Klarinet Archive - Posting 000024.txt from 2003/05

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] RE: hard reeds
Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 10:41:29 -0400

<<<For some reason, my students tend to favor reeds that are too hard,
so when they play, only about half the note tends to speak, covered up
mostly by the sound of rushing noise.>>>

Sure, I think it's the old "hard reeds are better" syndrome. You know,
we've all heard it: "You're playing a #3.5 reed? Wow, I use a #5; I
must be a lot better player than you are."

I experience the same thing among high school-aged oboists and
bassoonists. If they use commercial reeds, having not yet learned to
make their own, I recommend that they buy "medium soft" reeds. Time
after time, they will come in to lessons with medium or medium hard
reeds. "Why did you buy such hard reeds," I will ask. "My band
director said I couldn't get a good sound on a medium soft reed."

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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