Klarinet Archive - Posting 000059.txt from 1997/12

From: Jennifer Rose McKenna <jrm0013@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: New topic...when to transcribe?
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 10:53:29 -0500

good this is what i do too!!

jennifer mckenna
jrm0013@-----.edu
university of north texas
clarinet concentration/music ed major

On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Roger Garrett wrote:

> No....I don't "water log" my reeds. I just soak them in water until they
> are ready to play....anywhere from 2 minutes (newer reeds) to 6 or 7
> minutes (old reeds). The tip flattens out (the wave leaves) as the reed
> becomes properly soaked.
>
> I prepare my reeds for five days....Sanding the back and putting them on
> glass between sandings to dry. Left over from my reed making days....and
> it helps keep them from warping on me. I start with a thicker blank
> ...such as the V12 Vandorens...
>
> Roger Garrett
>
> On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Jennifer Rose McKenna wrote:
>
> > I always wanted to know this - do many of you so called 'water log' your
> > reeds before you play them-you know buy blowing through the end of the
> > reed. i always found that the reeds died sooner when i did this. just
> > wondering?
> >
> > jennifer mckenna
> > jrm0013@-----.edu
> > university of north texas
> > clarinet concentration/music ed major
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Da Shouryu-man wrote:
> >
> > > On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Roger Garrett wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Actually, the break in is not so long for Bass......just the sanding of
> > > > the back to be sure the warp is gone. An important consideration is that
> > > > when reeds start to wear out, they make it sound/feel as though the horn
> > > > is leaking somewhere......very important to remember this!
> > >
> > > I seal my reeds first, soaking and pressing, soaking and pressing, etc
> > > until I don't see air bubbles on the vamp when I blow through the butt of
> > > the reed. Then I wait for it to completely dry, and occasionally, after
> > > sanding then playing, it will warp again...that's why I say it's long.
> > > While it may not be necessary to seal it, I do anyway. That's part of
> > > what takes so long for me. I've never tried not sealing the reed; that
> > > _would_ shorten the process significantly, huh? ^_^
> > >
> > > > I disagree with the contention that one never plays on anything harder
> > > > than a 3. I play on size 4 Vandorens, and they are a bit soft at times
> > > > for me. Lawrie Bloom plays on 4's.....anything less than a size 3 on a
> > > > standard C* mouthpiece will be too soft for a good quality, full-bodied
> > > > bass clarinet sound....especially for projection in the low range.
> > >
> > > I haven't tried a C* yet, so I can't say for sure. I was probably jumping
> > > the gun with my statement there. All the students I've worked with and
> > > played beside in regional conventions, if anyone played anything harder
> > > than a 3, they got real reedy in the clarion (yuck) and couldn't play
> > > ANYTHING below mezzoforte without sounding like a gagging goose. So when
> > > I speak, I speak of off that experience. I haven't tried working past
> > > 3.5, but I may try with different mouthpieces, now that you've brought it
> > > up.
> > >
> > > > Doesn't matter to most of us if you sound that way as long as you realize
> > > > that there are a LOT of people who have put a lot of time and effort into
> > > > being good bass clarinet players......gee...and some of us have even
> > > > played in a major symphony orchestra on it!
> > >
> > > Mr. Garrett, I've been on the list for less than a day, and I'm happy that
> > > I've found people like you who take basses seriously. I have such a hard
> > > time finding people as such, and it's good to know that they're on this
> > > list as well. I'll keep these things in mind from now on. ^_^
> > >
> > > "The dumbest thing that band directors often do is take the last few
> > > clarinets on the list after chair tests and have them play low clarinets.
> > > It is truly a tragedy."--Grant Green, Contrabass ML
> > >
> > > Shouryu
> > >
> > > Coming soon! A whole new Dope-onna-rope! That's right! Shouryu is
> > > changing EVERYTHING!!! A new signature with new and improved design! A
> > > new web page with...>gasp<...USEFUL STUFF! Stay tuned in December when
> > > Warm Up gets a whole new makeover!!! http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
> > > (This does not mean, however, that Shouryu has a girlfriend yet.)
> > >
> >
> >
>