Klarinet Archive - Posting 000257.txt from 1996/10

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Reed water (was bass doubling)Re: bass doubling
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 16:42:51 -0400

On Thu, 10 Oct 1996, Scott D. Morrow wrote:

> >I'm just curious now... how many people out there use reed water? I have
> >done so for MANY years and couldn't do without it! The reed soaks so
> >much more evenly than sticking it in your (germ-filled) mouth and sucking
> >on it! I also think that it's somewhat cleaner!
> >
> >Jacqueline
>
> Don't we PLAY the instrument with the reed in our germ-filled mouths?!!
> What's your secret??!!!
>
> -Scott :-)
>
>
> Scott D. Morrow
> Department of Biochemistry
> School of Hygiene and Public Health
> Johns Hopkins University
> (410)-955-3631
>
> SDM@-----.edu
>
Listerine. No seriously, I have been using water just like a double reed
player does for, gosh, dare I admit, almost 20 years! The tip soaks
evenly (no warpies), you don't have to worry about dry-mouth syndrome,
and in my opinion, the reeds stay cleaner longer. Granted, I live in
Arizona now, where reeds have an annoying tendency to dry out on the back
(against the mouthpiece facing) if not kept moist. But I went to school
in Chicago -- humidity capital of the MidWest - and used the same
procedure. Probably on harder reeds, but I never had terrible difficulty
with water-logging. Of course, you do have to change the water in the
little bottle occasionally too....

Jacqueline