The green cover is faded and some of the pages are falling out. I`d say have a COMPETENT repairperson check and adjust the oboe, my old oboe has a similar problem and it`s not a reed or player problem, thankfully I have my new rigoutat now and could care less. Get a Second Opinion When youre having oboe reed troubles, looking at your own reeds for answers is like trying to make out your reflection while looking into a cloudy pond. If you’ve been playing the oboe for a while, you know first hand just how many things can go wrong with your reeds. D. Reed Problem: 1. 2. nd. 10% coupon applied at checkout Save 10% with coupon. Shape - if your finished reeds seem to be doing everything you want them to do but are just high in pitch, trying a wider shape might be worth exploring.  There is a large variety of shapes on the market today ranging from very wide to very narrow.  Experimenting with a shape that has a wider throat or belly will result in reeds that will generally sit lower in pitch. Rather, the wire stabilizes and focuses the tone of … I can usually rely on them, as opposed to others, who's quality depends on my skill. The wire is not used to control the opening of the reed. It "tires out" the fibers and they seem to wear down (lose vibration) more quickly. Diagnosing Common Oboe Reed Problems. HOW TO FIX AN OBOE REED (WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING WHAT YOU’RE DOING) By Stacey Berk – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point The reed should be soaked for all of the following steps. Create lists, bibliographies and reviews: or Search WorldCat. Little did I know that one little fact about putting “roadblocks” into a reed would end up solving my “too much vibration” problem once and for all. 2.6 out of 5 stars 3. Local: (612)331-4717 Now they have become the foundation of my reedmaking ideas. The funny thing is, the solutions to some of the most frustrating oboe reed problems are just too simple and obvious to notice. Overlap - the overlap can also result in sharp reeds, specifically if the blades are slipped too much in either direction (depending if you're right or left handed. So i got some more. They have a laundry list of dos and don’t that they meticulously follow day in and day out. Sides of the reed not closed from born again oboe. What should be similar is that the reed needs to vibrate evenly. First, you need to diagnose common oboe reed problems. Shop for Oboe Reeds, Books, Courses and More! By now it’s actually quite worn. Tone (does it make a nice sound) 5. 27 Lessons 20+ Videos All Skill Level 2:00 Duration English Language Share This Course: Affiliation & Supplies Reviews I love this course! I chose Jones. An oboe reed can make or break an oboe's usability and sound. Dedicated, conscientious practice of scales/arpeggios and technical material goes a long way here, but there are some additional considerations specific to the oboe. When scraping in the tip of the reed you're increasing or … Like anything in life, success is created by taking action. Artist: Sang Yoon Kim. It is really hard to see, and what you can make out, you can barely make sense of anymore. Always wipe away any moisture with a cleaning scrub after playing. Oboists, we feel for you: and not just because of the double-reed misery, the duck noises, the … But too often, reeds are too thick, too long, too open, too closed, too sharp -- you name a problem, and it's a possibility for an oboe reed. Low notes tend to be flat except when they are played very quietly, while half-hole notes tend to be sharp. Adjusting the Wire (If your reed has one) Before fixing any problems, start by checking that the reed … An oboe reed should never sit in water for more than 2-3 minutes at a time. Under-Scraped - if a reed is too heavy or has too much cane on it, playability will be very resistant and the reed will be sharp in pitch.  Work on the tip of the reed to get the tip vibrating and slowly work your way across the inception point (all referred to as the blend, between the heart and tip) and then into back.  It's best to do this process slowly to introduce vibrations into all parts of the reed.  As you remove cane, the pitch will begin to drop and you will probably ending up clipping and redefining the tip multiple times.  Be careful not to clip too much as a reed with a very short tip that is short in over-all length is generally a lost cause.  