Author: rdc
Date: 2021-03-22 19:17
I tried the method this morning and thought I would pass along some observations.
I read the other thread on this subject and came across kdk's point that the direction of flicking makes a difference. This had also occurred to me. When I flick a reed at a 90 degree angle to the mouthpiece table in order to hasten getting rid of a wavy tip, I hold the mouthpiece table face up and flick the reed from below. I have never noticed that this had an effect on reed strength. So it seemed to me that to actually weaken the fibers, I would need to flick the other way, flicking the top of the reed to bend it toward the mouthpiece as kdk describes. This is what Nicolas seems to do in his video (although he has the mouthpiece table facing downward and flicks from below).
I tried the method on two D'Addario Reserve Classic clarinet reeds, strength #4. I knew these would be too stiff for my mouthpiece, and I was right. I used a plastic plaque rather than my mouthpiece for these experiments.
For the first reed, after test playing it, I flicked at a 90 degree angle at several points along the vamp. Then I put the reed at an angle starting with the edge of my plaque running from the center of the reed tip to a point about halfway down the vamp where the facing breaks away from the reed, flicked several times and then moved the reed closer to the corner of the tip and flicked again, much as I had seen Nicolas do in his video. The flicks were all very light, but the results were disappointing. I tried the flicking several times, with the result that the reed seemed to get way too soft.
For the second reed, I tried only the angled flicking with the plaque edge running from the center of the reed tip to the point where the mouthpiece facing breaks away. Just a few light flicks on each side and in this position only. The results were more promising. The reed was freed up, but still too stiff. Flexing the reed revealed some harder areas near the tip of the reed on either side. I positioned the edge of the plaque near those areas and angled downward from the tip toward the sides of the reed and then gave a few light flicks. Again, this seemed to improve the reed. I put the reed away and will try it again later to see if the adjustments hold.
Conclusions:
1. Less is indeed more. For me, it is easy to overdo this technique to the point that I wonder if it will be reliable.
2. There is a learning curve to the method: how hard to flick? where to position the reed on the mouthpiece table or plaque? what are the results at the different positions? flick so the fibers are weakened toward or away from the mouthpiece? etc.
3. Intriguing, but I probably will not abandon my normal methods of reed adjustment with Reed Geek or reed knife. But maybe useful in an emergency.
Thanks,
R. Chest
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