 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-05-05 13:39
The earlier discussion of breaking in a new clarinet got me to thinking about all the discussion on breaking in reeds. Many years ago (more than many of you are old), I played the clarinet. Had a Lablanc clarinet, woodwind mouthpiece and used LaVoz med hard reeds. My break in of reeds was to place the reed in my mouth for a few minutes, play it for about 10 minutes, put it away and then use it whenever I wished. When and if it got too soft, i clipped it with reed trimmer (quarter and match if clipper not with me) and "softened" them with a single edge razor blade. I was a pretty fair clarinet player through high school and college (usually first chair, knocked off occassionally when I got too "cocky"), but obviously I was not well informed.
I began playing again a couple of years ago and began reading postings on this board with freat interest. There are more reed discussion than anything else (except maybe buying a new clarinet or mouthpiece). These discussions have helped me. I am using Gonzales FOF reeds (on both clarinet and sax), previously used VD. I break open a box, suck on them, then play for 10 minutes and put them away for use. I rotate a box of 10. I still use clipper and razor blade to adjust and things seem to work well. Playing first chair again. I don't seal, blow in the butt end, spit on them or anything else (except occassional prayer). Am I uneducated on reeds or simply naive?
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2005-05-05 13:57
You've just worked out your own method of what works best for you. And good on you, I spend way too much time reading, listening, and trying out things with my reeds and have probably wasted a lot of money on failed attempts... At least your method works!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-05-05 17:01
Your history runs quite parallel to my own experience, BB.
I don't fuss over reeds at all, never have, so perhaps we're both uneducated and naive. However, in my heart of hearts I don't believe so.
I was taught and learned how to control the reed -- not the other way 'round.
I misplaced my reed trimmer decades ago... didn't use it much anyway 'cause it's just as effective to move the reed up the mouthpiece a smidge... or, whatever works. A few judicious scrapes with a good ol' single edge razor blade does wonders on those rare occasions when I have nothing better to do with my time than take out a frustration or two by tormenting a reed.
I find the reed discussions here quite interesting. I've never faithfully followed any "routine", although I do rotate two or three reeds just because someone I admired long ago told me I'm supposed to. Sometimes I forget.
I'm happy to see another view on the matter posted. Thanks for bringing it up.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Markael
Date: 2005-05-05 18:28
Ron,
Thank you, thank you.
I posted a message on the other discussion about reeds and came to regret it. I get the feeling that some of those who delve deeply into these matters consider guys like us to be uncircumcised Philistines.
Or to be more blunt, I don't want to look stupid.
I’m a clarinet teacher who came to teaching late in life and I don’t have a clarinet degree. One of the reasons I joined this board was to improve myself and gain knowledge. After reading all the posts on reeds I have even entertained thoughts of taking a course or getting some private instruction on reed care, if only to have something to pass on to my students.
On the other hand, I’m telling the truth about opening a box of ten reeds and being able to play all of them. True, reeds are sensitive things, but you are quite right in your observation about the player controlling the reed, and not vice versa. Or, as my Pop would say, “A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
We all have something to give and to receive from this bulletin board. My impression, as a newcomer, is that it is very easy to get caught up in many technical fine points of the clarinet. It is easy to get caught up in all the trees (reeds, etc.) and not see the forest.
The forest is music, and that comes from the heart.
Mark
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-05-05 20:06
>>After reading all the posts on reeds I have even entertained thoughts of taking a course or getting some private instruction on reed care, if only to have something to pass on to my students.
Private instruction on reed care? Who on earth did you have in mind?
It's a bit like private instruction on which car to buy.
Better to stick to this forum and print your own certificate.
Steve
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-05-05 20:19
The original post pretty much describes my methodology too xcept I sold my reed trimmer after deciding that when the tip needed trimming the reed was just about washed up anyway. My latest experiment involving coating the reed with polyurethane is working out OK as the reed plays just fine. Will see if the coating process extends reed life any. Yes, I realize that if I hadn't coated it I wouldn't know what effect the poly would have had but I believe empirical experimentation has some value.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Markael
Date: 2005-05-06 01:07
A friend of mine took such a course at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Author: kal
Date: 2005-05-06 06:41
Please tell me that was a 1-credit-hour lab, and not an actual class...
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-05-06 20:27
Bob D, what polyureathane do you use? A varnish. This sounds like an engineering solution.
Signed, a naive, unseducated, somewhat simple chemical engineer, who also happens to lve the clarinet and saxophone.
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Author: Brk3b2
Date: 2005-05-07 04:30
2 questions about reeds, 1. how much different are regular rico reeds compared to rico royal, and 2. My teacher just gave me a new 3 and half rico reed. Normally i play 3 but this reed was allmsot impossible to play, and it got dry extremely quickly. Later today i bought a bok of number 3 rico royals took one out of the box and it was much easier to play, why is this?
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