Klarinet Archive - Posting 000737.txt from 2001/04

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed Balance
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 18:43:08 -0400

On Mon, 30 Apr 2001 10:41:00 -0400, fred.sheim@-----.net said:

> I have noticed that some reeds are really sweet only when they are
> shifted slightly to the left or right on the mouthpiece, and really
> bad when centered. Is there a way to scrape them so they are good
> when centered? Is it a matter of too much thickness on one side or the
> other?

You can try -- but then, why bother? (Really sweet is really sweet:-)

If it's not *really* so sweet, it may be worth making the effort to
adjust the reed; though I sometimes find that the optimum position
changes anyway as the reed ages, so it's worthwhile holding back.

Also, I think there is myth that there are good players who know
*everything* about reeds, and who can make anything work by adjusting
it.

Not so. All the really good players I know have quite a pragmatic
approach, and realise that their own adaptability is crucial in making
the best reed they have available, work. And, that their judgement of
'what works' is fundamentally to do with their imagination and
standards, related to the music they're playing.

Physical ability and knowhow counts, obviously -- we all try to develop
it, after all -- but it's useless without the relationship with the
music that puts a player in touch with that 'workability'.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN artist: http://www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... If a man in a forest speaks and no woman hears him...is he still wrong?

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org