 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: charla
Date: 2011-03-31 13:59
I'm sure this topic has been discussed a zillion times, and probably everyone has a little different technique. Since I seem to go through more reeds than anyone on the planet, could you tell me the best way to prep reeds for playing? I've been using Vandoren 3's but my last teacher said my tone is too unfocused and to use at least a 3 1/2. I think just getting the ones I have adjusted properly would be a better idea.
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Author: DNBoone
Date: 2011-03-31 14:17
There is a lot if you use the search function on here I am sure.
Personally, I order about 8-10 boxes at a time, open them all, and let them sit out for at least a month before I play on them.
A general guideline after I have had them sitting around a while:
First day
A good soaking. I use to use water, but now I just stick them in my mouth for a bit.
Day 2
Play them each about 5 minutes, in medium range, nothing high or low.
Continue doing this, adding a few more minutes each day, for about two weeks. I do give them a "day of rest" every 3 or 4 days.
Day 3
First day of rest, don't touch them.
After the two weeks, I break out my glass and sand paper. Flatten the backs and adjust the rails as needed. Personally, I can do a lot of my adjusting by holding a reed up to a light to see where the thicker parts are, but this only gets it so close. The final adjustments are done by feel of how they play.
I find vandoreans are almost always hard on the right side. Particularly the bass clarinet reeds.
During this whole process, I keep them on pieces of glass with rubber bands around them. I stay away from the plastic things that reeds come in.
Post Edited (2011-03-31 14:18)
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Author: luckyclarinettoenla
Date: 2011-03-31 17:43
Take a look at the ATG system that Tom Ridenour has produced. I was a major skeptic but after using it for 6 months now, I can't believe more people aren't sold.
Never fool yourself into believing that today's 'good enough' will do tomorrow!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-03-31 18:24
Check my reed pages on my website, I have several articles on the subject that might help you. Of course if your teacher thinks you need a stronger reed you will need to clip them to make them harder but you might be better off trying a stronger reed to begin with. I have lots of suggestion, check it out. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: luca1
Date: 2011-03-31 20:29
A Biodynamic approach to Reed Preparation
1. Open the new boxes of reeds when the moon is beginning a new phase: consult an almanac if you are not privy to this sort of information.
2. Soak reeds in a preparation of Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale), Valerian flowers (Valeriana officinalis), and Horsetail (Equisetum). Use only purified rain-water. This initial baptism should never last longer than 4 minutes. Place the wet innocents on clean glass, and cover with white silk.
3. Take one reed from a previous season, one that was subjected to only tonal music, and not sullied by the corrupting vapors of dodecaphonic tonalities, and crush it to bits with mortar and pestle. Place these pulpy carbon bits into an antler (deer, moose or unicorn if you can lay your hands on one), and bury it deep in the bowels of the earth, in your garden or in the woods. If someone should happen upon you, just explain you’re a clarinetist: that should satisfy, and stifle any further queries.
4. Return to your new box and attempt to harness the cosmic forces now working their way into the very reeds themselves. These forces together with your breath of life, will bring sound into the world.
Imagine: where there was silence before, now there is sound. This is demonstration of the sheer power of this method!
Use it wisely.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2011-04-01 01:33
I know a certain clarinet friend who I will make sure receives luca1's method tomorrow...April 1st!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-04-01 01:48
Honestly? I take the reeds out of the box, and play each one for five minutes.
The next day I play the first one in rotation for however long that session is. I just rotate through them for a few days (enough to go through them all about twice), then I start to slowly work on them, just balancing them. Just making sure that by Tom Ridenour's "side to side" test, they are evenly balanced. Then I play them till I feel they are soft or I realize I end up picking the SAME two or three for performances. At that time, I open a new box, throw away the old ones, and repeat.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-04-01 02:29
Honestly?
1. Open a packet.
2. Wet reed for about 3 seconds (just enough to get it slightly moist).
3. Rub reed back and forth on white paper placed on a flat surface until smooth.
4. Tear off bit of paper and rub over top of reed in the direction of the grain.
5. Do this for 3 reeds and number them in pencil so you can tell which is while.
6. Play as normal and rotate accordingly.
Yeah, I'm a pretty no-fuss kind of person when it comes to reeds. It works for me.
Never Bb, sometimes B#, and always B natural! ♫♪
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Author: charla
Date: 2011-04-01 02:55
Thanks for the input.
Luca1, I'll be sure to try your suggestions. They'll be better than what I've been doing.
Ed, I'm finding your web pages helpful. Although I now live in the Midwest, I was in Aberdeen, MD for a number of years...close to your stomping grounds.
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Author: sdr
Date: 2011-04-01 12:18
I have recently switched to using the reed tool from ReedGeek (a Clarinet BB sponsor, I believe). I've successfuly used a reed knife, sandpaper, Ridenour ATG system and Reed Wizard over the years. I like the ReedGeek tool better than all of them --- WAY better.
-sdr
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Author: charla
Date: 2011-04-01 13:18
I ordered the reed tool...costs just a little more than a box of reeds. If it helps it will more than pay for itself. Thanks for the information.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-04-02 18:43
Hey, reed-ers,
Is there a 'clarinet reed map' akin to those complex oboe diagrams, showing which parts of the reed should be harder/stronger etc?
I'm a chronic 'reed adjuster' and would love to do some experimenting; when I last played extensive clarinet, reeds were still under $1...
GoodWinds
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-04-02 23:35
This looks to be very effective. What stops the user introducing bias through applying uneven pressure on the tool (and then the reed)?
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-04-03 05:25
GoodWinds: What might fit your needs is a little booklet called "Dr. Downing's Clarinettist's Reed Doctor" by Peter Moore and Sandra Downing. It is printed and published by Dr. Downing Music, 66 Eastleigh Road, Heald Green, Stockprot, Cheshire, England SK83EJ. Their URL is http://www.drdowningmusic.com. My copy was rather inexpensive and I find it quite useful.
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