Klarinet Archive - Posting 000952.txt from 1998/08

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] lip balm and microwaving reeds
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 09:31:53 -0400

Re. lip balm, Kaylen asked, >>Do you seriously use cork grease?>> Yes. As
Bill Hausmann points out, the ingredients are non-toxic. In fact, they're the
same stuff that's in a lot of expensive cosmetic products. Used sparingly,
cork grease is no "greasier" than Blistex, Chapstick, lipstick or sunscreen
stick. The name "grease" puts people off, that's all. Gareth Bowen mentioned
that he doesn't like to use a lubricant before playing. I never do that
either, for the same reasons he gives. I only use cork grease if my lips feel
sore after practicing.

That's a carryover from the time I started clarinet in 1957 to the end of high
school in 1966, when my music teachers relentlessly criticized girls who wore
lipstick while playing reed instruments. The teachers started with the yadda
yadda yadda about lipstick when we were in 4th grade beginning band, even
though girls were forbidden to wear lipstick to grade school in those days.
These teachers were quick to pass judgment on "caring more about how you look
than how you play," and started out with some old-fashioned attitudes about
allowing girls in band to begin with (lots of restrictions on which
instruments were "appropriate" for girls--i.e., nothing but flute, oboe and
soprano clarinet). I wasn't just about to attract that criticism and get
labelled "not serious about music," so when I got old enough to wear lipstick,
I formed the habit of wiping it off before I practiced or showed up for class.
Now I never wear lipstick any more anyway, but if I did, I'd still wipe it
off, on the theory that lipstick or cork grease or anything else of that kind
would have to clog up the reed and interfere with its vibration. But it's
only a common sense theory and a habit. I don't have empirical evidence that
grease is bad for the reed and I've seen female pro clarinetists playing in
public while wearing what appears to be lipstick--or is it some sort of dye or
stain that doesn't come off on the reed? If it really is lipstick, then
probably it wouldn't hurt to use cork grease or lip balm before playing,
either. Maybe women who wear makeup can offer some wisdom on this point.

Regarding reed preparation, some sax players swear by microwaving their reeds.
These people believe they can get new life out of an old reed this way, and
some of them also nuke new reeds as part of breaking them in. The theory is
that nuking the reed seals it. The method is to soak the reed thoroughly in
water for a couple of hours, then put it in the microwave oven and nuke it on
medium for 5 to 10 seconds. Reeds turn black and start to smoke rather
quickly, so because of the variations between ovens, it's a good idea to
experiment with throw-away reeds first (although a couple of guys on the
Classic Sax site claim that the "blackened toast" reeds play well and last
just about forever)! I haven't tried this trick yet. Has anyone on the list
tried it? (Better you than me...?)

Lelia

-------------------------------------------------------------------------