Check out the reed comparison charts from Vandoren and D'Addario - very useful information. Just remember that just because you play a 3 in a Vandoren Traditional reed doesn't mean you should play a 3 in a D'Addario Reserve.
Reed care
Play-in new reeds: play them for a few...
General advice on maintaining your instrument in between services:
ALL wind instruments need some attention from time to time, so regular servicing is a great idea. About once a year is normal for a general service, this should include adjustments and lubrication of all moving parts....
Or, what do all those numbers mean?
Cup size: This refers to the profile of the cup. In Bach mouthpieces, the cup design is referred to by a letter (eg C). The cup depth is designated by a number (eg 7). A larger number will give a “shallower” cup, and a...
Have you outgrown your student mouthpiece? Have you considered that you may not be getting the most out of your instrument? Signs to watch out for are overblowing, difficulty reaching the upper register (which can also mean you have outgrown your student instrument), and stuffiness of...
...without damaging the keys!
Many new clarinet players (and even more experienced ones) realise that there are optimum methods for assembling clarinets. Download the instruction sheet the the Related Documents section below to see one such method that will save you multiple trips to your...