Reeds, reeds, reeds! As a clarinet player one of the first things you’ll have to get comfortable with are reeds. These little shaved-popsicle-stick-looking things will determine how you sound and how easy it is for you to play, so it’s best to befriend them from the very start. Below are 3 tips to get your relationship with reeds started on the right track:
Cold temperatures mean taking a few simple preventative measures to ensure your clarinet remains in good shape. This care is a MUST for wooden clarinets! If you’re playing on a plastic clarinet it’s still worth putting Tips #2 and #3 that are listed below into practice. Why? Well, for starters these care tips will help keep your clarinet in good shape regardless of what it’s made out of. You’ll also be building good habits if you’re currently playing a plastic clarinet but planning to one day switch over to a wooden clarinet.
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to reeds! If you haven’t read my “3 Reed Tips for a Beginner Clarinetist” article yet, I recommend you read that article first and then come back to this one! I’ll be sharing tips and knowledge on these little fellas in small dosages throughout different articles so that all this reed talk is easier to understand.
It’s Spring and the birds are making their nests and the cacti flowers are just about to bloom! It’s a time of beginnings, of getting things refreshed and in order. If you’re getting your Spring cleaning game on, make sure to include this basic “Clarinet Spring Cleaning Checklist” that’s filled with simple, quick and refreshing upkeep to-do’s that will make things feel nicer for you and your clarinet this Spring.
