Klarinet Archive - Posting 000908.txt from 1997/08

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: Reed Butt
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 15:13:47 -0400

Reed Butt
It is generally considered best for the reed to have its pores closed.
This is accomplished by wetting the reed with saliva, a process that
eventually closes up the pores.
One can test this, by wetting the reed and then, holding the butt in the
mouth, sucking on the reed.
If it is porous, one can "feel" air coming through. When the pores are
closed, no air comes through.
One can do this by sucking in from the butt part or from the long cut
part.
If you suck from the long cut part, it is best to wet the butt with
saliva, so that by sucking, you get some of it into that part of the
reed. If one sucks from the butt, make sure there is saliva on the reed.
In order to expedite this closing, to prevent air from "leaking", one
can put nail polish on the butt and thus "closing" the reed to
"leakage".
I think that all this is mostly in the mind.
I have had "leaky" reeds that played very well and others that were
"sealed", were pretty lousy.
If you have a good piece of cane for a reed, leak or not, it will play
well.

Avrahm Galper
Adjunct Professor,
Toronto University,
Royal Conservatory of Music

Reed Butt
It is generally considered best for the reed to have its pores closed.
This is accomplished by wetting the reed with saliva, a process that
eventually closes up the pores.
One can test this, by wetting the reed and then, holding the butt in the
mouth, sucking on the reed.
If it is porous, one can "feel" air coming through. When the pores are
closed, no air comes through.
One can do this by sucking in from the butt part or from the long cut
part.
If you suck from the long cut part, it is best to wet the butt with
saliva, so that by sucking, you get some of it into that part of the
reed. If one sucks from the butt, make sure there is saliva on the reed.
In order to expedite this closing, to prevent air from "leaking", one
can put nail polish on the butt and thus "closing" the reed to
"leakage".
I think that all this is mostly in the mind.
I have had "leaky" reeds that played very well and others that were
"sealed", were pretty lousy.
If you have a good piece of cane for a reed, leak or not, it will play
well.

Avrahm Galper
Adjunct Professor,
Toronto University,
Royal Conservatory of Music