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Re: dry cold weather - reed making

Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2014-01-11 19:22

Our house gets super dry, 10 to 15% when it's -20F outside. Humidity goes up slightly when the weather is 20's and 30's. In fall, the "rainy" season, I've had 90% humidity indoors - which is very bad. In fall we have to use a dehumidifier on a daily basis. I make more reeds during the winter when it's cold outside because the relative humidity is more stable and the reeds can really rest without so much variation.

I like less humidity because my reeds dry so fast. The drawback is that the reeds dry so fast. Especially during long rests in rehearsal. I do rough scraping on a dry but perfectly sealed blank. I have also learned to soak my reeds for a longer time in warm water. I am so used to playing reeds in low humidity that when it is humid the difference night and day.

Last week we had a baptism at church and the musicians sit ten feet or so from the water which is heated to pretty warm, making the church nice and tropical. My reeds were so funny it took me a second to realize what the problem was.

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