Selecting, Preparing, Playing and Maintaining Reeds
(FROM RICOREEDS.COM - THE WEB SITE OF RICO INTERNATIONAL)

As a woodwind player, you know that there are many contributing factors to good tone production. Proper embouchure and breathing techniques are essential. A mouthpiece that speaks clearly throughout the entire range of your instrument is also important. But no amount of effort will compensate for a reed that is chipped, warped or unable to vibrate freely. In fact, a great reed may be the single most important factor in determining how you sound on any given day.

Quality Cane
Reed cane grows throughout the world. Most reeds typically come from cane grown in the Var region of southeastern France. Good reed cane requires five conditions:
(1) a temperate coastal climate with low humidity
(2) long, warm summers to produce cane poles of sufficient diameter for reeds
(3) cold winters which render plants dormant
(4) ample water for maximum growth
(5) rich, light soil


Selecting a Reed
Look closely at the reed. Make sure it is shaped evenly from side to side, check for consistent thickness, and select only flat, unwarped reeds. The reed should appear symmetrical, with either side of the center line a mirror image of the other. It should fit exactly over the opening of your mouthpiece. The vamped (or cut) area should be even.

It is important to have several reeds prepared at any time, so that you will have predictable ones ready. Each reed will differ slightly, just as each cane plant differs from another. This makes it especially important to test play your reeds, select your favorites and keep them handy in a La Voz Reedgard® II or IV.

You should also experiment with different reed strengths to find out which one works best with your mouthpiece and is best suited to your embouchure. Reed strengths may vary greatly from one manufacturer to another.


Preparing a Reed
Before you play any reed, you must first moisten it. Many musicians simply wet their reeds in their mouths. While this is popular, we recommend that you wet your reeds in a small cup of warm water for two or three minutes, until the tips appear flat and unwrinkled. Next, place the ligature on your mouthpiece. Then, carefully fit the moistened reed underneath the ligature from the top. Align the reed tip with the end of the mouthpiece. Tighten the ligature screws so that pressure is evenly dispersed on the reed bark. Be careful not to over-tighten or under-tighten the ligature screws. Simply tighten them until the tension feels snug in your fingers.


Getting Top Performance
No two reeds play exactly alike, but by following a few rules, you can count on good consistency from reed to reed. Remember, your reeds must be thoroughly moist before use. Uneven moisture content can cause your reed to warp or wrinkle, prevent if t from properly seating against your mouthpiece table, and even cause squeaks. You can avoid these mishaps by soaking the reed in warm water for a couple of minutes.

Then, when you're finished playing, remove the excess moisture. Rinse the reed thoroughly in water until clean, then wipe it dry. Finish by placing it in a La Voz Reedgard II or IV to dry completely.

Don't keep your reeds sealed in a plastic bag; this causes mildew to form. Also, prolonged soaking of more than an hour or two will make the reed too porous, changing its vibrating characteristics and shortening its play life.

As you place the reed between the mouthpiece and ligature, experiment with the placement. Some reeds may respond best when placed even with the tip, others slightly above or below the tip. Sometimes a reed will speak more clearly when moved slightly to the left or right.

Fluctuation in humidity, barometric pressure and temperature greatly affect how each reed plays, and may explain why a reed responds differently from day to day. As you learn, you will become aware of how these changes affect a reed's performance. While this is popular, we recommend that you wet your reeds in a small cup of warm water for two or three minutes, until the tips appear flat and unwrinkled. Next, place the ligature on your mouthpiece. Then, carefully fit the moistened reed underneath the ligature from the top. Align the reed tip with the end of the mouthpiece. Tighten the ligature screws so that pressure is evenly dispersed on the reed bark. Be careful not to over-tighten or under-tighten the ligature screws. Simply tighten them until the tension feels snug in your fingers.


Maintaining and Storing Reeds
During breaks in performance or rehearsal, cover your mouthpiece with its cap to keep your reed moist and prevent chipping or other damage. Never store your reed on the mouthpiece inside the instrument case. Any reed which is allowed to dry on the mouthpiece usually warps, reducing its playing qualities.

When you're finished playing, loosen the ligature and remove your reed first before disassembling the instrument. Again, the best way to prevent warping and chipping is to store your reed in a flat, dry holder. A La Voz Reedgard II or IV is specially designed to protect and increase the playing life of a reed. After removing the reed from the mouthpiece, gently replace the ligature and mouthpiece cap. Forcing the cap too far down may cause a chip or crack in the mouthpiece. Place the capped mouthpiece, ligature and stored reed in your instrument case.

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