Caring for your Légère reed.

Pre-playing

To unpack the reed, remove it from the case or box carefully avoiding contact with the tip. While Légère reeds are durable, they can easily be damaged if mishandled or dropped. It is best to always handle your reed by the heel.

Playing

There is no need to moisten a Légère reed, it will play like a pre-moistened cane reed directly from the box.

Place the reed on the mouthpiece in the same position that you would put a cane reed and secure it with a ligature. Test the reed’s response either on the instrument or alone. You should feel a quick attack that speaks instantly. If you do not feel a fast attack the reed position or strength is incorrect. Move the reed back and forth trying a variety of positions and continue testing. If you cannot find a position that works well and it feels like the strength is incorrect please make use of Légère’s Exchange of Strength program.

Once the attack feels correct play the reed for a couple of minutes to warm it up. At this point, the reed is in playing condition. Depending on your playing style, the reed will need to be rotated after roughly 60 minutes. This is to extend the life of the reed, not improve your short-term tone. With proper rotation and care your reeds should last many months.

Storage and Cleaning

When you are finished playing on your reed, loosen the ligature and remove it from the mouthpiece. The reed can be cleaned periodically with water and a mild detergent. Légère single reeds should be stored in the case it came with or in a flat-surfaced reed case.

Due to the fact that polypropylene is non-porous, it is very difficult for bacteria to build on your reed.