 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-19 04:24
I seem to be have a problem with my mouth drying out after I am just playing for a little while like maybe 10 min. Not sure why or what I am doing wrong. I have to have a glass of water while I am playing. I am 56 years old and just started playing after meny years of not playing. I do take medications for my B/P and I suspect maybe my water pill could be drying me out or my Asthma or allergy medications. Any one else with this problem? What do you do to aleviate the dry mouth? I moisten my reeds and I seem to have saliva when I start playing but then my mouth seems to dry out and loose moisture as playing continues. Thanks for any advice. Sincerely Monna
~~~Begining again and enjoying my clarinet~~~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-19 06:08
My experience with asthma and allergy medications has been very bad, especially for drying side effects . I no longer use any of them . I use essential oils to combat almost all my health issues. Start by searching online for side effects of all ypur medications. When I have a medically diagnosed problem I turn to food cures first, then essential oils followed by TCM ( Traditional chinese medicine ) herbs. I would only consider western medical pharmaceutical solutions as a last resort . In the last 15 years I have not once fulfilled a pharmaceutical prescription because I did not have to after seeking out better alternatives.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-11-19 06:33
Well if the issue is that it negatively affects your cane reeds, you could try Legere Signature Soprano Sax reeds. They are truly wonderful and just about as good as any cane reed.
...........Paul Aviles.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RefacerMan
Date: 2018-11-19 08:43
Your meds will definitely tend to dry you out. One secret a soprano told me was to gently squeeze the side of your tongue between your teeth for a few seconds to produce more saliva. It works, but be sure to do it gently.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-19 18:46
Thanks everyone,
I will give these ideas a try. I did not know a sax reed can fit a clarinet. Thanks Paul I will check them out also my reeds at the moment are not the best quality.
Windy I will check into the oils and my soon to be daughter-in-law is an apocathary (sp) maybe she can give me some ideas to try. Thanks!
I just tried the side of my tongue and it did produce some saliva, now I need to try it while playing. Maybe this will take care of it.
Do you think the water while playing is making the problem worse or better, just thinking it might wash what saliva I have away? not sure I will try both ways if I don't choke I get very thristy. I will be asking my Dr. next month if I can reduce or eliminate some of my medications. My b/p is better than it used to be I walk everyday on a beautiful trail to get strong and build up my lungs.
Thanks again for all the ideas!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-11-19 20:17
The whole "sax reed" or "other" size (German on Boehm or the other way around) has become a little more prevalent lately. One reason is what I see as the "Legere Effect." The Legere reeds are based on various types of.....plastic. The strength and quality of sound varies based on this as well as the cut imposed upon it. The Legere European Signature cut is WIDE (like a soprano sax reed) and looks pretty dorky. At first I even refused to try them because I was using the Vandoren M/O ligature and that reed does not even fit into the ligature's prefab notch. Of course the proof is in how well they work once on the mouthpiece and you actually play on them! The Signature Soprano Sax reeds are the same "dorky" width and they are additionally cut short (lengthwise), but the performance is incredible.....really!
The trick though is finding the right strength which quite frankly could take a month or so playing on what you think works until it doesn't anymore. I strongly suggest ordering through Amazon. They take anything back for return. Once you have your strength set, then you can resume ordering through your favorite woodwind retailer.
...................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-19 20:43
If you do explore essential oils it is of vital importance that you dilute them if used on your body. Undiluted oils can cause burns and major allergic reactions. My effective formulations are reduced to a maximum of 3% . In most cases thinner dilutions are more effective than thicker ones. I use only Jojoba oil as a carrier oil or dilutant. Formulations that use olive oil will be resisted by your body because olive oil contains too many oils that we have too much of. Jojoba oils composition is closest to that of healthy skin and it includes the most Omega 3 of the carrier oils. Most euro americans suffer extreme omega 3 deficiency which leads to immune desease and disfunction.Olive oil formulations will often leave gummy residues for hours while I have seen Jojoba formulations absorbed almost instantly. Other carrier oils fall between the two extremes.Essential oils can be added to humidifiers without dilution.Carrier oils will clog filters and gum up humidifiers. Pine, fennel, rosemary and citrus are what I use for asthma and bronchitis.I use a rollerball vial to apply it to the tip of my nose and across the upper lip as well as across my upper chest.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-20 01:13
Thanks very much. My future DIL will be here tomorrow and I will tell her what you said and see if she can help me she has many supplies maybe she will have some on hand. Have a wonderful evening!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-20 01:20
Thanks Paul, will try that my next order for reeds is in Dec. budget thing I am excited to try them. I wanted to also try the Vandoren M/O ligature saw it in the WWBW catalog, right now I am playing the Rovener Dark. Do you have an opinion on the Rovener Dark ligiture I am currently using? Thanks!
Todays playing was better I used the tounge on my teeth thing and it did help some, I only got very dry one time, and still had my glass of water but tried not to drink too much.
Have a wonder evening!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-11-20 01:56
Ohhhhhhh...........
As a "gear head" I tend to be an exposed nerve of opinions.
The Rovner pouch ligatures are great because they are indestructible and decent all around ligatures. I do, however, prefer the Rovner Light which just seems like a "Dark" with a chunk taken out of the middle. Somehow it manages to be less deadening to the sound and about as good as almost any ligature out there no matter price (and I say that as someone who regularly uses much more expensive ligatures).
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-20 12:33
Thanks Paul, I like reading opinions I will put the light on my wish list to try. Have a great week!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-21 10:28
Windy, talked to my future DIL and she has most of the items you talked about and she is going to get me started and see if it helps. Thanks again, we had an enjoyable evening and diner. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks again to everyone for you help and ideas! Monna
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-21 17:40
One other major caution is do not add essential oils to bath water or wash basins.People with respiratory disorders or skin problems can be tempted to do that. Oils do not dissolve in water. The oil beads in water can have the same effects as undiluted oils.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-22 21:56
Good to know Thanks appreciate the help. Ginny is working on getting me set up when she returns from Thanksgiving with her family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: klim
Date: 2018-11-24 04:36
I'm 69 and began playing again 18 months ago after not playing for 50 years. Finding a reed and mouthpiece that worked for me was an interesting challenge. I tried 10 different reeds: cane reeds from #2 to 3 1/2, Legere synthetic reeds #3 and 3 1/4, and Fibrocell synthetic reed 3 /12 and 4. I love synthetic reeds - no fuss, no muss and, to your point, no moisture needed! Fibrocell are less expensive and quite a bit softer - I found a #4 Fibrocell to be equivalent to the Legere #3. Anyway, I ended up playing exclusively with Legere #3 Signature on a VanDoren M30 mp. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-24 14:18
Thank you Klim, I have one fibrocell reed its a #2 and so very soft, I need one higher not sure the number. Maybe a 3 since they are soft, I use a 2.5 in a cane reed. I am still working on it. Great ideas!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
