 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: swkeess
Date: 2009-02-05 02:07
I did a search on this topic, as well as reed etiquette, but cannot find an answer to my question. I play both in a trio and a community band with an excellent clarinet player who majored in music at a premier university here in Canada. I am an ordinary amateur musician who dropped a music major after the first year and graduated with an all-purpose degree in psychology. I did not play clarinet for over 20 years and then took it up again with a renewed interest to the point where I am now taking lessons again and playing better than I did when I left off majoring in music (in my humble opinion).
My friend seems to have an obsession about reeds. In every trio rehearsal she will select and reject about a dozen reeds. The other clarinet player and I have to stop playing and listen to her critique of each rejected reed as well as an assessment of the characteristics of the various reeds she has played over the last few weeks, along with an analysis of how the weather affects the reeds. In concert band, she spends more time trying out reeds than playing. This past rehearsal, she must have tested at least 24 reeds during the two hour time period, all of which she had already selected and played beforehand.
I know that GBK has fifteen reeds always on hand: five he is breaking in, five for concerts, and five that are at the end of their life for practising with. Apparently he selects his (one or two) reeds for the occasion. Other people have different reed rotations. Since I don't play as much, I usually have one or two reeds that I really like to play on, as well as one or two that will do in a pinch. I like to play on reeds that play well out of the box (Gonzalez F.O.F. 3 1/4, the same as my friend plays).
Am I an unsophisticated player who can't tell the subtle differences between reeds or is my friend too obsessed with finding exactly the right reed? Have you had an experience with another clarinet player like this? I am just curious to know if this is a problem with me or with my friend.
Susan Keess
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-02-05 02:26
I have 8 reeds in my case, although I really only use 4 of them regularly.
I tend to be picky about reeds too, but I don't go through 24 reeds in 2 hours. The ATG reed finishing system has helped me a lot with adjusting and improving reeds. Many of my reeds became a lot more playable, although some still aren't up to my reed standards.
Different mouthpieces can be picky about reeds, and reeds themselves can have problems of their own. Perhaps this is why your friend is so "obsessed" about finding the perfect reeds.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2009-02-05 04:38
If I was playing with that person I would be inclined to ask her to do her selection before she arrives at rehearsal, and stop wasting everyone else's time.
Her behaviour is excessive and unacceptable IMHO.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2009-02-05 05:05
I'd slap her.
I tell all my students this: reed work is a personal issue that needs to take place at home, in the practice room, or while one is getting instruction on modifying and maintaining them. To whip out the tools in public and waste everyone's time babbling about it is self-centered and irritating. Besides, as clarinetists, I think the complaining about reeds not working really are the domain of our double reed friends in the oboe and bassoon sections. :P
You don't see string players whining about the reaction of their sweat on silver vs. aluminum wound strings during the middle of the rehearsal, nor are they constantly swapping them back and forth.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-02-05 10:07
It certainly seems to me as though your friend is taking things a bit far. What differences do you notice between the various reeds or when she finally finds one she likes?
However, you describe her as a "friend" several times so presumably she is not someone you would want to risk a long-term rift with over this. Perhaps what she needs is reassurance that she sounds fine on one of the first couple of reeds she tries at the beginning of the rehearsal.
On the other hand, don't feel that you have to bow to her just because, on the surface of it, she appears more qualified than you which the beginning of your post suggests - you obviously manage to play pretty well on a reed that you don't fuss over nearly so much. That's another thing - it's possible that all these reeds have been so mauled and chewed and ground and dried out that none of them could be expected to be much good!
Personally, I don't do much to reeds and I play on most as they come out of the box for a week or two and then ditch them.
Vanessa.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-02-05 10:35
It seems excessive
So much so, I wonder if it is a displacement activity for something else - which might include peformance anxiety, low self worth, need for reassurance etc.
Only you in the room will know if that rings true with behaviour or character.
If a friend, and if that is a possibility, an approach such as
" about all this reed testing, can I just ask if it is only about the reeds? Is the music bothering you or are you worried about how you sound, because you sound terrific to me" - or whatever
If you are wide of the mark, then it is a positive and caring way of mentioning it and the activity may alter as a result. If there is a relevance, then they may really value the opportunity to open up a hidden concern.
Just a thought
Chris
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2009-02-05 11:21
It's her "duty" to come to the rehearsal with 3 or 4 good (or at least acceptable) reeds. If she feels the need, one can be changed in a few seconds. Anything more is excessive, and probably speaks to an issue more complex than reed selection.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-02-05 14:05
"Play the reed--don't let the reed play you!!" William Stubbins, legendary retired University of Michigan Professor or Clarinet
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Author: graham
Date: 2009-02-05 14:56
OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The clarinet equivalent of constantly washing your hands.
Does she try new brands of reeds, or does she always buy the same brand and strength and simply goes through them in a fruitless search for nirvana?
My suggestion is as follows: (as for the trio)
Assuming you all warm up a bit, then she can try two or three reeds then. Tell her firmly which was the best of these. If she tries any other reeds during the session then firmly tell her that they are all inferior to the one you picked out as best at the beginning. Just make it clear that that reed is the only one you are going to endorse. That way, depending on exactly what is wrong with her, there is a chance that she will drop the constant search for a reed which is a shade better than the others she has tried.
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Author: mozartklar
Date: 2009-02-05 16:46
I used to have a friend back in college who used to obsess over his reeds to the point that it became totally unhealthy. In my opinion, my friend just couldn't come to grips that with reeds it is always a gamble. A reed that plays well today, probably won't play tomorrow. A reed is nothing more than a piece of wood that is extremely sensitive to changes in it's environment. It makes perfect sense!
As long as you keep your reeds humidified and break them in steadily, you will increase your chances of having reeds that play at an acceptable level.
Until your friend realizes that this is part and parcel of being a reed player, she will still continue to obsess to her detriment.
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Author: swkeess
Date: 2009-02-06 00:44
Thanks for the replies and suggestions - I'll certainly keep them in mind the next time I play with her. It's reassuring to know that it's not me being easily irritated by this. She really is a friend and a terrific player, so perhaps this is like compulsive hand-washing. After playing in a trio together for about three years now, you get to be like an old married threesome - everyone gets on each other's nerves sometimes but the companionship and respect keep you going!
Susan Keess
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