Klarinet Archive - Posting 000300.txt from 2001/12

From: "Robert Moody" <LetsReason@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: klarinet Digest 13 Dec 2001 09:15:01 -0000 Issue 3510
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 11:57:06 -0500

Jess wrote: "I humidify my reeds. I store them in a tupperware container and
lay the
reeds flat on pieces of plexiglass. Then I have rubber bands to keep them
on. I store two pieces of moist sponge in there as well to keep the
humidity, and also lightly soak them with listerine to keep them from
molding. The only problem with it is this: if there ever comes a time when a
few days pass before I have a chance to work on my reedbox, the reeds start
to mold :). but other than that, reeds have lasted a long time and work
quite nicely, although it does make them a little harder than usual."

Though I do not use Listerine to sterilize my reeds, I do often follow a
similar pattern and have the same exact results: If I do not stay up with
them, they will mold; they tend to be a little more resistent but consistent
as well. Also, I only use water to wet my reeds. I believe this helps to
make them last as well. One last thing is, I do not use the same reed every
single time I play. I purposely rotate through about 4 to 6 reeds and when
a reed heads toward some kind of annoying feature, they work themselves "out
of the loop", so-to-speak. I arrive early to performances, prepare water,
wet the reeds, try them each and pick the best three to go into my Vandoren
reed case in my pocket for the performance. RARELY do I feel the need to
change reeds between pieces in a performance, but I have had an occasion to
change to the stiffer or softer as the situation warranted.

Hope this helps.

Robert

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