 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robyn
Date: 2005-07-23 16:45
In about a week, I will be moving from dry-as-a-bone eastern Washington state to humidity-central North Carolina to start graduate school. I have lived in Washington all my life, as have my clarinets (all their lives, anyway) and have exactly no experience with living in a higher humidity area.
What can I expect the changes will be? I think my clarinets will probably enjoy the humidity in the long run, but are there any immediate dangers to them from the drastic change? I am flying over, so they won't get to have a gradual break-in or anything. My parents are coming with me, so the clarinets will have a few days of non-use while we furnish my apartment, but then I want/need to hit the ground running (er...practicing). Is that enough time for them to adjust so I can then continue practicing as normal?
Having learned clarinet over here, I know all the tricks of the trade for dealing with dryness. Living somewhere else might be interesting.
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-07-23 17:09
It may not be as bad as you fear - we Easterners have had electric power and air conditioning for some time now - evev in the Carolinas!!.
But best of luck in your new school!!
JDS
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Author: Robyn
Date: 2005-07-23 17:47
I apologize if it sounded like that, because I didn't mean it that way (although I have to admit, it does sort of feel like I'm moving to a whole different world!). I just assumed that even with air conditioning and such, there would still be a stark difference in humidity between the two areas. Is this not true?
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-07-23 18:26
Eastern Wash State to Central NC probably will seem all different, but one of the changes will be the variability of the climate - from "all dry" to "just wait until next week" - or next season, anyway.
As far as the effect on your playing and exact tone goes, this is getting rapidly out of my league as a distinctly dilletante learner.
Where in Central NC?
JDS
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2005-07-24 00:47
I live on the southeast coast of North Caroina and the humidity levels are super high during July, August, and September. Air conditioning drops the humidity significantly, but school buildings, auditoriums, etc. where a lot of people open doors frequently still have high humidity. I haven't noticed any real problems caused by the humidity, although I keep a range of reed strengths ready, and arrive at gigs early enough to select the "right" reed for that evening. From October through April things are usually much drier.
If you can leave the clarinets in the case for a few days that should allow them to acclimate gradually.
John
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-25 03:24
I found my wooden clarinet quite shrunken in the high humidity of SE Michigan. That was probably more due to lack of use rather than the climate. My neighbor's Buffet R-13, played regularly had no problems --algthough it had probably lived most of its life in MI.
It recovered nicely when I moved to North Idaho and started playing it regularly.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Robyn
Date: 2005-07-25 03:49
"Where in central NC?"
Well, I meant it as "humidity-central", but I guess it is actually central also. I'll be in Greensboro.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2005-07-25 17:40
I recently flew to Singapore, from Vancouver, (B.C) to perform at the WASBE conference. The humidity in Singapore is MUCH greater than here. None of the clarinetists in the group experienced any changes. Immediately on returning to Vancouver I attended a week long music camp and again noticed no difference in playing.
Marcia
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2005-07-25 17:52
In Japan almost all clarinets except Yamaha come from dryer countries to this humid Japan. There seems no impacts on clarinets itself. Buffet's pamphlet for Japanese market tells not to apply any oil inside the bore.
We, Japanese players, are rather concerned in the case when we move from humid Japan to dry foreign countries such as Spain.
The biggest impact will be not on instruments but sound itself. Dry atmosphere makes a sound vibrate better.
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2005-07-25 18:08
A very pleasant day at 96 degrees and 90% RH here in Atlanta today. Although much of the Midwest is experiencing a heat wave this is pretty normal July for us (bring your shorts and T-Shirts to ClarinetFest 2006 in Atlanta !!) - mid North Clarolina is similar. Your primary consideration must be changes in temperature - the clarinet will adapt to loose or gain moisture more slowly than the dramatic elevation in temperature if left in a hot car (ever for 1/2 hour in the afternoon) and then opened abruptly to a 65 degree pit orchestra environment. I go grocery shopping with my clarinet in the buggy!
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-07-25 23:14
And when the good Dr. comes up short at the cash register he just pulls out his C, puts his hat on the floor, and plays until the bills are paid.
Right?
JDS
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2005-07-26 13:57
I moved from Denver to Florida with a very expensive Martin acoustic guitar. It was a pain to keep the instrument humidified out there. I kept it in its case all the time. From what I have been told, humidity is good for wood instruments. It's going from humid to dry that you have to worry about. Basically, I was instructed to keep the guitar in its case for 3 days once I arrived at my new locale and then I can take it out and leave it out of its case if I wanted to. I am pretty sure it would work the same for a clarinet. My horn is plastic because I am a beginner so I didn't have to go through that.
Good luck in NC.
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