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Re: VPI post adenoidectomy

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2021-09-05 23:52

jenqa wrote:

> Stopping playing at least daily only worsens the issue, so maybe
> by practicing only until the leak starts showing and doing so
> every day or with large breaks, the palate would start sealing
> properly/for longer periods of stress?
>

My experience says that the answer is yes, that's exactly what you'll need to do. And, at least for awhile, play on the lightest reed you can get a satisfying result from. That may take some experimenting.

The student I described in my first post has been stuck for some time between a Lurie #2.5 and #3. #2.5 was thin-sounding and flat above C6. #3 was too resistant. Luries don't come in quarter strengths. I did a little searching online and found a chart on the D'Addario website that compares 16 different reed brands and models at all of their strength designations. I found five reeds with strengths that were actually in between Lurie 2.5 and 3. It turned out that there were several Vandorens and a couple of D'Addario models that were in between. I bought a couple of sample cards for her to try, and the one she liked best (and sounded very good with) were the Vandoren Juno #3s.

The chart, which I think someone else here mentioned, is at https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/learn-more/woodwinds/daddario_woodwinds_strength_chart_clarinet_8.5x11.pdf.

Your choice would, of course, depend on your mouthpiece. Eventually, you should be able to choose a reed based on other factors, but for now, you may want just to find something that works.

Karl

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