Too many students play on reeds that are broken or just worn out. A reed only has a certain shelf life once used for the first time – think of them as yogurts in the fridge.

Also, you may occasionally come across a new reed that just doesn’t perform. It doesn’t happen too much these days – yet if you get a new reed out of the box and it plays horrible – please throw it out. Don’t stay on a bad reed just because you bought it.

Neil.

In response to me saying about donating new unused reeds of a strength you won’t use anymore – Big thanks to Ian Stubbs for donating about 20 reeds to the pool of reeds I use for students wishing to experiment with a new sound.

Again all of these reeds are new (in case anyone is wondering), but all saxophonists and clarinetists go up in hardness/thickness and strength of reed and donating the reeds that are new and you won’t use is very kind – so thanks in particular to Ian.

Keep them coming in.

Neil.