| ax is a wonderful instrument that adds depth and | | | | them in gradually and extending their life, as not any |
| variety to many pieces of music. It is a woodwind | | | | reed is played more than the others. Breaking a group |
| instrument and it uses a single reed attached to its | | | | in means that you will have not one, but three good |
| mouthpiece by the ligature. The reed vibrates as the | | | | reeds to chose on any given day. |
| air passes through it to allow the saxophone to | | | | But what is a reson for players to break-in reeds |
| produce its great sound. concentrate on each part of | | | | before using them for performance? |
| the kit! It may be the reed selection, reed care, and its | | | | Cane susceptible to moisture tends to swell quickly |
| preparation will be your way to a great sound. | | | | and because of that the ability to vibrate properly. A |
| Reed is one of the most important parts for any wind | | | | break-in reed is ready when it's profile is at the right |
| player, because of its huge impact on musician sound | | | | shape and thickness and more stable condition as far |
| production. The reed is produced from cane which is | | | | as warping is concerned, yet at a point where it still |
| grown in the south of France. The response and | | | | has not completely lost its resiliency. Generally,it takes |
| reliability is very good, but you pay a little more for this. | | | | a few days for the reed to become fully broken-in. A |
| The inexpensive reeds are good for the beginners but | | | | reed that has been properly broken-in will last quite |
| it would be advisable to move to better quality reeds | | | | longer. |
| latter. A better reed quality means extended life and | | | | If the reeds are unresponsive, there are a few tricks |
| better tonesound production. Selecting reed comes | | | | you can use. One option is to sand the back of the |
| down to recognition of creamy bark and an even cut. | | | | reed - the side that connects with the facing - with the |
| There are really two cuts of reeds: a rock-jazz-pop | | | | finest sandpaper you can find to even out the surface. |
| reed that is thinner at the heart producing a brighter | | | | A few strokes across the sandpaper will even out the |
| tone such as Vandoren’s Java; and a more | | | | reed and improve its response to air flow. Reeds |
| classical reed that is thicker at the heart producing a | | | | should be washed just with lukewarm water at least |
| darker tone. | | | | once a week, so that they do not become slimy. This |
| Breaking-in a reed is a process everyone should go | | | | practice prolongs the life of the reed and reduces the |
| through to get to the true sound and heart of a reed. | | | | amount of bacteria. Be sure to store your reeds on a |
| This process involves having at least three reeds to | | | | flat surface to protect the tip. |
| rotate at any given time. The first step is to soak the | | | | Enough said let me reiterate that mouthpiece kit is a |
| reed in warm water for two minutes or so and then to | | | | huge factor in performance. The variation of all right |
| play it for a short timeframe, such as twenty minutes, | | | | pieces of the kit let you produce a better tone, timbre, |
| and then to move to another reed and repeat the | | | | and free blowing through the instrument. |
| same process. By rotating the reeds, we are breaking | | | | |