Klarinet Archive - Posting 000619.txt from 2002/06

From: "Joseph Wakeling" <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Fiddling with reeds
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 06:41:21 -0400

Following my experience with a "buzzy" reed, I thought it might be worth
asking:

What are the procedures that people go through in order to prepare reeds?
(As in, reed rebalancing, etc.?)

I have heard a variety of opinions on the importance of reed refacing, etc.,
from one writer in the Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet who says he has
his own reeds specially made for him in order to minimise the amount of work
required, to a friend who, asked about reed alterations, said bluntly, "No,
never done it. Maybe I'd have got somewhere if I did." (Said friend is the
principal of one of the major London symphony orchestras!)

Then again, having had my new teacher in Switzerland take my clarinet from
me, scrape at the reed lightly with a penknife, and return it to me, only to
find that the reed was remarkably more responsive and better sounding, I'm
inclined to think these things might be worth finding out about... so, what
should I know and do? ;-)

Cheers,

-- Joe

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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org