Klarinet Archive - Posting 000034.txt from 2009/03

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Toddler Questions :)
Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:23:46 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Monna Rush [mailto:monnarush@-----.com]
>=20
> 1. Why is ther always a drop of moisture in the top of my lower joint
> no matter how well I swab my clarinet?=A0 =A0I always know that when I
> think I am finished getting the moisture I can check there and almost
> always find it there. :)
>=20
The moisture can collect in the tenon, where the swab won't reach it =
until
you take the clarinet apart.

> 2. Will drinking coffee (black only) right before playing hurt my
> clarinet?=A0 =A0I always have my first cup as I am putting my clarinet
> together for practice in the mornings.=A0Once in awhile I take a sip =
half
> way through practice too. :)

Conventional wisdom says eating or drinking anything (except pure water) =
may
leave gunk inside the instrument and on pads. Certainly if you use =
sugar,
I'd avoid doing this. The harm is probably more likely done to your =
reed,
which is actually exposed to saliva, while what runs down the clarinet
itself is mostly condensation.
>=20
> 3. Why is it that one of my reeds I just worked on still plays after =
it
> was chipped on the edge and I tried to file it smooth but it seems to
> be very much not quite the curve it should be and it does not quite
> cover the mouthpiece, still play pretty well? I almost threw it away
> instead of trying it out first. (its not the best one but will do in a
> pinch)
>=20

Lucky you! Don't knock it. But lots of times it won't work out that way.

> 5. Why is my bell ring loose on the bottom of my clarinet? OH yeah I
> know this one :) the wood is shrinking! :) Ok Does this mean my whole
> clarinet is in danger? I bought it new at Christmas time.
>=20
Rings usually get loose because of dryness. As has already been said, a
loose bell ring isn't a danger, although it's a problem if it's loose =
enough
to start vibrating and buzzing. But keep an eye on the socket rings =
farther
up on the bell and other sections (including the barrel). Loose rings =
around
a socket can allow the thin wood of the socket itself to break under the
strain of any sideways movement when you put the tenon into it. Loose =
rings
can usually be tightened by adding humidity to the inside of the =
clarinet
case.

> 6. What causes some of my reeds to sound like snow/static on a tv that
> is not recieveing signal? What do I need to do to correct this? I am
> still learning how to adjust my reeds, just started really, waiting on
> a book by Guy it will be a couple weeks yet.
>=20

Air noise in the sound of a reed is an indication that it isn't =
vibrating
well, probably because it's too stiff. Could be that only one side of it =
is
too stiff, which can be fixed by carefully thinning it with reed rush, a
knife, or sandpaper either freehand or on a small sanding block, like =
the
Ridenour ATG system.

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