 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-01-23 03:15
I tried doing some searches but didn't find the suggestions I was looking for.
It is currently winter in Chicago and the temperature is falling near 0F. The humidity is real low. I practice in a bedroom in the house and the humidity is maintained about 50%.
I just started band rehearsals again and none of my reeds work as they do at home. I am playing on Rico Grand Concert #4 reeds and they respond great. In the band room, I needed another lung to get air past the reed. I dropped down to 3 1/2 and still had a hard time because the reed would not stay damp.
How do you adjust to conditions like this? It is terrible and discouraging to practice just fine and then not have the ability to play as well in a different environment.
Thanks
Tony
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-23 03:20
My instructors suggest something to sip on. Specifically something that gets the 'ol saliva glands flowing (whatever that may be for you - a juicy juice, plain water, a sweet wine, etc.). Just to have enough moisture in your mouth. When taking a break from playing and putting the clarinet down for a bit put the cap on (cover the holes at the top if there are any) to try to keep humidity in. And periodically give the reed a wet sloppy lick when waiting during long periods of rest.
Or you can buy a legere reed!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: cujo
Date: 2004-01-23 03:45
A Legere reed sounds good and has no problem playing totally dry. Or any plastic reed will work.
I would worry alot more about the wood and makeing sure it has been well oiled. And that the temperature is not shifted to quickly as wood may crack.
Alcohol and sugar, and food destroy pads and make instrument smell funky. Drink only water not sugary drinks. Alcohol is for after practice:)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-23 03:55
True about the foods making it smell funky, and the alcohol bit was a point of sarcasm (apparantly too well since it wasn't picked up on - I'm really good at that dry humor Bob Newhart style!). However sugary drinks I still think are fine. I wouldn't sit there and take a "swig", but more of a very small "sip". Just a very small bit to get the taste in your mouth and that saliva flowing.
Maybe you can train yourself like Pavlov's dogs. Think about it. If you rub a certain rock (or any other action) everyday before you eat, eventually all you'll need to moisten that reed would be to rub that rock (or do whatever you did before mealtime!) Could be a good longterm solution. And think of the money you'd save on those little cardboard juices!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-01-23 05:56
I am not a Doctor (although I have played a Doctor on the radio), so this is absolutely NOT medical advice, just passing some information along.
My Nonprescription PDR (not current) lists SALIX SST Lozenges, made by Scandinavian Pharmaceuticals, 13 North Seventh Street, Perkasie, PA 18944. SALIX is intended to stimulate saliva production. It doesn't contain anything frightening: sorbitol, malic acid, sodium citrate, dicalcium phosphate, and citric acid. It's even claimed to help prevent tooth decay and bad breath, as it offers a buffering action to regulate oral pH.
I have never used this stuff, so you are on your own. Perhaps an enquiry to your doctor or dentist might be in order for professional commentary.
My saliva production becomes really high now and then, for whatever reason. When this happens, my reed seems to become waterlogged, and stiffness has to go from the usual #2 up to #2½ or even #3. As already suggested, when playing a synthetic reed (for me, Fibracell), no problem has been noticed.
Rock-rubbing sounds okay, but extinction of that salivation behavior will occur right after your body figures out the only thing you are going to stick in your mouth is not food, but rather a Clarinet mouthpiece. So if you try that, be sure to renew the whole thing from time to time.
Regards,
John
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-01-23 12:40
Geez, I live in the Chicago area and haven't noticed anything unusual. I'm not a doctor either but I have a son who is but he hasn't passed on any practical advice lately. Alcohol and water are , as I recall, miscible....meaning that they "dissolve' in each other quite well. I find alcohol drys out my mouth....not surprising. Sipping on water works for me too. I've read that the highest percentage of Titanic passengers who survived were those who had been drinking alcoholic beverages. Please excuse my rambling....it's early morning.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-01-23 12:53
Slobbering, however it is triggered, is not going to solve your problem. For years in Chicago I had to go from my steam-heated apartment (oh how I remember the inch-thick layer of ice on my windows) to any number of different venues and as anywhere else, reeds and the instrument itself change behavior with the environment. If your reeds are playing hard at your rehearsal space, prepare reeds at your house that are softer than you would play, and you should be in the ballpark when you go to rehearsal. Even better, spend extra time at the rehearsal space selecting and preparing reeds for that environment.
I myself never walk into a rehearsal or gig without a fairly wide array of reeds broken in and marked according to characteristics (soft, hard, responsiveness, etc.). I also arrive early to go through them and find the couple that will play at that moment according to temp, humidity, my zodiac sign and what I had for lunch.
Don't let the reeds be an impediment to your playing. Take the time and spend the money to have more than one option available to you.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-01-23 12:58
We had a week of sub -25 -35 degrees celsius here in Canada and I have not had too many problems...
I do notice my reeds play funny when the snow falls...but I simply rotate them and there is not trouble....
wind chill last week set a record at -45 one day.
David Dow
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-01-23 17:14
Thanks for all the suggestions. As far as salivating, my mouth is pretty wet, even during this low humidity time. My reeds are drying out too fast. The idea of preparing some reeds in the rehearsal room sounds good. One of the love/hate characteristics of the clarinet.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-01-23 19:28
Even in desert areas, its hard to find Zero, noticeable [!!] by night-time below 0 F, daytime above 100 F, but yes, RH's of 50% [outdoors] at 20-30 F will translate to low, below 30%? [indoors] in spite of home-humidification, which is noticeable from the static-electric "nuisance". So much for my explanation. You might take to reh/perf, a reasonably accurate hygrometer, to inform the management of very low RH's so as to suggest they do some humidification, maybe to at least 35-40% which might reduce your "drying-up". It would benefit all. The "personal" advice is VG [IMHO]. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Luke
Date: 2004-01-25 02:56
There's really no way to keep reeds moist for long in the winter, so here's my advice. Next time you're playing and feel the reed going dry, just say "Ah, hell with it!", take a sip of water and get back to playing.
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