In this case, the reed will still probably last for a long time, perhaps even several decades, but you might need to be careful about where you store it. If you leave the reeds in a place that is either extremely dry or humid, then this could cause the reed to expire. Reeds are meant to be preserved at a specific humidity level, and drastically throwing this off will gradually affect the way that the reed plays when it is eventually used.
This is probably the most ambiguous case. Say that you opened a new reed and played on it for a few times, but then set it aside for whatever reason. You then pick it up years later for whatever reason, and start using it. In this case, the reed has been exposed to your mucus and bacteria, which might wear it down to some extent. It also depends whether or not the reed was given the chance to dry or air out after its most recent use.
If it was wet and left in a case, it might have become moldy. This will probably affect how it plays in the long run. Perhaps reeds sometimes get better with age? Maybe you clicked on this article with the intention of trying to figure out whether or not the reed which you are actively playing on will eventually wear out. The reed will certainly wear out and will typically last no longer than a month. Precisely how long that takes depends on how well you are taking care of it as well as how frequently you use it.
Most saxophonists and other reed musicians will cycle through their reeds, so that they do not use the same reed every time they play. A good portion of these musicians will practice so frequently that they still use each of their reeds once per day, for a period of about 30 minutes to an hour. The longest that I would expect a reed to last this way is a month, and more realistically it might last about two weeks.
If you are reading this, chances are you might not be the sort of person who has the time to practice for several hours per day. You might only play for one hour every day, and you might use one or two reeds the entire time. This last one requires more discernment. Thanks for your comment, Mark. All true points.
The intent of the article is to remind students to NOT store their reed on the mouthpiece, and the true story will help them remember to do so.
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Become a Patron! Important This site makes use of cookies which may contain tracking information about visitors. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. Mark Peotter on July 22, at pm. Legere synthetic reeds are another alternative to cane reeds. These reeds are not impacted by elements such as saliva and humidity. Legere reeds come in several cuts and are designed to cater to a desired tone. These reeds last longer than cane reeds because they are not subject to chips, cracks and warps.
A single Legere reed can last three to four months. The biggest concern for some players is the quality of sound compared to cane reeds. Vandoren reeds are the reed of choice for intermediate and professional players. The reeds are durable and last to meet the demands of practice and performance for professionals.
Vandoren manufactures several reed cuts for clarinetists. With proper rotation of several reeds at a time, these reeds last between four weeks to a few months. The amount of times a reed can be used is only limited to the reeds health.
The reed can be played as long as it is not molded, chipped, or warped. Some reeds do not survive the breaking in phase because the reed may be too hard or too soft to mold. In this case the reed will either have to be altered using a reed shaper or discarded. If a reed is discolored and the wood is drastically two-toned, chances are high the reed is not well manufactured and will not be good.
Build up of black or green mold on a reed is a clear indicator that the reed is bad and must be discarded. A reed that sounds harsh, loud, and bridle is not a good reed. This kind of reed is too thick to be broken in without physical shaping and altering of the reed. The life of a clarinet reed can be extended with proper storage and maintenance. A clarinet reed should be stowed in a case that allows breathability.
A reed guard instead of the plastic reed case will allow reeds to dry quickly. Maintenance of a clarinet reed begins with the method used to moisten the reed. Consider using water as opposed to saliva to moisten the reed. Saliva can vary in acidity which has the potential to break down a reed more rapidly. Dipping reeds in water to prepare them for playing can help prevent mold and breakdown from saliva.
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