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so it was razz i didn't read the names of who i was talking to. oh well, the point stands. whether or not i directed it at the right person.

oh! looked who messed up 4 once! lol blaugh

don't you need a 1+ to go to state? you do where i live...

p.s. i never said i don't mess up. in fact i mess up fairly frequently, but i usually admit it. i also usually KNOW that i messed up, unlike most people who deny messing up when it's pointed out to them.

You people who are flaming him/her are obviously ignorant.
At least he/she can admit to mistakes.
But yes, he/she has a good point, when you mess up, and you're at the high school [or 3 year mark] level, you should KNOW when you mess up. and not deny it.

EDIT: once again, this thread is failing HARDCORE.
So, Once again I change the subject, How many years of experience do you all have?

soaking in water as opposed to soaking in saliva (in your mouth) is....technically "better". saliva has enzymes which are meant to break down food(this is apparent when you put a saltine cracker in your mouth. first the salt will dissolve, then the cracker will become mushy.) because if those enzymes, your reed will deteriorate slightly, plus cane reeds (the material that reeds are made out of) will resist being digested. the combination of those two things result in a reed that is being digested and stiffened at the same time.

that being said, i soaked my reeds in my mouth for 5 1/2 years and i sounded fine. it all comes down to personal preference/convenience. i carry around a little pill bottle that i fill with water to soak my reeds in. since reeds are naturally found in very watery places, the reed will soak it up very easily. i think it sounds better if you soak your reeds in water before you play, rather than in your mouth. but remember if you have already soaked your reed in your mouth a lot, then water isn't going to help it much and you might as well continue soaking it in your mouth until you get a new reed. obviously, while you're playing saliva will get on your reed, but it's less damaging than soaking it in saliva.

P.S. after you're done playing, you should pat your reed dry with a cloth. it won't dry completely, but it will help your reed to not warp while it's not being used.

if you want to clean the white stuff the builds up on your mouthpiece, use lemon juice. just get a little lemon juice on your finger or a little cloth and rub it where you want to clean.

then you can wash the mouthpiece in apple cider vinegar. works like a charm. also, keeping your reeds in a plastic bag with a guitar humidifier or something (or a sponge with the water squeezed completely out of it) keeps your reeds from warping. and, a good way to tell if your reed is warped is to take the mouthpiece and neck, put it on your hand, and suck the air out of it. you should get a popping sound when you take it out of your mouth. if not, then take a "mill file" or "600 grain sandpaper" and rub the smooth side lightly. it makes a huge difference. smile