Author: AGH
Date: 2018-05-21 21:48
Hi all,
This is my first post here, though I've been an avid reader for a while.
I have a question that has been bothering me for a while, and while everyone pretty much talks about it, no one really goes into specific details about it. That is, how do you rotate reeds and keep them in performance ready condition?
Through reading, I realize that you must have a very consistent and effective method of getting reeds into ready-to-play condition, whether or not its breaking them in through a long, gradual process, or just playing them out-of-the box.
I have found a way to break-in reeds that works for me, which is to break-in reeds slowly over a course of a week (using Mr. Edward Palanker's method. Thank you sir, your website is marvelous), but once I have that all down, how do I categorize them in a way that allows me to achieve maximum effectiveness in using them and prolonging their life?
Say I have a case of breaking-in reeds, and I assume that you do not play on them in the same manner as broken-in reeds, so these are not for practicing (right?). Therefore I have another case specifically for reeds that are ready for practicing, performing, lessons, etc...
I've heard that you should not practice on a ready-to-play reed for more than 30 minutes at a time (as this destroys the cane if you play any longer), so then you put it away, and change to a different reed, and this is what rotating reeds means. After a morning and afternoon session of practice, rehearsals, etc... I've pretty much used all of my ready-to-play reeds.
Am I allowed to go back to my first reed that I used in the morning? I've asked some colleagues and teachers, and they all say different things. Some don't play on a reed more than once a day, some play one reed the whole day and when they're done they put it away and leave it alone for a week. Others just play whatever reed that they find plays at that moment for them. I have experimented with these kinds of things, and I find that if I play on a reed that I already played that day, it is weaker, softer, and I can't seem to make it vibrate the way it did before, whereas if I left it for a day, it plays better. If that is the case, then I can't practice when all of my ready-to-play reeds are already played through?
How do you specifically rotate reeds? and how long do you play a reed before it goes back into the case, and how long until you can pick it up again to play on it? In the next few hours, that night, the next day, or next week?
Sorry for asking these bunch of questions, I just really want to be clear on this. And yes, I do sometimes use Legere reeds but I find that cane is more suited for me.
Thank you
Post Edited (2018-05-21 21:49)
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