Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 2004/10

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] Playing while sick
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 12:16:13 -0400

It's serious to me, therefore it is a valid topic. Others (who have replied)
take it seriously too. Since you are not the arbiter of topics on the list,
perhaps you might cool down and hit the delete button as needed.

Audrey

blacklover wrote:

> 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 â…? to Â* 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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