have animals sacrificed to the evil reed god, etc in order to
make them work at least satisfactorily. And occasionaly one finds a reed
that does work brilliantly, (I've only read about them in classic
mythology. hee hee) and thinks "WOW!. Now I have a 'concert reed'" Well,
in that case, you should find a concert within the next few hours or so,
because that reed is going to change on you as soon as the weather,
humidity, etc changes. I know I live in the Ontario snow-belt
(Kitchener-Waterloo) and the climatic conditions are sort of random, but
I don't really think, that other than a few extra thoughts about moisture
it makes much of a difference. If it's different down south, I'd
appreciate some feedback re: climate from you southerners on the board.
Any input on my comment is eagerly anticipated, as I have a morbid
fascination with the devilish strips of cane.

Chris Avery
2nd year Orch. Perf.
Wilfrid Laurier University