 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-02-27 19:03
I have a major problem that I hope someone has an answer for. I produce so my mositure that after a few minutes I'm playing "Bubbles"
Do you know of any way to cut down on the amount of mositure that one produces. My DDS had no answer.
Thanks
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-02-27 23:14
Two possibilties:
1. After many months or years of practise, you will stop producing moisture. Children always produce saliva and moisture in their mouths when anything is put in it. Adults can overcome this reflex with practise. I found after a while playing my recorder, my mouth dries up completely. The same may happen on the clarinet.
2. Disgusting though it sounds, a sharp "suck" every so often will clear the moisture. It is after all mainly condensation which is 100% pure water.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-02-28 00:29
I too am one of the "juicy" players. I just have to remember to swallow a couple extra times before every piece so as to not flood out the clarinet section. On the contra I have to drop the goose neck and dump it on a towel by my chair after every piece.
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-02-28 03:33
I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone. I quickly swab when I can. I too get tired of the bubbly sound. Michael
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-02-28 20:57
Eoin wrote:
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Disgusting though it sounds, a sharp "suck" every so often will clear the moisture. It is after all mainly condensation which is 100% pure water.
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It's condensation plus whatever grew in there since the last time somebody washed the mouthpiece and reed...yet another reason to rinse the equipment every day.
:-)
Lelia
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Author: Rob
Date: 2000-02-28 23:24
I suffered the same problem for many years and eventually, I began to reflexively swallow much of the excess as it was produced. It is important though, to make sure that this there is not a pathological cause for this. I found out in later years that my excess salivary activity was caused by a condition called Staphne's Cyst, which is not a cyst at all, but does swometimes contribute to the creation of very large salivary glands and a slight thinning of the bone in the lower jaw. This is an uncommon condition of which many DDSs are not aware. The first 3 DDSs who saw my X-Rays thought it was cancer and finally, it was an oral surgeon to whom I was referred for a biopsy that recognized it and explained it was the cause of my excess saliva production. Luckily, my sister became a DDS and familiarized herslf with this condition and so I get my dental work for free from an informed practitioner. It was a relief though to find out why I always produced so much saliva and to realize that it wasn't the result of anything I was doing wrong. As disgusting as it may sound, just as you learn to cheat for a breath at appropriate places in the music, you can learn to cheat for a swallow as well, without even having to think about it.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-02-28 23:48
Moisture is a problem for all clarinetists. The big moisture problems are with the Bb and C# pads. However, we always blow air into the hole to decrease the moisture, or bring a cloth with us to dry up the hole. The other way, is to suck up the clarinet to keep it dry. It's gross playing "under water". The best way to prevent it is to suck the moisture up.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-02-29 01:26
Thanks for all of the follow-up.
I believe that the main problem is that I'm a mouth breather. Have always had problems breathing though nose.
From all of your replays I guess the answer is to suck it up!
I'll also ask my DDS the condition you mentioned. Or give me the name of your sister and I'll go see her.
Thanks Bob
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-02-29 05:47
I was just talking to another clarinetist this afternoon who stated he had the problem. He said he cured most of it by raising his stand a bit and holding his head more upright. Haven't tried it yet though, I've been having a meaningful relationship with my lawn tractor (still ain't finnished).
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-02-29 12:24
Willie wrote:
I was just talking to another clarinetist this afternoon who stated he had the problem. He said he cured most of it by raising his stand a bit and holding his head more upright. Haven't tried it yet though, I've been having a meaningful relationship with my lawn tractor (still ain't finnished).
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Hey Willie, apparently that isn't a good excuse. Haven't you seen that picture of the guy on the Sneezy sponsor board? The one practicing while fighting off a shark attack on a sinking boat. Can't you drive that tractor with your feet? <g> Michael
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Author: Beejay
Date: 2000-02-29 14:46
Some foods, like citrus, can make you salivate more. I believe that some people find that chocolate has a drying effect. I always carry a pack of cigarette papers to blot up moisture in tone holes.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-02-29 16:05
My problem is not the tone holes, but the reed. I use two mouthpieces and just switch them until I can take the reed off of number one.
The only people out here that buy cig. paper are the ones who make their own. Now we have created a whole new market.
Beejay wrote:
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Some foods, like citrus, can make you salivate more. I believe that some people find that chocolate has a drying effect. I always carry a pack of cigarette papers to blot up moisture in tone holes.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-02-29 18:48
Another reason for excess salivation can be that you're practicing while hungry, or just after you've eaten, when your body is still in feeding mode. Your body can interpret that thing in your mouth as food and react accordingly! Try separating practice from meal time by at least half an hour in each direction.
That reminds me -- a big wind knocked over my garbage can the other day. Some trash spilled out. I cleaned up the mess, but probably didn't discover it until it had been spilled for a couple of hours at least. My husband and I have found some leftovers elsewhere in the yard. Well, later in the day, what did I see but a fat squirrel, sitting up on his haunches on my garden bench, where he was holding a clarinet reed in his front paws and nibbling it from the tip as if it were a delicacy! Normally, I don't feed the rats with fancy tails. My husband built a baffle that's kept them out of the bird feeder. Even so, I let the squirrel keep the reed. Would it be just too Dogpatch to toss my old reeds in the yard after this...?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-29 21:16
Lelia, AOL just knocked me off again in the middle of a post! TKS for your comments re: MP....flat! Your squirrel story is Great! I just feed ours old bread and some bird seed!, no reeds! Don
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-03-01 01:41
Hey gimmie a break. I haven't mowed since early Jan. If it gets too deep, its hard to spot the Rattlers and Moccasins when you go to the barn. It's spring and they're comming out of hibernation and striking at anything, especialy old slow fat Germans who play clarinets. I meet this criteria so must take precautions ( and shotgun ).
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