 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: woodwind650
Date: 2008-05-31 23:15
I'm going to be in Utah playing all summer and wanted to know what anyone would recommend about reeds in such a higher elevation. I currently live in Ann Arbor, MI and use V12 #4's. I've been told to save all my old reeds and bring them there, bring 4's and sand them down, or flat out purchase 3.5s and make those work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2008-06-01 01:39
Buy 3.5's because they will get harder. Your not going as high as Denver or Aspen but it's high enough.
DB said:
"Getting used to the high elevation air can be interesting too. At 25 I felt 75 at times..."
They key to living in elevation is you have to drink more water than you usually drink. Your metabolisim is faster when you live in elevation and it is much easier to get dehydrated.
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-06-01 06:44
I travelled from sea level NZ in winter to summer Salt Lake City to perform in Clarinetfest 06. I was on tour with NZ Opera in the south island (coldest part) performing every night of the week up until the day before i flew to SLCity.
My reeds became slightly harder by maybe a quarter of a size, maybe not even that much. Beware- this will make your "dead reeds" (worn down at the end of their life) play very well.... for about the first 5 minutes of playing time, and then they die again.
hope this is useful information
dn
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-06-01 16:29
You'll need to experiment. I took a few lessons with Lee Livengood a his studio in Salt Lake City at just under 5000 feet. Fortunately, I had a few days to sort out my reeds before playing with him.
I did have to soften my normal V12 3.5s, which are OK here at about 2500 feet.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-06-01 17:15
So, does greater atmospheric pressure demand the use of a slightly stronger reed?
I use Best Brass e-sax mutes on alto and tenor for practicing at home without disturbing the neighbours, and as these enclose the entire instrument (apart from the mouthpiece) I've found they work better using stronger reeds (1/2 a strength harder than I normally use).
During playing, the air pressure within the mute is obviously higher than normal (as I can feel the air being forced out through the hand seals and crook seal), and my usual reeds seem really weak. But if I play on a reed that's working well with the mute in a normal band setting, it's tough going.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mamashep
Date: 2008-06-02 03:21
We often have guest artists come to Utah to play, and I find that the change in reed performance often catches them off guard. There is definitely a need to adjust. I remember going to a master class with the jazz saxophone player Michael Brecker a few years back. When he first pulled out his instrument, he slapped on the same old reed he had been using at sea level, and attempted to play. He got the reed to speak, but not without much straining and puffing of the cheeks! He switched reeds and then continued with the master class (which was fantastic).
I live in SLC, Utah, and have traveled to play in lower elevations. One needs to consider the very dry climate in Utah as well as the change in altitude. My survival tips at this specific climate and altitude are:
1. Make sure you keep your reed wet. Reeds dry out VERY fast here, especially in the summer. I find that keeping a mouthpiece cover on during rehearsal when not playing is a great help. If you neglect this, you end up with reed that has waterlogged tip and dried out stock. Also, having a moisture controlled reed case helps.
2. Initially soaking reeds before playing is a must. Wetting them in your mouth doesn't cut it.
2. I've found that I have to use slightly softer reeds in the summer here (there is a big change in reeds from winter to summer in this climate).
3. It is extremely dry in Utah during the summer. Don't leave your wood instrument out of its case anytime when you are not playing it. Clarinets are VERY susceptible to cracking here, especially if they don't have a lot of time to get acclimated before you have to play. Tendon rings often fall off or get loose, and the condensation buildup on the C# key and the trill keys while playing is considerably greater than normal.
4. Yes, you need to drink more water. Because the air is so dry here (we are in a desert climate), you will get dehydrated without even noticing. A person will not notice that they are perspiring because moisture evaporates so quickly. You will notice lots of people walking around with water bottles, and I would suggest it for you.
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Author: S. Friedland
Date: 2008-06-02 13:37
My experience has been performing in both Southwestern Colorado cities, 6525(feet), or Denver (mile high city) or Aspen(over 8000) My horns felt as if they were leaking, which they were not, and I switched clarinets to older, less resistant models. After the initial problems, it was much easier to play. I also had an amusing first-time experience: I had been in the habit of drinking a glass of wine prior to a recital.The first time in Colorado, I walked out on stage and realized I was almost drunk, and had to "hold on" carefully in order to play the concert.
Sherman Friedland
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-06-02 14:35
I tried lighter reeds...1/2 strength...they still didn't vibrate well. A friend who lives in higher elevation used this technique. Super soak the reeds.....approx 1/2 hour before you play put them in water and let them soak until you play. ...don't let them dry out!
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Gary Foss
Date: 2008-06-03 05:04
I think the drier air and less of it are the biggest impacts of increased elevation. I live at 6800 feet in Colorado and have lived as high as 9600. Soaking the reed before playing is a must, unless You have humidor style reed case, and a constant awareness of the rapidly drying reed; twenty bars or more rest You will have to keep the reed moist or when You go to play, ouch. Sometimes You can get by on the same strength that You are using, but You have to acclimate Yourself to the elevation, hydrate excessively(water) and get in some heavy breathing exercise at the start of Your trip(jog or climb at a higher elevation than where You are playing). The best thing is when You go back to lower climes, the instrument opens up and You have so much more air to phrase with. Of course the effects of change are only noticable the first couple of days, the drying of the reed though, will always be a factor in the high country.
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