Klarinet Archive - Posting 001061.txt from 1999/12

From: "Rien Stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] reed handling
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 19:18:54 -0500

I just finished the book "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" by David Pino
(Dover Publications Inc, ISBN 0-486-40270-3). This book is rather
absolutistic: "Listen to me, every one else is wrong", although Mr Pino also
makes a number of good statements in this book. It left me with some
questions.

One of the statements Mr Pino made - and I agree with him as to this
point -: The closer to the mouth, the more important. Implying that the most
important part of any clarinet is the reed. That is also what I am always
telling people about th instrument, so there is nothing new to me. What he
does NOT say in this book, is, how exactly he handles a reed, before he
starts using it, only he gives a few rather superficial indications: grind
it very slightly, put it in a box a couple of years, grind it again, and
then, after possibly regrinding it, you may use it.

Now of course I do make some adjustments to my new reeds. After reading the
chapter on reeds in Mr Pino's book I started wondering how you professional
guys prepare your reeds. And whether you decide to throw a reed away (or
eventually use your old reeds to practice such reed-consuming techniques as,
say, slap tongue) or lay it aside a couple of years, then prepare and use it
again. And what is your opinion as to making one's own reeds? is it worth
while, or mainly a waste of time?

Thanks.

Rien (note the correct spelling of the name)

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