Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-12-23 06:29
mmatisoff wrote:
> I build up a lot of condensation as I play and it
> seriously affects the quality of the notes played. One person
> told me just to blow out the moisture (which works), but I have
> a wood clarinet. I also use drying paper.
Did the person who told you to blow out the water mention swabbing the clarinet at the same time? A quick blow into the tone hole to stop a note from gurgling is a very temporary fix by itself, because the water will just run back - it has to go somewhere when you blow it back into the bore. If you can (certainly when you're practicing or rehearsing) it's a more lasting solution if you run your swab part-way through, stopping at a point where it's under the hole with the water in it, then blowing the water back into the swab, which will carry any water in the bore out of the instrument. Or just blow the water back into the bore and then swab. In a performance, you may need to use drying paper or a corner of your swab under the pad to get you to the next long rest or space between pieces and then do a more thorough job of blowing and swabbing.
I use drying papers, too, but I don't find them as effective as having the swab under the hole to absorb the moisture from the inside.
This is part of playing a wind instrument, especially one with tone holes (brass players have other ways to deal with condensation).
> Does blowing out the
> moisture out from under the pads have long term effects of the
> wood even though I dry it thoroughly. IOW, does moisture still
> seep into the wood?
No. But you should be swabbing the instrument periodically and when you pack the clarinet up in its case. Don't put the instrument away dripping water down its bore.
Karl
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