There’s a lot to learn when it comes to reeds! If you haven’t read my “3 Reed Tips for Beginner Clarinetist” post yet, I recommend you read that post first and then come back to this one! I’ll be sharing tips and knowledge on these little fellas in small dosages throughout my blog so that all this reed talk is easier to understand.
Have at least 2-3 reeds in your rotation
Beginners often like to stick to using just one reed. But I like to encourage my students to get in the habit right from the start of having 2-3 reeds that they actively rotate throughout the week. There are several reasons why having a few reeds you can turn to is a good practice. For starters, reeds are quite fragile. The tip of the reed is very thinly shaved, so it’s very susceptible to chipping and cracking. At the start of your clarinet playing journey you will most likely chip and crack many reeds on accident. So you always want to have several reeds you can choose from in case it’s time to say bye-bye to your chipped reed! Another reason for having a good number of reeds to choose from is the fact that reeds can change from one day to the next. You’re dealing with organic matter when it comes to reeds. Reeds are made from the perennial cane Arundo donax. Things such as temperature, humidity, and amount of play time will affect their response. You are setting yourself up for success if you have a few reeds to pick from!
Get in the habit of throwing out non-playable reeds
When a reed is no longer playing its best and is giving you a hard time playing, it’s time to say “thank you for what you’ve done, goodbye my dear reed.” Many times students hold on to the reeds that no longer work and they get confused with what reed is good and what reed is bad. It’s a waste of time and an unnecessary stressor. By keeping your reeds tidy, you’ll be able to get into playing your clarinet with ease.
Always do your best to have plenty of brand new reeds stocked
This is a biggie! As a beginner you will go through reeds fast- you will break many by accident and you’ll be doing a lot of playing, wearing reeds out in the process. It’s important to keep track of how many brand new reeds you still have left in your box. This makes it easier to replenish your reed bounty before you’re left with only one sort of working/not really playable and barely hanging on reed that’s got a big chip on it for which you’re praying all night long that it’ll still play tomorrow! This happens way too often with students, believe me. A box of reeds typically comes with 10 reeds. Once you get down to 3-4 brand new reeds left in your box, it’s time to order a new box. *You can always check in with your teacher at this time before you place an order. Ask if you should still order the same reeds. They might recommend that you get something different or keep you on the same reeds.
How are you doing with your reeds? Comment below and feel free to reach out with questions. You can also book a lesson with me here!
