Klarinet Archive - Posting 000476.txt from 1995/09

From: John Henninger <bunky@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Getting Soft In My Old Age
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 19:01:10 -0400

A thousand years ago when I was playing almost all day long, everyday,
in college I played on reeds that were just this side of a surf board.
When I decided to restart playing my clarinet and sax after several
decades I made the mistake of buying some Rico surf boards. BAD
mistake! I went back to a "beginner's" #1 1/2 reed and after several
years of playing pretty regularily I find that I'm still quite happy
with a Rico #2 on my clarinet and soprano sax and I occasionally put a
#2 1/2 on the alto. My jaw doesn't hurt, I've gotten used to the softer
reed and have a very warm sound that still is responsive to the demands
of classical music. I feel that as you age you should adjust the set up
on your instrument and there is nothing "wrong" with getting off the
surf boards because your jaw starts aching. John