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 Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: whole note 
Date:   2010-08-16 17:32

I hope this isn't a really stupid question but:

Are long tone exercises slowly going from as soft to as loud as you can play and then back to soft, hard on reeds?

Should you save more worn or less desirable reeds for these exercises? Or is it helpful in the breaking in of reeds? If so is there a rotation scheme that makes sense?

Thanks,

Nancy

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: SteveG_CT 
Date:   2010-08-16 18:53

In general I don't think it's much harder on reeds than normal playing. You are putting more stress on the reed by playing fortissimo, but you also aren't subjecting it to rapid changes in vibrating frequency so in my opinion at least it's pretty much a wash.

That being said, I like to save my good reeds for rehearsals and performances so I generally use a fibracell reed when playing longtones or scales.

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2010-08-16 20:54

Playing clarinet is hard on reeds. Don't overthink this too much.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: kdk 
Date:   2010-08-16 23:09

I second Alex's answer. In addition, my feeling has always been that practicing on anything less than a good reed is at the very least demoralizing and at worst can lead to bad habits (as you try to compensate for a less than responsive reed) and tension that can defeat much of the purpose of practicing. You don't need to practice (long tones, scales or anything else) on your *best* reed, but you shouldn't IMO use "more worn or less desirable reeds" for practicing either.

Karl

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: Maestro_6 
Date:   2010-08-16 23:27

I agree with Karl and Alex as well. However, a small adjustment can go a long way, which allows me to use up to 8 reeds in the terribly inconsistent Blue Box variety. Now, long tones are important to get tuning and tone production in your head. It doesn't wear the reed nearly as much as, say, continuous rapid staccato playing. Keep doing long tones; it's good for you.

Just adjust reeds where you're happy to practice on them, then practice.

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2010-08-17 04:20

Rotating reeds is always a good idea. You can use "practice" reeds to practice but they should at least be decent reeds in my opinion. I don't use my "best" reeds to practice on but I won't use rejects either. Use common sense. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: Legacy player 
Date:   2010-08-17 19:45

what type of reeds do people recommend?
I use Vandoren 56 but are there better reeds available?

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2010-08-17 20:06

Duh. First I thought that "Reed Wear" referred to some kind of clothing (those Englishers have suitable apparel for every opportunity). [right]

Now, per your reeds...first of all, they have to suit your mouthpiece. There are better and worse combinations, so it's a bit of a gamble without knowing what kind of beak you're using.

(FWIW I'm using Mitchell Lurie and Selmer Primo (aka Gonzalez)).

--
Ben

Post Edited (2010-08-17 21:40)

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2010-08-17 20:43

>>Duh. First I thought that "Read Wear" referred to some kind of clothing (those Englishers have suitable apparel for every opportunity). <<

*cough*

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2010-08-17 21:42

EEBaum wrote:

> *cough*

Indeed. I hate embarrassing typos. [frown]

--
Ben

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2010-08-18 00:08

Ed Palanker said:
>>> Use common sense.


BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!! [tongue]

I like the Rico Reserves, myself. AND the Legere signatures.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


Post Edited (2010-08-18 00:09)

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: whole note 
Date:   2010-08-18 02:45

There could be a market for reed wear. Don't you think?
:-)
Thanks for the insight all!

Nancy



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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2010-08-18 03:58

>>
There could be a market for reed wear. Don't you think?
:-)
<<

<_<

>_>

[full disclosure: trying to be subtle here]


Or are all'y'all referring to some sort of clothes to put on your reeds?

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2010-08-18 08:14

[not trying to be subtle]

Nah, a dork suit with <insert brand name> written all over it. Like bikewear (where you actually pay to make free publicity for some manufacturers)

Hey, think of it, a pink bunny suit with a V* logo...whoa!

--
Ben

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 Re: Long Tones and Reed Wear
Author: whole note 
Date:   2010-08-18 15:11

I like the idea of clothes to put on your reeds. Pink bunny suit with logo could be a big seller.

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