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Klarinet Archive - Posting 000036.txt from 2001/11

From: lubydjackson@-----. Jackson)
Subj: Re: [kl] Leaving the reed on.
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 14:34:43 -0500

I think it depends on what bacteria is growing in the player's mouth.

For instance when I was in high school and I left the reed on after a
marching band practice, I came back to it the new morning and there was a
thin film on the mouthpiece and worms were growing out of it.

Since I don't play my horns everyday anymore, I leave the reeds on the
mouthpiece. Once in college, I left my reed on my bass mouthpiece and there
was much slimy crud in the mouthpiece after about a week. The conductor
dismissed me from the setup saying that I was a hazard to the ensemble. It
took three semesters to get in the group again.

I think that double reed players always carry a little water with them to
leave their reeds in. I'm not sure this is 100% water, but for single reed
players such tactics could mean death to your reed.

Also, it just depends on which reed you have because the few reeds I have on
my Bb are the same reeds I've had over 14 years and they play fine. Since
I've developed an intimate relationship with that reed, I know when it's
about to give up. I've revitalized it with peroxide over the years.

I hope this helps.
----- 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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