This third review of woodwind equipment contains accessories that can be of tremendous value to any woodwind doubler or single-reed specialist. Like previous equipment review articles, I am not an endorsee or have any personal involvement with any of the companies whose products I recommend. The products are listed in alphabetical order.
Adjustable Clip-on Convex Mirror
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Convex-Mirror-Clip-Mount/dp/B0007OF0OK
Mirrors are excellent training tools to have when practicing and/or teaching. This adjustable convex mirror is one that I have used for several years and have found it to be excellent for the purposes mentioned above. The mirror is 7” in diameter, comes with a clip-on device that attaches to music stands easily, and is adjustable. It is also extremely portable so it can be used when warming up at a rehearsal or concert. It is extremely affordable at $17.
Clarinet Counterbalance
CandaceMusician@gmail.com
Candace Schmitt is an oboe/English horn player who devised a counterbalance several years ago to help her play English horn for long hours. Coincidentally, it also works magnificently for A & Bb clarinets. This unique invention provides a hook that attaches to the thumb rest. (It requires a thumb rest that has an adaptable hole.) The hook is attached to a strap and a pouch. This weighted pouch goes over one’s shoulder and thereby helps lift the clarinet slightly so that the weight of the horn does not fall entirely on one’s thumb. Varying weights are provided via small pellets so that each player can adjust the amount of weight they require. Not only will this allow for one to play for longer hours without the thumb suffering, but the resonance of the horn is improved as well because it prevents one from gripping the mouthpiece/reed combination with too much pressure to help stabilize the clarinet! I was referred to this device by Eddie Daniels, who performs with this standing up as well as seated. The counterbalance costs around $70 with shipping.
Doctor’s Products Key & Bore Oils
https://www.doctorsprod.com/shop
Doctor’s Products has long been associated with fine accessories for the clarinetist. They now offer a selection of oils and lubricants for the woodwind instrumentalist that is of a very high grade. The key oil at $15 is a synthetic oil designed by NASA that contains anti-rust and corrosion inhibitors and is far superior to the standard key oils that I have used previously. Doctor’s Grenad-Oil at $35 is made with the grenadilla oil normally found in the wood of fine clarinets. This is a wonderful accessory to use occasionally with high-level wooden instruments to add back the oil lost when playing an instrument over time. It is an excellent way of preserving one’s horn.
Grip Master
https://prohands.net/products/gripmaster
Prohands is a company that makes a variety of devices to improve strength and flexibility in the fingers and hands. They make one handgrip specifically designed for musicians along with a program for maintaining the health and flexibility of the fingers and hands, regardless of one’s instrument. The 11-exercise program offers a diverse set of stretches that one can do while watching tv; while practicing; or during a gig. The resistance for the musicians’ program is light (XX light), weighs .75 lbs, is easy to manipulate; and extremely portable. It costs $20.
Lefreque Elastic Footjoint Bands
https://flutecenter.com/products/footjoint-special-lefreque-elastic-band
I am not one for gimmicks that portend to change one’s playing overnight. However, I have found the use of the Lefreque elastic footjoint bands to be very helpful in focusing one’s sound on “C” flute, alto flute, and piccolo. Lefreque is a Dutch company which has become popular with wind instrumentalists for their sound bridges which are reputed to increase the resonance of whatever instrument to which they are attached. I have not experimented with their sound bridges but do believe that their elastic bands have a benefit, especially for woodwind doublers needing to find a low register focus after switching to flute from a reed instrument. These knotted bands cost roughly $5 each, are easy to wind around the very bottom of any flute, do not leave any type of mark whatsoever, and come in a variety of colors.
Lomax HumidiPro Reed Case
https://lomaxclassic.com/index.php/product/humidipro-clarinet-reed/
Mark Lomax has acquired a reputation over the past 25+ years for creating excellent products including clarinet mouthpieces, ligatures, instrument cases, covers, and reed cases. A professional clarinetist himself, Mr. Lomax has designed the finest reed case that I have seen to date. It is a humidity-controlled case that holds up to 15 Bb clarinet reeds (or soprano sax, alto sax and Eb clarinet reeds) along with a digital hygrometer/thermometer and humidpak. The case is designed to maintain a constant humidity and temperature for your reeds so that the amount of warpage normally associated with reeds in minimized. The reed holder is replaceable with other reed holders for larger reeds such as those for bass clarinet, tenor & baritone saxophones. The humidpak needs to be changed once every 4-6 months. While the case is too large to put inside a clarinet case, it will fit nicely inside most case cover partitions. This is the Rolls Royce of reed cases and runs $125.
Yamaha Adjustable Thumb Rest for Clarinet
https://rdgwoodwinds.com/collections/clarinet-accessories/products/yamaha-adjustable-clarinet-thumbrest-silver-plated
The Yamaha thumb rest for Bb/A clarinets is an adaptable piece of equipment that has been well thought out. It allows for changing not only the height of the rest but also the angle at which the thumb rest sits. The holes that allow the screws to attach to the body of the horn fit on a Buffet model horn as well as the Yamaha models. The overall weight is lighter than the Buffet adjustable thumb rest and is more comfortable. At $35 for the silver-plated model from this dealer, it is a bargain!
Yamaha Silver Polishing Cloths
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YAC-1110P2-Medium-Polishing/dp/B01M6C93KN
In previous equipment reviews I have talked about several companies that manufacture silver polishing cloths and their benefits in cleaning silver plated woodwind instruments. I believe that Yamaha has now created the BEST polishing cloth for any silver-plated instrument that I have encountered to date. It has a natural feel to it and is of the perfect size to remove any dirt from an instrument. It is easy to clean, reusable and at $15, is a bargain.