Articles on Musical Instruments | Topics: instruments, instrument
by Helena Hoover
Before any musician of a wind instrument plays, they should always look closely at their reeds. Reeds are prepared from cane and each reed will fluctuate slightly form the next one just as each cane plant fluctuates from another cane plant. Therefore, test-play your reeds, choose your front-runners, and keep them handy. It is vital to have quite a few reeds ready at any time, so that you will have certain ones ready. You ought to also test different reed strong points to find out which one works best with your mouthpiece and is better suited to your embouchure.
Reed strengths may differ greatly from one company to another. Make sure it is fashioned evenly from side to side, look for reliable thickness, and choose only flat, un-warped reeds. The reed ought to appear balanced, with either side of the centerline a mirror image of the other. It must fit precisely over the opening of your embouchure. The cut area should be even.
Preparing a Reed - Before you begin playing any reed, you have to first dampen it. A lot of musicians merely wet their reeds in their mouths. While this is accepted, it is suggested that you wet your reeds in a little cup of warm water for two or three minutes, until the tips emerge flat and unwrinkled. After that, place the binder on your mouthpiece. Cautiously fit the moistened reed beneath the ligature from the top. Line up the reed tip with the end of the embouchure. Tighten the ligature screws so that stress is equally dispersed on the reed bark. Be watchful not to over-tighten or under-tighten the ligature screws. Just tighten them until the tension feels snug in your fingers.
| Bit of History |
The train was crammed, the heat stifling. We feel out of sorts, but do not quite know if we are hungry or drowsy. But when we have fed and slept, life will regain its looks, and the American instruments will make music in the merry cafe described by our friend Lange. And then, sometime later, we die.
| —Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) |
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Getting the Best Performance From a Reed - Any musician will tell you that no two reeds play precisely alike although, by following a few rules you can count on high-quality stability from reed to reed. Keep in mind that your reeds must be completely moist before use. Irregular moisture content can cause your reed to warp or wrinkle. Uneven moisture can prevent it from correctly sealing against your embouchure table, and even cause squeaks. You can steer clear of these mishaps by saturating the reed in warm water for a few minutes. When you are done playing, remove the excess moistures. Clean the reed completely in water until sanitary, and then wipe it dry. Conclude by placing it in a Reedgard to dry entirely. Do not keep your reeds sealed in a plastic bag. Sealing your reeds in a plastic bag will cause mildew to form. In addition, long-drawn-out soaking over an hour or two will make the reed too spongy. This will change its vibrating uniqueness and will shorten its playing life (this will add to your expenses, as you will be out buying new ones). As you put the reed between the mouthpiece and ligature, try out the placement. Some reeds may perform the best when placed even with the tip, others a little above or below the tip. Every now and then, a reed will speak more noticeably when moved a little to the left or right. Oscillation in moisture, barometric pressure, and temperature largely influence how each reed plays, and may clarify why a reed responds in a different ways from day to day. As you learn, you will become sensitive to how these changes affect a reed's performance.
Maintaining and Storing Reeds - During breaks in concert or practice, cover your embouchure with its cap to keep your reed moist and avoid chipping or other damage. In no way, store your reed on the mouthpiece within the instrument case. Any reed, which is permitted to dry on the mouthpiece, will normally warp, reducing its playing qualities. When you are finished playing, slacken the ligature and take out your reed first before taking apart the instrument. Again, the best way to avoid warping and chipping is to keep your reed in a flat, dry container. After removing the reed from the mouthpiece, lightly replace the ligature and embouchure cap. Pressuring the cap too far down may cause a chip or crack in the mouthpiece. Set the capped mouthpiece, ligature, and stored reed in your instrument case.
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