Klarinet Archive - Posting 000765.txt from 2000/05

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] keeping the moisture in the reeds
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 08:41:08 -0400

Nicholas Yip wrote,
> I was wondering how most of you keep the moisture in the reeds when
>you are not playing on them? A humidifier costs way too much for me to
>afford. Are there any other ways such as taping a wet sponge to the inside
>of a box and putting the reeds in there? This would be great for my old
>reeds. This would also be great for my new ones, once broken into.

I do my best to *prevent* moisture from staying in the reeds. Here in the
Washington, D. C. area, my reeds get moldy, mildewy and generally icky if
they stay wet. After I'm done practicing, I rinse the reed in water and blot
off the excess, then let the reed dry out, in the simplest open plastic reed
holder I could get (Vito). Once a week, I rinse my reeds in a mixture of
water and a mouthwash that contains alcohol. I ignore the slight warping or
rippling that develops along the tip edge of the reed overnight, because it
disappears quickly once I re-wet the reed and start playing on it.

Lelia,
playing in the key of "off" in northern Virginia.

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