 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2009-04-04 05:59
After inspecting a few reeds that screeched, I learned that the primary thing wrong with them was that there were some chips in the tips of the reed no bigger than 2 pixels on your computer screen.(which is really hard to tell) I kind of learned this the hard way today... I was playing a solo, and right before we went of stage, I noticed this small characteristic applied to my reed I was using. I didn't have enough time to change my reed, and I was assuming if I had gotten this far without it screeching (we all just played a little earlier) it wouldn't bother to do it now. But now I know... I screeched noticeably... Several times...
There's also another reason a professional pointed out. Maybe the reed was dry. This was also another element present. My mouth was severely dried out from nervousness and my reed had been drying for maybe 10 minutes.
I don't know why these chips appear, but they appeared fast, because I made sure to inspect the reed I used when I put it on. What I mainly did in the time before performance was lick the reed constantly. (Yes, I know, I should get a mouthpiece cap, but right now, I can't do much because I don't have anyone to take me to the music store for another week.)
The screech I am defining for those of you who don't know is like an "E", 4 ledger lines above the staff, 8va'd.
Live and learn I guess...?
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2009-04-04 12:01
These small chips appear on all of my reeds, rather soon after I start playing them regularly. I do not believe these to be the cause of squeaks though. I think that the problem you were having was with dryness, which I found issues with myself during festivals when we waited out in the hallways for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you have a bottle of water with you to ensure your mouth does not dry out and always (even if you have a cap) rewet the reed right before you go out (esp. if you have a long wait).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-04-04 12:51
Make sure your reed is seating at the side rails as leaks at the sides will cause squeaks.
Test this by thoroughly wetting the reed and putting it on as normal. Then block the end of the tenon with a finger (lick your finger to make it seal better) and suck the air out from the tip of the mouthpiece to create a vacuum inside it. The reed should stay closed against the facing and then pop open after several seconds.
If it won't stay closed or pops open almost immediately, there's a leak between the reed and the mouthpiece facing. Also while blocking the tenon, blow into the mouthpiece and check for any bubbles along the sides(use a mirror so you can see better).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2009-04-06 05:23
Which part is the tenon?
I skipped that part. I simply just created a vacuum, and the reed popped out after maybe 1-2 seconds. But this was a reed from maybe 3 months ago. (My current reeds are somewhere else ATM.) It itself screeches. What's this supposed to again? The only thing I noticed was that it straightened my reed after doing it. While doing it, I heard air seeping into it the mouthpiece. Should this happen?
My embouchure moves slightly while breathing, and the screeches primarily happen after a breath, but. How can I keep my embouchure from moving?
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-04-06 13:07
I know you mention issues with reeds but I just wonder whether, given the note that you say you're getting with the squeaks, you are keeping all the holes covered and avoiding touching the top side keys. If any of these keys/holes are open you would usually get an open top D (on the second leger line above the stave). Could this be what you are hearing?
Fingers may move a tiny bit when you are taking a breath if you are not careful which could be the case here. If it happened in some kind of performance setting (which you seem to be suggesting) nerves and shakiness could be enough to do it.
Just an idea for you to think about. If you think this may be the case, obviously the answer is to concentrate on hand position.
Vanessa.
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Author: pelo_ensortijado
Date: 2009-04-07 12:39
regarding the dried mouth..
its highly important to drink A LOT of water. an ordinary person should drink about 2 liters a day, without counting the water in all kinds of food.
and for people like us who use or salivaproduction much more than others its even more vital to drink even more water.
and if you are a coffee-adict like myself, its the no 1 thing after breathing and sleeping since coffee and tea is stopping the water-collecting things in our stomach from doing its job thereby reducing the amount of water getting in our system instead of out the toilet directly...
ad to this a preformance under strong warm lights, nervously sweating, and extreme concentration...
basicly what the water does is transfering electrical signals between diffferent parts of our body. inside the brain aswell as in our muscles.
when we are preforming we need all the water possible to get our brains and muscles working, and if the spare-water inside us is running dry the body saves what it can to make the vital things to work..
well.... the moral of this little story is to drink water and many of your problems will solve. :D
/niclas gustafsson
clarinetplayer and unknown ancient water-god.
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