Reed Dilema

[Tenorsaxer]

ok, my teacher, Mr. Tony Vacca (check out his CD Three Point Landing, it's pretty good) uses BARI* reeds. I use plasticover. He says that he doesen't recommend for students to use BARI* or Fibracell or anything like that. Well, me being me, I bought a BARI* and a Fibracell. I now don't know what to do. Should I talk to Tony more about it, or just play 'em?

[RatBatBlues]

My limited experience - play what your teacher recommends or get a new teacher. If he told you specifically not to use those as a beginner, and you specifically play them during your lesson, you're just disrespecting him.

Why didn't you ask him before buying them?

[colibri]

Try it out. No one has to know you bought one if you don't like it. If it plays for you, use it. Whatever kind of reeds you prefer, it goes into YOUR mouth, not your instructor's.

[Ritchie]

Try it AND ask (you did not put an option for this in the poll). Since you bought the reed already, it would be stupid not to try it. Since your teacher said already he does not recommend this reed for you, it would also be stupid not to find out about his reasons for this.

If you like the reed, talk about your experience with your teacher. Opinions can be changed, either your's or your teacher's. If you cannot finally agree, find a new teacher.

[Tenorsaxer]

theres no way i'm gonna get a new teacher. Tony is the perfect guy for me. If he says no way don't play them i'm not gonna. He is the perfect teacher for me.

[Ritchie]

That is sort of an agreement. I just don't get it why you bought the reed then. I nevertheless would like to know what are the reasons to discourage the use of certain reed brands for students.

[Mike Ruhl]

ok, my teacher, Mr. Tony Vacca (check out his CD Three Point Landing, it's pretty good) uses BARI* reeds. I use plasticover. He says that he doesen't recommend for students to use BARI* or Fibracell or anything like that. Well, me being me, I bought a BARI* and a Fibracell. I now don't know what to do. Should I talk to Tony more about it, or just play 'em?
I don't get what you're asking either. I assume you bought the reeds with the intention of playing them to find out for yourself. Nothing wrong with that. But if you've tried them and can't make them work, then that pretty much proves your teacher's point, doesn't it?

[colibri]

theres no way i'm gonna get a new teacher. Tony is the perfect guy for me. If he says no way don't play them i'm not gonna. He is the perfect teacher for me.

Why do you post this if you've already made up your mind about it?

[Tenorsaxer]

the issue isnt if I will continue lessons with Tony or not, it is if i should use these reeds or not.

[Mike Ruhl]

Again, it seems a moot point since you've already made the purchase.

What's stopping you from playing the reeds? Is it some sort of fear that your teacher knows something you don't, and if you play these reeds, you'll somehow ruin your chops?

Or are you concerned that if you try them and have no problems with them, your respect for your teacher will somehow be diminished?

Sorry, we just don't get it.

[SopranoSue]

IMHO, reeds, and everone is an individual. Some like Bari. some like Rico, some like Fibracell, some like Hemke, some like La Voz, some like Alexanders, and so forth...

A good teacher and instrctor should know this. Everone is different. It's not like (an in-tune) piano, where if you hit a C, it's a C. There are a LOT of different variables involved: horn, set up, mouthpiece, reed, mouth shape, chops, and so forth...

Piano? Sure... hit a C and it's a C (if in tune...). Sax or other woodwind? Add the other variables.

Practice, and knowing the ins-and-outs of your horn are the key, IMHO...

The reed just helps you get there. Trial and error. The right reed is magic. A wrong reed is cement...

[colibri]

It's just a reed. Try it or not, it should be a pretty simple decision. If you think your teacher Tony doesn't like you using it, then don't use it. As I said, no one has to know you bought one and tried it. Since you bought it already, I see no reason not to try it.

[Big Nick]

I use lot of synthetics (Fibracell, Bari, Hahn) and my students often ask whether they should try them. It's cost me a lot of money to arrive at the setups I use and I'm very reluctant to suggest to them that they do the same. Perhaps Tony Vacca has the same reservations.
My usual advice is to stick with the cheapest until you have really good understanding about how the reed is contributing to your sound and a really good reason for wanting to change.

[Ritchie]

I have to disagree on the piano issue. Although the sound generation of a piano is far less direct than for woodwinds, it definitely makes a difference how you press the key. The slightest variations of the attack define the personal sound of a piano player (in addition to time feel, phrasing, subtle dynamics). I read about Bill Evans, that when he attended a party and every present pianist played something on the piano, which was a rather bad one. It had a harsh sound and was too bright. When Bill Evans played, suddenly everyone agreed that this was a good piano with a round and very pleasant sound. This is of course not scientific, but there was something in his way to play the piano that made at least everyone think there was a difference!

Back to the original topic: Tenorsaxer, I cannot get your point, what exactly is your problem with the question wheter to use a reed or not?

[Tenorsaxer]

thank you all for your advice. I am just going to talk to Tony about it, if he thinks that I should use it I will if he thinks that I shouldn't, i wont.

[Mike Ruhl]

But he already told you he didn't think it was a good idea. So why bring it up with him again?

I give up.

[Vortex]

I tried a fibracell the other day and I actually really like it. It plays with a lot of volume and is really smooth. However I'm not quite sure I'd recommend them for a beginner. As for plasticover, I've heard a lot about them and supposedly they've been going down in quality a lot over the past several months. Bari reeds generally don't play as well as fibracells, but if you get a good one it can really be a screamer.

Personally, I'd say a beginner would probably be best off to just stick with cane. It's better to get used to dealing with real reeds than having to be used to synthetics all the time.

[jazzbluescat]

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