Tag: reeds

Review: ReedGeek “Universal” reed tool

Oct 6, 2014

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in Product reviews

for Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone

I’m a little late to the party on this, as the ReedGeek has been around for a number of years now and has been widely reviewed, but I finally picked one up (at ClarinetFest) after a long conversation/demonstration with inventor Mauro Di Gioia. I have been using mine for a few months now and wanted …
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Misconceptions about saxophone-to-clarinet doubling

Mar 8, 2014

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Bass clarinet, Clarinet, Saxophone, Woodwind doubling

If you expect to play the clarinet decently well, you’re going to have to do all the same things you did to play the saxophone decently well: obtain good quality equipment, seek out quality instruction, practice regularly and well, and listen to lots of fine playing.
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Play reeds that fit

Jun 30, 2012

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Clarinet, Saxophone

During a rare visit to a music store this week, I overheard a very young clarinetist asking a salesperson to help him locate some unusually stiff reeds. The salesperson was as surprised as was I that the young man was interested in such an extreme equipment choice—but apparently for different reasons. “You must be very talented …
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Evaluating reeds

Feb 26, 2012

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone

Photo, chelseagirl There are three things to consider when evaluating a reed. I consider these same factors for either single or double reeds, and prioritize them in this order. Response. The overriding concern for me is that the reed responds exactly as I expect it to. A reed that is stiff, sluggish, stuffy, or otherwise …
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Review: Rico reed cases

Jul 20, 2011

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in Product reviews

for Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone

I’ve been trying out the Rico single and double reed cases. These are plastic cases that can optionally accommodate Rico’s “Reed Vitalizer” packets, which, according to Rico, help keep your reeds at your desired humidity level. The single reed case holds eight reeds, baritone saxophone or smaller, and the double reed case holds five double …
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Don’t adjust your best reed

Mar 9, 2011

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone

Photo, stonelucifer I worked on reeds today (both single and double). My favorite reed tip: don’t adjust your best one. Adjust some others until one of them is the best, and then go back and work on the first one if you like. Adjusting reeds can be a little risky, so gamble on a reed …
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More free reeds from Rico

Feb 22, 2011

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in Announcements and news

for Clarinet, Saxophone

Rico seems to be continuing their push to get their reeds into players’ cases for an audition. I wrote a couple of years ago about their “Make the Switch” promotion, in which I scored some free Rico Jazz Select tenor reeds. With their current promotion, through the Woodwind and the Brasswind, you order a box …
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New endorsement deal

Apr 1, 2010

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in Fun

for Clarinet, Saxophone

I am pleased to announce that, after several weeks of exciting and productive talks, I have signed on for an endorsement and development deal with an up-and-coming reed manufacturer. Here’s the official press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2010 Bret Pimentel Signs On As First FLAVOREEDS™ Artist FORT WAYNE, Indiana.—FLAVOREEDS™ Flavored Clarinet and Saxophone …
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Review and blindfold test: Légère Signature Series clarinet reeds

Jan 22, 2010

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in Product reviews

for Clarinet

A few months ago, I posted about plastic reeds, and reported some of what I had read on another woodwind blog about the Légère Signature Series and Forestone clarinet reeds. For reasons unknown to me, the post from which I originally quoted has been removed, but there are similar thoughts expressed in a more recent post. …
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Not making your own double reeds

Nov 19, 2009

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Bassoon, Oboe

I’ve posted a few times over the past year about making double reeds (cf. here, here, and here), and I maintain that this is the truest way to abiding oboe/bassoon satisfaction. If you consider those instruments to be serious parts of what you do as a musician, you need to learn to make—or at least …
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