Klarinet Archive - Posting 000236.txt from 2000/06

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] New Student; was Re: [kl] mold
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 08:29:29 -0400

Patricia Smith wrote,
>I wasn't going to weigh in on this thread, but I got a new student
>today, and the mold on the reed and the slime in the mouthpiece
>was so disgusting I thought I would hurl. He said he is sick a lot
>and that his mother kept telling him the mold would make him sick.
>I was so livid that I actually cleaned the mouthpiece myself.
>Thank G-d for antibacterial soap.

Humor aside, even if there's any truth to the idea that a moldy reed might
play better, I think it really is unsafe, because many molds (and mildews,
bacterial slimes and other growths) are toxic. There's no way of knowing,
without lab tests, exactly what's growing on that reed. Aside from not
wanting to find out the hard way, I'm with you on the "thought I would hurl"
reaction. *Yuck!* Anyhow, even if it's penicillin mold, licking it every
day and leaving it in the reed could build up a population of
penicillin-resistant pathogenic bacteria.

It sounds as though that kid and his mother let the clarinet reed turn into a
discipline (control vs. independence) issue between them. Maybe now you, as
an independent outsider, can help him approach taking good care of the
clarinet as a matter of personal pride, instead of a question of whether or
not to obey his mommy. IMHO it would help encourage him to internalize the
need to care for the clarinet if you didn't take his mother's side overtly
(even though she's right!).

You wrote,
>And this is only the start. Poor tone production, no support,
>I don't think this kid even knows where his diaphragm IS!!!!!
>And his ligature was screwed on so tight I almost couldn't get
>it off, and it was on the mouthpiece touching the barrel. And
>tonguing was slab at best....He couldn't keep a consistent rhythm
> - said he couldn't play along with other people [snip].... Oh,
>and he has been playing for almost two years. Be afraid. Be
>very afraid.

Yipes, he does sound promising... ;-) Interesting that he's willing to take
the lessons! Did that idea come from him or did his mother force him into
the lessons? I'm curious to hear how he's doing after a few weeks or months
-- whether he can learn to take care of his instrument and to practice
regularly because *he wants to*, because it satisfies him to hear his playing
improve, or whether practice time will become another "You can't make me!"
issue with his mother. Good luck with the kid.

Lelia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk."
-- Robert Bloch, _Once Around the Bloch_
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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