 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mike
Date: 1999-11-12 21:48
I am an adult learner. IN another bulletin board the advice
to a reed question was maybe you need to go up in reed size.
My question is when do you stop going up?.
I started on a 1.5 and am now on a 3 Grande concert in about
18 months and have been with that size for about 5 months,but I have seen reeds in online shops reeds of 5.5 so when do you stop.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-12 22:15
Mike,
if a certain reed strength sounds good, has the right volume level and performance charactistics for your mouthpiece, and is manageable - you stop. Reeds that are stiffer won't make you sound better; indeed, you'll probably sound much worse as unused air makes a hissing sound and air leaks around the mouthpiece at high volume levels.
Remember, _in general_:
a 3 - 3.5 reed is average for medium tip opening mouthpieces. Lower than 3 is used for mouthpieces with large tip openings and embouchures that are developing, and 3.5 and higher for mouthpieces with closed facings.
There's always exceptions to this rule (my son starts with hard #4 Vandoren V12s and scapes them until they're about a 3.75-4.00 on a close faced Hawkins).
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-11-12 23:11
Mark hit the point on target. You want a reed strength that performs well with your embouchure strength and the mouthpiece's dimensions. You may hear or read of exceptions to this concept, but generally it works pretty well.
The reed strength "equation" is not straightforward. Rather, it's a fuzzy thing that many folks have to figure out for themselves by trial and error, with lots of day-by-day variations. One day, you will find that a particular 3.0 reed is "just right". The next day, only a 3.5 will work for you. That's life. Here are some general concepts to work with.
Close mp - generally stronger reed (folks claim a dark sound is made from this combination)
Open mp - generally weaker reed (folks claim a brighter sound is made with this combination)
Medium mp - middle of the road reed strength (somewhat variable sound, depending on reed strength, reed type, etc.)
Strong embouchure and air support - stronger reed
Weak embouchure and air support - weaker reed
Reasonably well developed embouchure and air support but novice to intermediate level - generally (but definitely not always) middle of the road reed strength
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Author: HIROSHI
Date: 1999-11-13 02:57
Other things to consider:
1)Different manufacturer has a different hardness designation. As a starting point, the table given in International Music Supplier may work.
<A HREF=http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com/catalogx.html>Reed Table</A>
You can see even in Vandoren traditinal one is harder than V12 with the same number.
2)After break-in reeds stabilize and become somewhat harder than off-the-box condition. As to break-in you can search the Archive detailed info by the key word reed break in, I think.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-11-15 00:02
And the other thing: I play different hardness reeds when I find my physical ablity changed.
Even when I do like the tones of a reed of a certain hardness, if I find I cannot play arpeggio satisfactorily, I change the reed of a lesser hardness by 0.5 considering I have lacked in practice time and my muscle became weak.
Continuous up or down of scales can be played without a real maneuvability of a player but arpeggion needs real ability, I think.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-11-15 14:16
Hiroshi has a good point, too. Chromatic scales can be learned and played fairly quickly, with minimal fuss. Arpeggio drills are killers. As an adult novice, I'm still working on Baermann III's arpeggios in all keys. Now, that's hard (but very rewarding) work!
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Author: HIROSHI
Date: 1999-11-16 01:44
Paul
My favorite pieces in 24 Melodic Studies by Carl Baerman are No.19 an 20(these might be wrong numbers). Especially number 20(?) is very rewarding arpeggio like studies provably arranged from a Johan Sebastian Bach sonata. It is very lovely too!
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Author: Meri
Date: 1999-11-16 23:23
For me, I settled on my reed strength (Vandoren #4 Regular) in my 4th year of playing. But, some people will settle very early, and others will settle later. (I wonder whether I'm one of the earlier or later ones)
Meri
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