Music Is The Easiest Way To Express
“I would say that music is the easiest means in which to express, but since words are my talent, I must try to express clumsily in words what the pure music would have done better.”
~ William Faulkner
Yes, spring is finally here and along with it changes in temperature and humidity, which can cause changes in your instrument. Mostly woodwinds and strings.
With woodwinds the actual wood bodies can swell causing keys to bind up and tenon joints to be too tight. (note: If the tenons are ever too tight no amount of cork grease will help. They must be re-fit in the shop) The pads on woodwinds can also swell and cause small leaks that affect the overall adjustments and performance of the instrument.
This goes for stringed instruments as well. The stresses of extreme cold have eased but we still deal with temperature and humidity swings that affect the wood and sound of our instruments. We still need to be diligent in our efforts to provide good care. Leaving an instrument in a car is never a good idea. The sun will heat the car interior rapidly, possibly loosening glue joints and causing imprints to the finish. Rosin will soften and adhere to tops and ribs. Be watchful for open seams and cracks, raising bridge heights can raise and loose bow hair due to added humidity.
These examples are more pronounced in summer, but now is a good time to be aware of possible problems. The technicians here in the Paige’s Music repair shop are uniquely qualified to help with these situations and are eager to help you in your musical endeavors.
Play well!
Here at Paige’s Music, we value the classic insight of “try before you buy”. This is especially pertinent as musical instruments and their accessories are very personal. We encourage you to not only try out different models of instruments, but mouthpieces as well!
As a musician myself, I have experienced regret purchasing a mouthpiece based on reviews and prestige rather than actually trying that mouthpiece and comparing it to others. While a specific mouthpiece may be famous, maybe it isn’t quite the perfect fit for you. The great thing is, most manufacturers produce several mouthpieces with similar qualities in a variety of sizes and with slight variations. By trying these mouthpieces out, you’ll find the one that is the right size and with the features and sound you want.
When looking to buy an instrument, this same philosophy of “try before you buy” is critical to finding the instrument you need, not just the one you want! For example, if you are looking for a professional trumpet and go by name and reputation alone, you may find that the trumpet has more resistance than you would like. From there, you can try a trumpet with a larger bore or with a reverse leadpipe, features that will alleviate some of that resistance.
When you stop into Paige’s Music and want to try different makes and models of instruments or mouthpieces, just let us know! We have practice rooms available for the purpose of comparing instruments and mouthpieces in a quiet, private environment. As always, our experienced staff is on hand to provide any necessary guidance.