Klarinet Archive - Posting 000631.txt from 2002/06

From: Karona Poindexter <poindka@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fiddling with reeds
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 12:08:52 -0400

I think working on reeds is an important skill to learn. I myself don't
use a knife and a clipper but I do use a certain type of sanding paper and
and certain technique that my teacher used to get good reeds to respond
better. I do believe in going through a whole box of reeds - throw away
the bad ones and work on the good ones.

When I started doing my own students reeds, they are truly amazed how
their sound changes and how big their sound is once the reeds have been
worked on. And they become addicted to the sound and always want me to
fix their reeds.

You're right. It is something to look into.

Karona

On Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at 06:41 AM, Joseph Wakeling wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>

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