Hi, I've been playing clarinet for about 2 years now, and I'm second chair in an 8th grade band. I'm trying out for All State band in California and have to do a recording of me playing a few scales and part of Menuet. I really need help. I mean, I can play it, but the problem is, I'm caught between a 3 reed and a 3 1/2 reed. With a 3 reed, it's really easy for me to do staccato, which is necessary in the trio, but my tone isn't good. It's also harder for me to do high notes well. But with a 3 1/2 reed, my sound is a LOT better. But it's hard for me to do staccato.

I'm almost certain I'm doing something wrong with my embouchure to create bad tone with a 3 reed because my teacher uses a 3 reed and his tone is great. But I don't think I have enough time to be working on embouchure. I have to do my recording at school tomorrow morning.

Which reed should I go with? And what can I do to get better tone and have an easier time with staccato?

Thanks in advance!

well, if you have enough reeds, you could sand down a 3 1/2 reed, making it a little softer, i sometimes do this using wet or dry sandpaper, it needs to be very fine grain. if you have proper reed sanding equipment, do use that.
unfortunately, you can stuff up a reed pretty majorly, and it is slightly difficult to keep the reed the same shape~it has to be symmetrical
even after this, there is no garantee that you will keep the tone and improve tounging.

if you could, i would recommend using a 3 1/2 for the scales and really get a good tone, (thats what the markers are generally looking for in scales, and a 3 in the excerpt, making sure to wow them with expression, dynamics and staccato, as that would be the general point in the excerpt.
best of luck, please tell us how it goes

I know its a little late, but I would definatly go with the 3 1\2. The hard the reed, the better. Tone is a major factor. How did it go?

I recommend whichever you think is easier to play and make it sound good. switching for the scales and excerpt sounds like a good plan.

on a side note, is this "menuet" the menuet from divertimento in D, k334, by mozart? if so, i like it, its a great piece

Thanks for helping, you guys. I just did both the scales and Menuett with a 3 rico reed. It turned out alright.