Monday, March 13, 2023
Spring is right around the corner and with it comes rapidly changing temperatures and humidity levels. We all know April showers bring May flowers, but don't forget to care for reeds when farmers plant seeds!
What Affects Reeds?
Reeds should be stored in both a temperature-stable and high-humidity location. Why? Reeds stored in a higher humidity location will dry out more evenly, causing less warpage and change between wet and dry states. Areas that fluctuate in temperature will also fluctuate in humidity. While the wetting and drying process is critical for breaking in new reeds, there comes a point when we no longer want to encourage the fibers of the reed to expand and contract more than necessary. The more the reed changes, the more likely we are to dislike the feel or sound. The good news is that with proper storage and cleaning, we can keep reeds in their best shape, and they will last much longer.
Storage Options
Ideally, reeds should be stored in a high-quality case. For saxophones and clarinet reeds, look for a case that has a flat surface and that allows some air circulation. Without room for air to circulate the reed will dry very unevenly. For oboes and bassoons, find a case with ventilation. The styles of cases I prefer are ones with a clip to hold the reed in place. Since we are aiming to maintain a relatively high-humidity environment, try to keep a humidity pack directly inside the reed case. If there is no way to do so, place the reed case and humidity pack inside a plastic freezer bag. This will allow proper air circulation and control the humidity level. A DIY alternative is to put a sterile sponge in a plastic freezer bag. Try using distilled water or plain mouthwash to keep the humidity level high without encouraging mold growth. For the Midwest area I find 69-72% humidity to be ideal.
Cleaning Reeds
Reeds will vibrate more freely and evenly if they are kept free of excessive debris. Try soaking reeds for 30 seconds in a solution of 1-part apple cider vinegar and 1-part fresh water. For a more aggressive clean, try hydrogen peroxide, but be careful to rinse the reed completely. Single reeds should be fully submerged while double reeds should only be exposed up to the thread. If you need to disinfect your reed, a 91% isopropyl solution can be used as an additional step. Be careful to rinse thoroughly.
There is nothing more frustrating than finding the motivation to practice only to have your reed hold you back. By caring for our reeds, they will perform at their best and last longer.
| Dr. Joseph M. Tomasso is assistant professor of music at Northwest Missouri State University, where he teaches applied oboe, bassoon, clarinet, and music theory. You can follow his reed adventures on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter @joethemusician. |
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