 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bartmann
Date: 2009-07-31 15:02
There was a time when I played my clarinet every day, so I has a regular routine for breaking in reeds. Reeds were always plentiful and available: either they we being broken in, at peak performance, or slowly dying.
Over the years flute has become my primary instrument, generally I only play clarinet when required for gigs or when I have a long weekend at home.
So when I get a date for a performance, I plan to break in reeds three weeks before the event. The first week of soaking (five minutes per day) and squeegying (smoothing the reed with thumb and forefinger). The second week of playing each reed for a limited amount of time per day. The third week to play the reeds for an hour at a time and for minor sanding and balancing.
Tomorrow I play Danzi's Wind quintet op 67, and I've been practicing for several weeks with my old reeds, and recently for a week with my new reeds. (It's actually a lot of fun to do this because you get an amazing sonic boost by using new reeds, especially in comparison to playing on old reeds that are long past their prime. It's similar to those sprinters who run around the track with a parachute, and then run without it.)
After determining the best to worst reeds that I just spent three weeks of massaging into good form, two days ago I took the best reed, soaked it, and while squeegying it I pressed my thumb and forefinger onto the tip of the reed and crushed it! After three weeks of massaging this capricious piece of vegetable matter into a glorious reed, I crush the tip! Talk about a rookie mistake.
But this whole experience has made me reflect on why I play flute more now than clarinet. Because as an advanced amateur with limited time to play and practice, playing the clarinet is much more involved than the flute. The flute is a very easy instrument to pick up and play. With the clarinet, there is a whole reed break-in time period that has to be carefully planned.
Sonically I slightly prefer the clarinet, but the flute fits my lifestyle better, and as an amateur, I really have to be strategic how I use my free time. So when I make a rookie mistake by crushing the tip of a reed, it just drives me crazy.
Bartmann
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-31 15:35
Read my website page on reeds, you will find an entirely different way to break in reeds. Though it is true that many players go through all the things you do there are those of us that don't think it is necessary and are just, if not more successful. As you will see, I break my reeds in over the period of several days, never soak the cane for more then a few seconds and never get the barks wet and I must say that I am very successful at what I do. Some players don't even break them in at all, they just pick out the best ones and play them until they die. I'm not advocating that as you will read, or should that be "reed". I always have a good reed and they last me a long time. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-07-31 17:41
I envy instruments that you can pick up and play without a reed. Even more-so the ones that don't have a vast multitude of pads and linkages to be kept working and in perfect adjustment.
That being said, I don't like the sound of a flute. So I probably will not gravitate towards learning one.
Alexi
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Author: Lee
Date: 2009-07-31 23:30
Perhaps nowis the time to move to the Forestone reed or Légère reeds and end the breakin process.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-08-02 12:44
"t's similar to those sprinters who run around the track with a parachute, and then run without it."
Please forgive me but I read "spinsters" and have now recovered.
Be glad you don't play double reed instruments.
Massaging a reed tip with one's thumb may not be a good idea since you end up squashing the delicate plant structure.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-08-02 13:49
I'm also very successful doing what Ed does. I also keep my reeds in a case with glass and put in a sandwich bag. It hardly happens anymore that my reeds warp. Just remember to clean the reed after playing and wipe of the extra moister and you will have a reed that will not warp or mold and will last longer.
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