Avoid the double reed making rut

Avoid The Reed Making Rut. We oboists and double reed players in general, must deal with temperamental reeds which are made from organic material. What is working great one month may not work at all the next. Reed making can be going very smoothly and suddenly nothing we make is working. Reeds are leaking, or not…

The Internal dimension of double reeds.

The Inside story of the double reed. Understanding how the internal dimensions of a double reed affects its playing qualities. An oboist recently wrote to me with some questions about shaper tip dimensions and what qualities different shapes affect. I watched my mind start chattering away about how the shaper tip affects different qualities of…

oboe reed intonation introduction.

Evaluating intonation in oboe reeds. The ability for a musician to play in tune with other instrumentalists is an important ability no matter what level they are at. While many instruments can be adjusted to play better in tune by changing either the length of the instrument, or  string tension,  the oboe must be tuned…

oboe reed response introduction

Oboe Reed Response; a great reed starts with great response… Have you ever had one of those days where your tongue is pecking away at the oboe reed, working as hard as it can, and your articulations still sound slow or sloppy? Well, your reed may have response issues. Don’t worry, by recognizing the oboe…

oboe reed resistance.

Understanding Oboe Reed Resistance The term “resistance” is one we oboists all know well in practice, but can struggle slightly when it comes to describing what the term actually refers to. What causes resistance? how can I understand what affects the level of resistance in oboe reeds ? how can know what is causing the…

oboe reeds for beginners

Oboe Reeds For Beginners. The oboe is often recognized as one of the most difficult instruments to play. Beginning oboe students are often intimidated by the reputation of the instrument. The oboe is a rather difficult instrument for several reasons, but the major difficulty is dealing with the oboe reed. The reed itself is constructed…

9 Reasons why your oboe reeds are leaking

9 Reasons why your oboe reeds are leaking 1. The cane was tied onto the staple unevenly. This is the most common cause for a leaky reed for novice oboe reed makers. A piece of cane that is not centered on the staple will leak from the side near the staple. Always be sure that…

How to adjust flat oboe reeds without any tools.

How to adjust flat oboe reeds without any tools. Here are a few simple ways to adjust flat oboe reeds without any reed making tools. These tricks are all manipulating the internal dimensions of the oboe reed. I speak about this more in the article oboe reed intonation introduction.  Soak new reeds in warm water…

Guide to soaking oboe reeds 

Soaking Oboe Reeds; How Long Should I Soak My Oboe reed? I have been playing the oboe for 20 years, and teaching for over 15 years now, I tend to take soaking reeds for granted and I do not tend to give it a lot of thought. The topic has been coming up in different…