And on, and on
Let me explain this picture. I’m currently breaking in some new reeds. This is a process that continues in perpetuity. There are four empty reed boxes in the upper right. (A box contains ten reeds.) If you count, there are thirty-two reeds (the two in the cup of water are baritone reeds, not alto reeds). You should see forty reeds, but eight are already in the trash. They’re simply no good and won’t get any better. The two bottom rows are reeds that aren’t good, but might get better. The two on the upper right of the glass might be good. The three on the upper left of the glass are poised to be good reeds. The six in the reed case are older and were actually reeds that made the cut for my New York debut recital (one was the chosen one).
It’s hard to imagine–only three reeds that definitely play from four boxes? Yes, that is the plight of the saxophonist. It’s the bane of my existence, actually. As my mentor Donald Sinta says, “When you buy a box of Vandoren reeds, you’re buying an unfinished product.” He’s right, you know.
