Klarinet Archive - Posting 000172.txt from 2000/11

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Long Tones and Embouchure
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 11:46:54 -0500

At 08:06 AM 11/3/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> Since the article isn't there yet, will you talk a little bit more
>about "reed tip buzz" in particular? Thank you.

Reed tip buzz!

It is a phenomena that occurs when one or more of the following happens:

1. biting or squeezing the reed
2. playing on a soft tipped (not a soft reed) reed
3. playing at soft levels (usually)

Try this:

Play a low G on the Bb clarinet and play it very softly. Use an old or
almost worn out reed. Try to eliminate any of the "hiss" I mentioned in
the last post. Bite gently or squeeze a bit - do you hear a bit of
polution in the sound? If it is a "tinny" reed sound or a "gritchy" (don't
you just love these adjectives??) reed sound - that's reed tip buzz. It's
much easier to demonstrate. Some students are so used to hearing it, they
just think it is part of the standard clarinet sound!

John Mohler used to tell me that commercial reeds had tips that were cut
too thin. I found this to be true when comparing it to his homemade
reeds. However, some reeds ARE too thin at the tip.

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Head, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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