Klarinet Archive - Posting 000441.txt from 2002/06

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: "Buzzy" sound ...
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 02:11:29 -0400

You know, there was a time when you only sounded as good as
the reed you could make or buy from your teacher. Vandoren
helped players spend less time making reeds and more time
practicing when he built the first equipment to finish reeds
on machines. The good part I just mentioned. The bad part is
that most players from then on learned very little or nothing
about how to work on or adjust their reeds. The only players
who still seem to do it, out of necessity are double reed players.

Balancing time for both reed work or prep and actual practice
has always been a dilemma for reed players. Some think that
extra time to get the reed working really good is time well
spent. Others think that one should adapt and learn to play on
whatever is at hand. The truth is probably somewhere in the
middle.

The Guy on the Couch wrote:

> 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
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------