Klarinet Archive - Posting 000439.txt from 2002/06

From: The Guy on the Couch <jnohe@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: "Buzzy" sound ...
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 01:47:14 -0400

On Sat, 15 Jun 2002 JEDISUSHI@-----.com wrote:

> I absolutely agree. If you're using 90% of your reeds, then 90% of the
> people out there could sound better than you, and it would have nothing to do
> with ability. Only by maintaining the same standard of perfection for our
> equipment as we do for ourselves can we play at our highest possible level,
> period.

Oh, so you ARE saying that those of us who play commercial reeds
successfully are playing at a lower level. Thanks for clarifying that.

FYI, I spend probably 30-45 min on each box of reeds. I check them for
position of heart, thickness, balance, warpage, and yes, sound quality.
None of them play exactly alike, but I've yet to need exactly the same
reed from day to day. Tomorrow, I may be more tired, and need something a
little softer. The day after that, I might have a gig in a more humid
climate, and need something a little stiffer.

I may not put as many hours into my reed selection, but I do WORK on them;
it's not as if I'm indiscriminately slapping tongue depressors on my
mouthpiece.

I think several minutes a week on pre-cut reeds is a far better use of
time than several hours on reeds by mine own hand...because those several
hours can be used for practice. Your results might be different. But I
can't believe you'd have the audacity to infer that the use of commercial
reeds automatically makes a player inferior.

J. Shouryu Nohe
Grad Assistant, New Mexico State University
"I think we have a ghost in our house." - Kaycee Nicole
"I should probably be playing Buffet." - Steve Moore

---------------------------------------------------------------------