Klarinet Archive - Posting 000081.txt from 1995/01

From: Andrea K Hakari <hakari@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Wanted: Contrabass players
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 1995 22:59:27 -0500

On Thu, 5 Jan 1995, Kathy Nydegger wrote:
>
> 1. What reeds do you use and where do you get them (preferably as cheap
> as possible)? FYI, the CB is a Leblanc with a (I'm assuming this) medium
> stock mouthpiece. I usually play Vandoren 3 1/2's on my Bb and Vandoren
> 2 1/2's on the bass, both with medium-open mouthpieces. Every music
> store I've been to around here tries to sell me bari sax reeds, which are
> too small! Bass sax reeds fit, but they're $6.00 a piece, if they play
> on a CB like tenor reeds do on my bass, I want no part of them! The
> reeds I was given with the instrument are fibercane (yuk!!!!!!)

I play a Leblanc, low D, with stock mouthpiece. I use Rico 2.5 reeds,
and get them from our instrumental music office for $2.75 a shot. I've
tried Vandoren, Maier, and a couple other brands, and have found Rico's
to work the best.

>
> 2. Is it normal to get dizzy and light-headed when you first start out
> on CB, because of all the air you need to fill the horn? I don't
> remember any such problems when I first switched to bass from Bb. (Or
> maybe it's these darn fibercane reeds?)
>

When I started Eb contra in fall 1987, I would get really light-headed,
mainly because of the change in air required above that for bass, which I
had played for 2 years prior, and a year of Bb before that. I found that
the 4 years I spent on Eb contra in high school eased my transition to Bb
contra in fall 1991. Since then, it's been just a matter of building up
endurance. When you're first starting contra, by all means rest
frequently - don't want your neighbor having to pick you up off the floor
=) It takes time, but mastering the beast has been worthwhile and
fulfilling for me. Enjoy!

--Andrea