Klarinet Archive - Posting 000021.txt from 2001/11

From: Stan Geidel <sgeidel@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Leaving the reed on.
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 13:29:55 -0500

The issue of leaving the reed on the mouthpiece for the duration of its
usable life is a curious one. I *have* heard of this practice, but it has
only been in the form of stories about players who do this; I've never
personally known of anyone who manages their reeds in this manner. If I did
know someone who did this, I would ask them the following question:
It seems the purpose of leaving the reed on the mouthpiece is to
preserve its ideal playing position. There is no question in my mind that
each reed does, in fact, have an ideal playing position: we make slight
position changes - higher, lower, left, right. However, in my experience,
that ideal playing position changes as the reed changes. For example, I may
find that as a particular reed ages, I might like to place it a little
higher in relation to the tip of the mouthpiece. If this is true for most
players (and I suspect it may be), what would be the point of trying to
preserve an "ideal" playing position if that position is a moving target?

Stan Geidel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] Leaving the reed on.

>
>
> Tony Pay has brought to our attention the oboists` idea of dipping the
reed
> (clarinet reed) into a little water as opposed to wetting it with our own
> saliva. He also lets us know that one or two American(?) clarinetittists
> have been known to leave the reed on the mouthpiece for the life
duration(?)
> of the reed.
>
> I have noticed positive and immediate response using this method, but
would
> ask this: if the reed is left on, it must surely create some kind of
dilemma
> in how to blow in brand new reeds for playing on the mouthpiece already in
> use. Unless one has an identical mouthpiece, and even with this way, then
> leaving the reed on, can surely only cause a <faster> degeneration of the
> reed, due to digested food particles building up on the inside surface of

> reed, and will also surely shorten the useful life of the M/P as deposits
> build up, and harden, without cleaning. I have mentioned before that
taking
> the reed off (to clean) and replacing it correctly and accurately to
within
> a couple of thousandths of an inch should not interfere at all in the
> continuing good performance of the reed, (experienced players will be able
> to do this to within 1000th of an inch). Indeed it should, with positive
> results enhance the life and performance of the reed, as it is being cared
> for, as opposed to neglected if left on.
>
> There are of course the obvious health hazards too, if one leaves the reed
> on all the time.
>
> I`d be interested to hear further views.
>
> Best,
>
> Tony W.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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