Klarinet Archive - Posting 000445.txt from 1997/11

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Water on back of reed?
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 22:05:25 -0500

Martin,
Why does it bother you? Does the sound get fuzzy (watery, if you
will)? It has been my experience that reeds don't tongue well if they are
UNEVENLY wet or dry. That is, if there are dry spots on an otherwise wet
reed.Is this what you mean? moisture by itself really shouldn't do
anything to adversely affect tonguing.
We (or, at least, I) need more precise information to properly
diagnose your 'condition'. However, just in the way of speculation, I
would say that it sounds like the extra moisture is making the sound fuzzy
and that translates to ugly (and therefore, difficult) articulation for
you. If one is still a relatively inexperienced player, they often have
too much saliva and that causes the excess moisture. This problem tends to
disappear as one gets better on the instrument. This is only a _POSSIBLE_
explanation and I don't really have enough information from you to say
more.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Tue, 11 Nov 1997, Martin Pergler wrote:

>
> When I play, especially if the air is dry, I soon get water
> on the back of my reed. Not good for tongueing. I can sort
> of suck it out, but the only real solution is to remove the reed
> and wipe the back off.
>
> I've now asked two teachers and a couple of friends for advice, and
> people just look at me blankly and say they don't have that problem.
> Anybody out there a former fellow sufferer who has found how to stop it
> from happening?
>
> I don't know if it's spit or condensation. But whatever it is, it
> gets in the way! I polish (on paper, rough paper, or very fine
> sandpaper) my reeds fairly frequently, but that doesn't seem to
> hurt or help in this regard.
>
> Thanks, Martin
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Martin Pergler pergler@-----.edu
> Grad student, Mathematics http://www.math.uchicago.edu/~pergler
> Univ. of Chicago
>
>
>
>