I like to use cracked or bad reeds to stabilize the moisture. I soak them in water, wipe just the excess water with my fingers and drop them in the case. The moisture in the cane will slowly go in equilibrium with the wood.
Yes, it’s sometimes cold in Sweden. Although perhaps not as cold as in Alaska. Recently had -20°F/-30°C. Suddenly, in just a few hours, it raised to +40°F/+5°C. So very dry to quite moist in just a few hours. Although the heating system makes everything horrible dry inside regardless. Thanks for the info!
I swab the clarinet from the bell side as you do, but I hold the clarinet by the barrel, If you hold it by the bell, there is the possibility as you pull the swab through the clarinet you can separate the joints and maybe part of the clarinet will go flying and get damaged. If the swab meets resistance while holding instrument by the barrel the clarinet will not come apart. I learned this from experience!!
You are making an incredibly important observation! I will now be very self-conscious about how I do that lol. What you are saying also makes me think to remind people that the swab does not need to be pulled on very hard. Not pulling hard will also help to limit the chance that one will get their swab stuck on the register tube.
I have a B12 clarinet and I swab just as you do. One because that’s the way I was taught, also in the 1980s, but also because I plan to get a wooden clarinet sometime in the next year or two and want to establish good habits now. The humidity packs I use for my classical guitar in its case. I will be using them in a reed case. I did not think to put them into a clarinet case. But that will be a great idea for me living in New England. Our humidity is all over the place. Very humid in the summer, very dry in the winter and very very wet in the spring and the fall.
I was raised in Texas where it is very humid and told to oil because oil and water don't mix, so the layer of oil prevents the wood from soaking up too much moisture. My question is do you use one of those special winter cases for your New York winter weather?
I don't use a special case in the winter. I believe it's the inside of NYC buildings that are most dangerous. The steam heat makes us very dry inside. I use the bovida packs until there is a reason to go with orange peels. If I play the instrument regularly, I don't tend to need the orange peels. If I switch instruments for a week or two is when I get into trouble most of the time.
What about the care of the actual keys , any advice on how to clean the keys , and what to use if they are getting a bit darker, I got nickel keys and the hot weather is making them look less shiny. Great video, many thanks
Thanks!.... I didn't include anything about that for two reasons. 1) it does not seem to be specific to wood clarinets 2) I have no actions to take to advise you. It is hard to polish much more than the easiest places to reach and that leaves a lot of key areas untouched. There is a long-standing argument about whether silver-plated keys change the sound of an instrument - or whether nickel is the same. I don't believe there to be a difference in tone. As far as the keeping them shiny part, I don't know. I know people that use an anti-tarnish pouch of some kind with silver keys, but I know of nothing similar for Nickel keys. Please let me know if you learn of anything to help with the issue. I would love to know :)
I ordered the humidity packs from your link, but I didn’t pay attention to size. Mine are way bigger than the ones in the photo of your case. I have a question: is it okay for the humidity packs to touch the wooden clarinet?
I oil mine so that the wood doesn't reach a point of fundamental dryness during the cold and dry months of the year. I believe that the wood is more stable from doing so. I don't think it changes the tone in any way at all.
I have come to believe that using an organic oil (almond or seasame seed) is much better than using an oil containing petroleum product. The wood, in my experience, rejects petroleum.
I believe you are correct. I have not dug into the other options to form an opinion I can stand behind, so I didn't speak in any detail about it in the video. While I have never been accused of not going on long enough....I try to keep my musings to things that I can speak to direct experience (and results) with.
I am sure there are plenty of different opinions on this….i would keep an eye on it and keep it pretty well oiled, like once or twice a week for a while. Keep it away from the radiator particularly if they are steam heat
Nice job! That 'how to oil your clarinet' video is the one for sure. Been sending it to my own students for many years now!
I like to use cracked or bad reeds to stabilize the moisture. I soak them in water, wipe just the excess water with my fingers and drop them in the case. The moisture in the cane will slowly go in equilibrium with the wood.
The same with my reed case. One or two bad reeds really wet prevent the good ones to become too dry.
