Author: Mags1957
Date: 2007-01-15 15:24
This thread is mostly for high school/college students with a limited budget who want to improve some aspect of their equipment/setup. Just for the record, I have been a semi-pro player and teacher for over 30 years, and have played with some world class orchestras as a sub (mostly when I was in my 20's).
In the last 2-3 years I have bought a new mouthpiece, barrel, bell, ligature, and had my horn set-up by one of the top repairmen in the country. Each one of these items has brought a new level of comfort/sound/joy to my playing. But if I have to pick ONE thing that has made the most difference, and if there is one thing I would PLEAD with you to get it would be:
The ATG system from Tom Ridenour along with the Rico Reed Vitalizer. These two items together will run between $80-90, and they have profoundly changed my clarinet life in the following way: I ALWAYS play on killer reeds. Always. Do you know the feeling you have/had when you're playing on one of the top 5 reeds you've ever played on in your life? You know, the ones you cry about when they die? I feel that way every single day. It is not an exageration to say that I almost have too many good reeds at any given time. Right now, I have 14 reeds that are completely ready to play, and I would play any one of them for an important concert, solo, or audition. For me, that's unheard of - I remember sweating over whether or not I would have a good (or great) reed for the next audition or concert, but those days are gone forever!
The beauty of the ATG system ($69.95 from Ridenour's website) is that it takes almost no time or talent to get 8 killer reeds out of an average box (I use Rico Grand Concert Thick Blank and Gonzales FOF - both strength 4). The beauty of the Rico reed vitalizer is that it keeps your reads ready to play, and it keeps them that way for a LONG time - , and the darn thing is only $10. My reeds now play better and last longer than at anytime in my life. I normally rotate between 8 or so reeds, and can easily get 2-3 months out of them playing an hour or 2 every day. For me, that's unheard of.
Here is an important piece of advice for all of you (even if you don't have or intend to get the ATG/Rico combo): You need to play on GREAT reeds all the time. In rehearsal, at your lesson, in your practice sessions. Get out of the habit of thinking that "this reed isn't very good, but it's okay for practice." No, it's not. Keep your standards higher. If you're not playing on great reeds all the time, you will be falling behind students who do. How can your teacher coach you on the subleties of playing a passage if you're playing on a reed that isn't capable?
Do yourself a favor and spend the $80. You won't be sorry.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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