Klarinet Archive - Posting 000097.txt from 2001/11

From: Ed Wojtowicz <ewoj@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: How to make your reeds work
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 12:21:30 -0500

I do not want to argue David's point, as I think it is very valid, but wish
to offer my own slant on it. While I agree with David that it is more
important to practice rather than spend all of your time working reeds, I
think that there is a happy medium. As was stated, each player should decide
where that point is for him/herself. Frankly, I know some players who never
touch a reed and deal with whatever they get right out of the box. While I
agree with David that it is important to be able to play on a bad reed, as
it is sometimes necessary, I find that it is so much nicer to play on one
that works really well when possible. In my experience at least, the more I
have worked on reeds, the more comfortable I have gotten with doing it. I
find that it is valuable to find a few tricks that make a reed comfortable
for you (sealing, breaking in, flattening, etc) and then try to develop a
few fine techniques of balancing and adjusting that make a real improvement.
This need not take a lot of time. Often, just a little bit each day. If you
have a few reeds that vary a bit in quality, response and strength (as just
naturally seems to happen), as well as in various stages of age, you often
will have reeds that will work in a variety of settings. Beyond that, I
think it is important to practice to be flexible enough in your embouchure
to be able to make the reeds work. That, I think, is the real key to David's
statement- the more time you spend practicing, the less the equipment seems
to matter.

Ed

> From: HatNYC62@-----.com
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 10:05:57 EST
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Re: How to make your reeds work
>
> There comes a time for every clarinet player when he has to decide how
> dedicated to the reed-making and preparation aspect of playing he is going to
> be. I am not good with reeds, not handy with a knife and my thumb is not
> sensitive enough to check the tip for imbalances.
>
> But, there is a solution for people like me. Fortunately I discovered it when
> I was still in school and it has paid off every since. I LEARNED TO PLAY ON
> BAD REEDS.
>
> Let's face it, probably 50% of the time you are not going to have a very good
> reed. If that thought makes you uptight, you have a problem. Especially with
> the kind of work I do, where I literally play in a different room every gig,
> it would be impossible to prepare reeds in advance for every situation. Even
> if you think you have something, the weather might change and then you are
> screwed if you don't have something else.
>
> My advice is, practice your scales and arpeggios for several hours every day
> with a metronome and use your ears, not your reeds, to get a great sound.
>
> David Hattner, NYC
> www.northbranchrecords.com
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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