Yes, it’s sometimes cold in Sweden. Although perhaps not as cold as in Alaska. Recently had -20°F/-30°C. Suddenly, in just a few hours, it raised to +40°F/+5°C. So very dry to quite moist in just a few hours. Although the heating system makes everything horrible dry inside regardless.
Thanks for the info!
I swab the clarinet from the bell side as you do, but I hold the clarinet by the barrel, If you hold it by the bell, there is the possibility as you pull the swab through the clarinet you can separate the joints and maybe part of the clarinet will go flying and get damaged. If the swab meets resistance while holding instrument by the barrel the clarinet will not come apart. I learned this from experience!!
You are making an incredibly important observation! I will now be very self-conscious about how I do that lol. What you are saying also makes me think to remind people that the swab does not need to be pulled on very hard. Not pulling hard will also help to limit the chance that one will get their swab stuck on the register tube.
You have a great rhythm in your delivery: slow and relaxed. Thank you for the useful information.
Thanks Mark! Glad it was a good one for you:)
I have a B12 clarinet and I swab just as you do. One because that’s the way I was taught, also in the 1980s, but also because I plan to get a wooden clarinet sometime in the next year or two and want to establish good habits now. The humidity packs I use for my classical guitar in its case. I will be using them in a reed case. I did not think to put them into a clarinet case. But that will be a great idea for me living in New England. Our humidity is all over the place. Very humid in the summer, very dry in the winter and very very wet in the spring and the fall.
Thanks for watching and for the thoughtful comments
I was raised in Texas where it is very humid and told to oil because oil and water don't mix, so the layer of oil prevents the wood from soaking up too much moisture. My question is do you use one of those special winter cases for your New York winter weather?
I don't use a special case in the winter. I believe it's the inside of NYC buildings that are most dangerous. The steam heat makes us very dry inside. I use the bovida packs until there is a reason to go with orange peels. If I play the instrument regularly, I don't tend to need the orange peels. If I switch instruments for a week or two is when I get into trouble most of the time.
What about the care of the actual keys , any advice on how to clean the keys , and what to use if they are getting a bit darker, I got nickel keys and the hot weather is making them look less shiny. Great video, many thanks
Thanks!.... I didn't include anything about that for two reasons. 1) it does not seem to be specific to wood clarinets 2) I have no actions to take to advise you. It is hard to polish much more than the easiest places to reach and that leaves a lot of key areas untouched.
There is a long-standing argument about whether silver-plated keys change the sound of an instrument - or whether nickel is the same. I don't believe there to be a difference in tone. As far as the keeping them shiny part, I don't know. I know people that use an anti-tarnish pouch of some kind with silver keys, but I know of nothing similar for Nickel keys.
Please let me know if you learn of anything to help with the issue. I would love to know :)
I ordered the humidity packs from your link, but I didn’t pay attention to size. Mine are way bigger than the ones in the photo of your case. I have a question: is it okay for the humidity packs to touch the wooden clarinet?
I believe its ok. They are don't get wet so there is no reason that should matter. The humidity stabilization is much more general than that
Thank you! and thank you for your awesome videos!
Why do you oil your clarinet? For tone? For moisture retention?
I oil mine so that the wood doesn't reach a point of fundamental dryness during the cold and dry months of the year. I believe that the wood is more stable from doing so. I don't think it changes the tone in any way at all.
@@clarinetninja righto, thanks!
I have come to believe that using an organic oil (almond or seasame seed) is much better than using an oil containing petroleum product. The wood, in my experience, rejects petroleum.
I believe you are correct. I have not dug into the other options to form an opinion I can stand behind, so I didn't speak in any detail about it in the video. While I have never been accused of not going on long enough....I try to keep my musings to things that I can speak to direct experience (and results) with.
I live in the northeast and its getting really cold. I recently got a selmer signature and wondering if i shoukd be oiling it more since its new?
I am sure there are plenty of different opinions on this….i would keep an eye on it and keep it pretty well oiled, like once or twice a week for a while. Keep it away from the radiator particularly if they are steam heat
@@clarinetninja Okay Thanks!
NEVER put your mouthpiece in the dishwasher. Wash it with COLD water dish soap or mouthpiece spray and let it dry.
very true....anybody that would contend otherwise is completely wrong! :)