Are you playing on a dead clarinet reed? Rotate your clarinet reeds to get your best reed everyday

[@musicbyfriendsforfriends3311]

Great discussion. I agree with 90 percent of what you said and do the reed staging thing after decades of experience. It is excellent advice. I can’t bring myself to throw out a stained or “infected” reed because I’ve lived through some tough financial times. For clarinetists who play different setups for classical and jazz/polka/klezmer gigs, it might be useful to try that dying classical reed on the more open, volume projecting mouthpiece. I’ve gotten some extra life out of many reeds that way. But, ultimately, they need to get tossed.

[@josephdvorak9241]

Always a good day when a clarinet ninja video is released.

[@clarinetninja]

That comment just made my day! Thank you

[@ClarinetNotGosu2]

great advice!! new reed make me realize that the reed is old enough to change. and can't wait your next video haha I'm always enjoying your videos

[@clarinetninja]

Thank you! You brought a smile to my face :)

[@philipperoche7746]

Very helpful, like all your videos. Thank you from France!

[@clarinetninja]

Thank you!:)

[@rexn2548]

Thanks a bunch for your video. I enjoy them!! I like your sense of humor and your obvious virtuosity on the clarinet. I’ve been looking for the answer to this question for a while. It’s difficult for me to throw away an old friend. To add insult to injury, I have learned well how to clip, balance and sand reeds… with a reed Geek, good old sandpaper. Difficult decision for me is… I can take a reed that is clearly too soft after playing for a weeks (in rotation), then get out my well practiced trusty reed clipper take a teeny bit off, then maybe a little more, and turn it into a “good” read again… Like you said feels and plays fine. Until I put on a fresh reed. And it rings and brings the instrument to life. So… I put the old reed back into another case and still don’t throw it away. I’ve got to get over that. It gets very confusing. anyway all of this to say I love your videos you’re doing great work and helping us!! Thank you very much!

[@clarinetninja]

Thanks for you kind words and contribution to the conversation! This feels good for me. More than you may imagine. I just recently brought a reed trimmer into my life, so I have not done much of the kind of work you are talking about. I would imagine the results you are talking about would be my result as well. I do an unusual thing that I don’t often talk about….I don’t actually “throw away” many reeds. I have boxes (I mean a lotta boxes) of old reeds because I save every reed I play - both bad and good. Unlike most of my clarinet behavior, there is no real point to doing this. I suppose if the world runs out of cane, I will have 25 years of old unusable reeds ready to go. Thinking back, part of this comes from the feeling you are talking about. Putting them in a cigar box feels slightly more temporary and a little easier. I don’t smoke cigars so I go to the cigar store and buy old boxes that I find pleasing as decorations. The comedian in me imagines that on my deathbed (hopefully many years from today), I will be able to finally say goodbye to all my old friends haha. I saved all the legeres I played too. It is a silly, but ultimately harmless, thing I do. Your actions and assessment of them sound understandable and resonate with what happens in my own life. Breaking up is hard to do!

[@rexn2548]

I also use hydrogen peroxide. A fine mist spray bottle on the reeds in a Protech case. People brush their teeth with the stuff and when hydrogen peroxide evaporates nothing but H2O is left behind. Kills germs dead! It also keeps the reeds pristine & clean :-). I keep the Protech cases (2) in a little sealed humidifier I made which has a built-in hygrometer readable from the top of the box. It was a fun little project. I also overhaul horns. Just finished a set, Bb/A, of Selmer’s series 9 with consecutive serial numbers made in 1966 (articulated G# & alternate left hand Eb’s) I have too many clarinets and those Selmers (I do not play professionally anymore) are for sale actually. But I never listed them… Be happy to send pics of my reed Humidor if you Can you tell me where to send- you might get a kick out of it. Tom Ridenhower has an interesting video on reed storage hydrogen peroxide etc. Check it out if you get a chance. As always, keep up the good work!!

[@clarinetninja]

@@rexn2548 I would love to see the pictures of the reed case! [e-mail] I will try the hydrogen peroxide :)

[@rexn2548]

@@clarinetninja I sent you my reed humidor pics. Making sure I send it to the right place :-)

[@clarinetninja]

@@rexn2548 Yes :) I read it! I only have had a chance to read it while on the subway home from work...I wanted to reply more thoughtfully than I would have been able to - so it is taking me a second :)

[@sojcidowndhdjx]

Hi, I find your videos very helpful! Could you make a video on circular breathing?

[@clarinetninja]

Circular breathing is something that I am able to do, but have never done it enough to feel super comfortable with. Michael Lowenstern made one that is really terrific. I wish I had my own offering as good as the one he made:)

[@jo-annsternberg6997]

Excellent, practical advice- thank you ! (My own 2 cents on using reeds following illness is to do a quick hydrogen peroxide soak😷)

[@clarinetninja]

Thanks Jo Ann! Great idea with the hydrogen peroxide. I am honored that you watched and commented on my video:)

[@jimis3167]

Do you think the tarnishing of a ligature alters Its response and sound projection?

[@clarinetninja]

I don’t think so, and I hope I am right because mine is super tarnished

[@vasileiospetropoulos2046]

Hey sir ​​⁠rico blue tape number 1 For traditional Greek clarinet Albert system Have you done a comparison about Greek traditional clarinet vs western or classic please Do you know the Greek traditional clarinet

[@jimis3167]

Can you make a little comparison between the silver Vandoren Optimum(parallel rails plate) and the silver-plated non-inverted Bonade? I don't know if you've played these, but what's your prediction about their response? Do you think the Optimum would be heavier than the Bonade or the opposite? or similar response? Mention your overall thoughts about them.

[@clarinetninja]

I have not played either one of these ligatures in a long time! I moved away from ligatures with the screws in the front when I had a really long beard and it would get caught in the mechanism. Obviously, this choice had nothing to do with the playability or sound of the products. I will try and find them and give a real response. My guess is that they would be largely the same, although the the amount of metal on the Vandoren seems a lot more and that may do something. However, the type of metal may play a large role in making a small difference in the response. I will see what I can do getting the ligatures and saying something evidence based :) The beard is long gone and is no longer an obstacle.

[@jimis3167]

@@clarinetninja That's very good to hear! Can't wait to hear the playing results you have with them! To help you, the Bonade model is 2250S. I currently have a gold non-inverted from RDG and I think is currently my best ligature(I have some). I generally believe that gold makes a more lyrical sound than silver and I'm kinda interested to get that edge, that core silver plating gives to the sound. That's why asked about the Optimum compared to the silver Bonade.

[@johnfrazier536]

Loren Kitt played on the same three reeds for the entire season, just sayin

[@clarinetninja]

Did he suggest that for everyone else?