Klarinet Archive - Posting 000394.txt from 1998/09

From: "Cox, Graeme" <Graeme.Cox@-----.nz>
Subj: RE: [kl] breaking in my R13
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 18:24:44 -0400

Ben,

I think that the major reason for blowing-in a new instrument gradually is
that when new, the wood is very dry. It also doesn't have a history of oil
application which reduces the uptake rate of moisture. When you play it
first, the inside of the bore becomes wet very quickly and wet wood tries to
swell. This stresses the tube, placing the inside layer in compression and
the outside under tension. If the stress becomes excessive, the outside of
the bore may crack.

Building up your use of the instrument slowly allows moisture to spread
evenly thoughout the wood so that expansion and contraction occurs evenly
across the diameter and minimises stress differences. Also, moisture will
move more easily through wood that already contains moisture than through
wood that is bone dry.

Regular application of bore oil early in the instrument's life will help
prevent the wood fibres absorbing the moisture, and swelling and contracting
excessively and unevenly.

I imagine that if you have not played an instrument for a long period, that
you should similar care to play-in the instrument gradually, although older
instruments that have been oiled regularly, should not be so sensitive.
(This is worth some debate on the list!)

By the way, recorder players know all about the destructive effect of
overplaying without drying out carefully. It is remarkably easy to crack the
head of a beautiful wooden recorder through letting the block swell too
much.

Cheers,
Graeme Cox
Graeme.Cox@-----.nz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Stutzman [SMTP:benstutzman@-----.net]
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 1998 7:08 AM
> To: Klarinet
> Subject: [kl] breaking in my R13
>
> Weiner Music said that it would take 1 to 2 weeks for my R-13 to
> arrive. They lied. It came in two days. (I just never got around to
> writing back). My teacher tried it and found nothing wrong. She envies
> me because the tuning is so good. It is certainly a dream to play. I
> just can't wait till I can play the full range with no time limit. She
> told me to start at 5 minutes, playing only low register to throat
> tones. Each week I will add 5 minutes. She also says I need to "train"
> the horn. So as I slowly play notes I adjust the tuning to be right on
> pitch. I don't quite understand why I have to do this. Is there a
> scientific reason, or is this a new concept? Any explanation would be
> helpful.
>
> Thanks
> __________
> Ben Stutzman
> benstutzman@-----.net
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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