Author: vboboe
Date: 2010-01-02 20:07
ah ... a reed that doesn't vibrate freely along its full length won't be able to give you its best voice, and dry cane doesn't vibrate freely
if you're just wetting the 5mm end of very thin and porous tip for as much as a minute for a soft beginners reed, it will be much 'too wet' to start with, while the rest of the cane will still be basically dry, that is, not moist enough to be adequately flexible for full-length vibrations -- whereas in comparison the tip is excessively flexible = early aperture collapse
try "deep dipping" reeds to the thread for overall flexibility instead, but don't soak as long as a minute for previously used reeds, maybe 30 seconds, then rest reed on its side to absorb surface water retained after pulling it out of water, maybe another 20 seconds, then test it
the softer the reed to start with, and older the reed from previous playing, the less time it should spend actually sitting in water, brand new reeds need a bit of time, but after that, dipping and soaking up is better strategy especially during damp winter months when reeds don't fully dry out in 24 hours between daily practices
you want your reeds just wet enough to be flexible, but "dry" enough to offer some resistance to embouchure and air support
also, try to play with mouth on the dryish side, with just enough moisture to lubricate your lips, if you salivate freely as if anticipating a snack as soon as reed enters mouth, you're soaking it too much and it'll collapse sooner
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
