Klarinet Archive - Posting 000139.txt from 1998/08

From: "Scott Morrow" <sdm@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cold weather
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 11:50:56 -0400

I will admit to occassionally playing my wood clarinet outdoors in freezing
weather (my clarinet has only cracked once, and I think that was due to
pressure differences on a trans-Atlantic flight). When I play in cold
weather, I try to protect the instrument from SUDDEN temperature changes
(blow through it gently when not playing to keep it "warmed up", and, if
possible, hold it inside your coat between numbers.) While I agree it is
best to try to avoid temperature extremes, I don't believe wood is such a
good temperature conductor that you are likely to get the conditions below
severely enough to have the clarinet break in two during a performance!

-Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: dnaden <dnaden@-----.net>
Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] Cold weather

>Gareth--
>
>That's a common sense question. Playing a wood instrument in freezing
weather
>certainly is NOT good for the instrument. But...let's look at the physics.
The
>warm air from your breath causes the interior bore of the instrument to
expand.
>The cold air causes the exterior of the instrument to shrink. The
resulting
>pressure could result in the instrument cracking.
>
>David S. Naden, MMus
>Cal State University Los Angeles
>
>Gareth Bowen wrote:
>
>> Hi there!
>> A dixieland band I'm in was planning to go away for a trip to try
>> and make a little money busking. For those of you who don't know what
>> busking is, it is when you stand in the street with a hat or instrument
>> case in front of you and hope that people will drop spare change in.
Sort
>> of like what you Americans would call begging. Sorry, just joking ;-)
>> Anyway to get back to the story. I live in the Southern
hemisphere
>> (New Zealand) and it's winter over here right now. It's really cold
right
>> at the moment (we've just had our first snow fall) and I was wondering
how
>> dangerous it is to play a wooden clarinet in freezing weather.
>> Any replies would be most welcome!
>>
>>
__
>>
>> Gareth Bowen New
Zealand
>> http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/5220
>>
>> __
>>
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