Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2022-05-03 06:22
I know of all the suggestions but don't agree with some of those mentioned.
1 - I always have my 12 best reeds in priority order and re-arrange them every few days to have the best set ready to use. I happen to own three aluminum ‘four slot’ reed holders. For practice or performance, I choose the best of the top 4 and use that one. Maybe this is 'rotating' automatically, but I am not required to play the scheduled reed. Since temperatures and humidity change daily, the site says you will be forced to play whatever is next, not whatever is best. By playing the best, you are also probably rotating at the same time.
2 - Trying every position to find where it plays best is too time consuming. Tom Ridenour (a former student of mine, and we were both students of Kalmen Opperman more than 50 years ago), has videos of tests to reveal what is wrong, with a reed, and then, how to place the reed in the best position for it.
I have also expanded on Tom's ideas to better determine the best position on the mouthpiece in the quickest time. For instance, play a long note G4, and rock the mouthpiece a little back and forth. If the sound is not equal on both sides, the position of the reed needs to be moved right or left. The side that is up is vibrating, and which ever side is duller, is harder, and the ‘up’ side of the reed needs to be moved a bit toward the center of the mouthpiece.
3 - You do NOT need stronger mouth to play stronger reeds. Set the hard reeds aside and learn to fix them some other time. With a good reed/embouchure/air speed combination, it is possible to play all the five reed responsibilities, Highest, Lowest, Loudest, Softest, and Response, on a soft, well-fixed reed.
Everyone is different, and reed tricks may be entirely different for each player. There is no bast way that works for all, so pick and choose what works best for your situation.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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