Klarinet Archive - Posting 000324.txt from 1998/03

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: Mould on reeds
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 14:43:07 -0500

Just this past month, I had a similar problem with my reeds. I had gotten
several different reeds at the clarinet convention in Lubbock last summer
and had trouble with mould on the Australian reeds I was trying. I threw
those away because my Vandorens did not have the same mold growing on
them. It turns out it was not the reeds, but the reedcase. Even as dry
as it is here in the New Mexico desert, I found the inside of my Vandoren
reedcase with the mold. I ran it through the dishwasher and no more
problems. I have been using that particular reedcase for about 5 years
and had not had any problems. You learn something new every day.

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998, David Adlam wrote:

> After 25 years of teaching and professional playing in New Zealand, I have
> a problem, which I have not yet managed to solve, so I thought I would
> submit it to the List .
> I have a student in the intermediate/advanced range, who has a problem
> with black mould on her reed - mostly in the middle of the vamp. It seems
> to take about a week for it to occur. We have tried several ways of
> stopping it. Currently, she keeps her reeds in the refrigerator! Has anyone
> a suggestion as to how to improve this. She has used reedholders, claims to
> dry off her reed after use. I have suggested a better routine for preparing
> her reeds for use. She is currently using Mitchell Lurie reeds, as an
> alternative to Van Doren! I also gave her some OLD (10 - 15 years) Olivieri
> reeds, which seemed to last a little better.
> It can be very humid here in Auckland, so that may add to the problem.
> However I have never had this problem in such a persistent fashion before.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> David Adlam
>