Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 2004/10

From: "blacklover" <fa840641@-----.be>
Subj: Re: [kl] Playing while sick
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 08:57:04 -0400

what a nonsence-topic!If I am sick I just keep playing and afterwarts I dont
have any problem.Can we talk about a serious subject now!!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] Playing while sick

> Audrey Travis wrote:
>
>>How do I kill germs on the reed and mouthpiece after playing when I have a
>>bad cold? I don't want to reinfect myself. I could use soap on the
>>mouthpiece ( hard rubber) but what about the reed?
>>
>>Any suggestions?
>>
>>
> Hmmm,
>
> This is a knotty problem, for sure.
>
> Considering some old down home remedies, I'm thinking:
>
> 1) if you have a virus, simply allowing the reed to air-dry may kill most
> of those nasties. Viruses normally need moisture and VERY warm (close to
> inside body temperature) to survive.
>
> 2) you could freeze your reeds. However, since they were once living
> things, I'm not sure how this would affect the reed at the cellular
> structure. It may alter it, considering that the moisture inside the reed
> would freeze and the cold would contract everything.
>
> 3) you could microwave the reed in a sterile saline solution for anywhere
> from 30 seconds to a minute. Be careful not to OVER-heat the reed,
> however. We want a sterilized reed, not a COOKED reed (I doubt they are
> very appetizing, though I've never tried them with the rabbits to find
> out)
>
> 4) you could soak them in a weak white vinegar and water solution, adding
> anywhere from ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the solution, once the
> reed has soaked for a short time, say about ten minutes at the longest?
> (Someone correct me if they think this is too long. I'm in mad scientist
> mode, not clarinettist mode) We don't want the reeds to get waterlogged or
> anything, just to kill the micro-critters that made you sick. The chemical
> reaction between the white vinegar & baking soda should kill whatever
> soaking dislodges. The only possible problem I see with this is that you
> could end up with a) bad tasting reeds -which would be fixed by simply
> allowing them to air dry; or b) waterlogged reeds (which could be fixed by
> air drying reeds on a flat surface of your choosing).
>
> </mad scientist>
>
> If I think of anything else you can try, I'll post that too. This is an
> interesting question. And, IMO, a valid one, considering that reeds, IMO,
> are pretty expensive.
>
> Patricia Smith
>
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