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Alto Clarinet Reeds

Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2004-12-06 22:48

Hello All!

I am proud to announce that today marks the first time I have EVER played an alto clarinet. I saw some really cool solos when I was digging though the Bass/Alto/Contrabass solo folder (at my high school) for the Eb Alto, which led me to ask my band director if we even HAD an alto clarinet. She said there was one on the shelves. So I went in after school today, and lo and behold, sitting on the highest shelf of the clarinet/flute cabinet, there was a beautiful little alto clarinet! I have been playing the bass clarinet for 3 years, and even though I love it, I am always wanting to mix it up a little.

But, to the point. I played it for a while after school, and convinced my director to let my take it and some of the solos home to play though. The clarinet has an awesome sound to it- not that I have much to compare it too, but I actually got it in tune) and it is extremely responsive and easy to play. When I asked her what type of reeds I SHOULD be using on it, she wasn't really sure. In the case there was 6 reeds, which I sterilized to use. In there was 5 LaVoz Medium Soft's (one of which I threw out due to chipping) and one Rico Royal #2 (which I threw because she said it was way too soft).

So now I will pose the question to all the clarinet experts out there- If I choose to continue on with this alto clarinet (which is probable- my director said if there is any alto clarinet pieces with our band music this year, I can have them) what hardness and type reeds do you prefer and why?

I currently play my soprano clarinet with LaVoz Medium Hard reeds and my bass clarinet with LaVoz Mediums- and switching to Vandoreen #3s.

By the Way- the instrument is a Vito, and says Reso-Tone underneath the emblem on the top of the horn.

Thanks alot!

Becca

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