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Re: Music should be fun, right?

Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-11-08 22:11

There could be several remedies... I'll post a few that I can think of, but others I'm sure will post more!

If it's the same reed, and different days it feels different, there is some normality to that, but I often times notice that when this happens, I've laid the reed on the mouthpiece differently. It's usually not a big difference, but at a very, very, VERY slight angle sometimes, and it causes me to have to work harder than normal.

If you're using a reed for a very long time, it also will change. You see a lot of posts here about rotating your reeds so that you don't over play them. Essentially, reeds, just like anything living (or once living) will die or deteriorate.

Brand is another thing also. I played on certain brand of reeds for a long time because I'd heard that they were the only reeds to use (people are the same about mouthpieces too!). Since then, I've gotten mouthpiece suggestions from friends (who let me try theirs to see if I like it), and reed suggestions as well. Some reeds, for me, are very inconsistent from one reed to the next, so I found myself adjusting every reed, which eventually got them to work, but still took a lot of configuring. Others seem to play almost exactly like I wanted them to out of the box (this is the current brand I'm using). I find using these more fun, because if I do adjust them, it doesn't require a lot of work.

The biggest thing I can suggest if you don't already have one, is a private teacher. A teacher who is a clarinetist and can give you one on one instruction is most valuable in this field. They can dissect your problems, and fix them a lot easier than a band director, who probably doesn't specialize in your instrument. It may take some trial and error, but usually can be fixed. Contact local music stores and colleges to find some teachers. Many graduate students or upper class-men in college will be more than willing to help you (of course there is a charge, but it's worth it)!

Music is a very fun field. It does take a lot of work, like life, but it is one of the most rewarding things to me and many others here. Good luck!

Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com

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