Breaking in a Reed
There are many different opinions and techniques for breaking in a reed. Below is a method used by various professional artists to slightly extend the lifespan of a reed. Of course, people don't always have a choice, and sometimes a reed needs to be played straight out of the box.
Some musicians use a piece of printer paper to make the reed slightly smoother. Take half an A4 sheet and, without applying pressure, make circular motions with the flat side of the reed over the paper. Ensure the paper is on a flat surface, such as a glass plate or a smooth kitchen counter. The paper should not wrinkle. Then, place the reed on the flat surface and use the other side of the paper to gently sand the vamp of the reed. This process can go wrong, potentially splitting the reed and rendering it unusable. So, be very careful!
After sanding the reed, it is generally recommended to moisten the reed with water for the first time, rather than with saliva. This ensures that the reed becomes properly and evenly moist after being in packaging for a long time. A few minutes in a glass of water is sufficient to get the reed adequately moist.
Then, you can play it once to see which category the reed falls into. Is the reed suitable for a concert, for rehearsal, or should it be kept as a practice reed?
