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Re: Reed Mold

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-06-07 05:36

BGBG -

Like just about everything pertaining to clarinet (with the exception of a few basics) - there aren't many hard and fast rules.

Find what works for you, and then keep doing it.

I don't do any of the things you do to your reeds, and I don't have any issues with my reeds. (My final instructor in college had me doing all sorts of humidity-controlled methods - all of which ended up costing me a lot of reeds to mold or other malady. After college, I simply went back to what worked for me before that instructor came along.) You, on the other hand might find that humidity control is absolutely necessary for you. If you have ten of us (clarinet players) in the same town, chances are you'll have ten different methods of treating reeds.

I'd suggest not getting too caught up in all the tech talk though. Most of the things offered as solutions, are offered as helpful suggestions, or "what worked for me."

So much of what we deal with on clarinet is within our own minds, our own biases, our own training, our own experiences. That's why we can go on for pages and pages about reeds, ligatures, barrels, stock material, etc. Sorta like vitamins or herbal supplements..."I think it helped."