Klarinet Archive - Posting 000391.txt from 1998/10

From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re:Saliva, does he play, or just spit
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 22:27:55 -0400

OOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXX *******!
I find that students often salivate too much due to a reed being too soft,
or stiff. The mouth muscles get tired if the reed is either too soft, or
stiff. Experiment with a different reed strength. Make sure that the
student swallows before blowing, and clears out the reed often (sucking out
the "water" that gets on the reed next to the tip.) What is interesting is
seeing what happens, and how quickly the "water" builds up with a clear,
see through mouthpiece (I have an acrylic clear student mouthpiece that I
got from Pyne).
Also have the student try drinking milk (brush teeth) before playing - it
tends to make the saliva less watery.
David Blumberg
reedman@-----.com
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Music/Blumberg.html

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