Short, sharp reeds are never a good thing! A good reed is responsive, balanced, and stable. Reed Pros has partnered with skilled oboe reed makers to offer our customers a variety of reed styles. Each reed is made by a different oboe player with their own different physiologies, instruments, and tone goals. Shape - if your finished reeds are generally good but are just overall riding low in pitch, trying a narrower shape can help improve the pitch. You never know which “tip” will be most useful at any particular time. Tube Cane Splitters. If the opening is wrong, the reed will have the same problems with or without the wire. You could just sit down and play. And with one simple tip from my teacher (usually something that I should have noticed myself) the problem just melted away. The sides should press tightly together along the entire length of the reed. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the heck is water?”. The reeds are very different but they are all great. WorldCat Home About WorldCat Help. And many reed makers do. xi . Blade overlap It’s full of years of knowledge that can help you improve your oboe reeds, no matter what your skill level is today. *Using Yamaha scrubs on other manufacturer's instruments may cause problems, such as jamming, due to differences in the sizes of the internal diameter of the pipe, and so forth. Sides of the reed. If there are any differences, try to equal them out and this may immediately fix your problem without having to adjust your oboe reed. Here are some of the common problems woodwind doublers, often coming from background in the single reed instruments, have with the oboe: Fingering awkwardness. A quick tip for extending the life (temporarily) of a dying reed. What better time is there to focus on fixing your oboe reed problems than right now? ). Never work on a dry reed – it will likely crack. problem is i chipped my good reed yesterday practicing. And I’ve encountered a lot of different reedmaking philosophies along the way. Like my “Reed Notebook,” you never know which hint or tip will help you get past your most current reed problem. The oboe is a woodwind instrument that sounds beautiful when played as part of an orchestra, or even on its own as a solo. But the reason I am writing to you today is because I want to help you solve your reed problems faster, with less effort and a whole lot less frustration. Oboe Reed Making Kit. Start with this guide, then check out our guide to oboe reed adjustments. 1. In fact, that was my goal when I was putting it together. Oboe Reed Problems? If they do not, the reed may be unstable and inconsistent. To order, all you have to do is call 1-866-220-9811 any time of the day or night, any day of the week. An oboe reed can make or break an oboe's usability and sound. Reed Drying Boards. Leaking (air escaping) Mandrels. So how do you determine the right adjustments for your reed? Reed Making Machines. Pitch and tuning on the oboe is always tricky but it’s not always your fault, sometimes it really is the reed! The good news is that many of them can be fairly simple to fix…. Tip Opening - a reed with a small tip opening can often result in reeds sharp in pitch. Octave Key (on reverse) A♭/G# Key Low B Key Low B♭/A# Key Key Left F Key E Key Right F Key D Key D♭/C# Key / B Key A Key G Key Left E♭/D# Key Right A♭/G# Key F# Key Low C Key Right E♭/D# Key . )  This also ties together with the tip opening as a reed that has too much overlap will likely be more closed.  Slipping the blades back can help but just as mentioned before, this is probably just a temporary fix as the blades will naturally want to return to their original orientation. Pliers, Easels & Tool Bags. But don’t let its length fool you. The temptation, however, is to squeeze the oboe, pull the fingers back toward the hand like a claw, pull the hand back toward the wrist, pull the arms and oboe in toward the body, collapse and squeeze the chest, poke the head out to meet the reed, then blow really hard against all the resulting tension by gripping with the abdominal muscles and squeezing the torso. Resistance (too hard or soft) 2. Like I said, most every oboe reed problem you will ever encounter can be traced back to the same few principles – having a sharp, flat or unstable reed is really just a symptom of the real problem. At the very first lesson she always tests the student’s instrument by playing on it to make sure it is functioning properly. Solve THAT and you will be well on your way to better oboe reeds. Turn corners of mouth down . We mark the cork with a unique reed identifier such as a … dont bash me. I remember jotting that down during my lessons on the 4th floor of my teacher’s apartment in NYC – about 3 years before I needed it. This problem can sometimes be cured by soaking the reed in hot water or by squishing closed the back of a soaked reed. How much practical oboe reed advice could I cram into the smallest space? But the one thing all of my teachers have in common is that, no matter what their “philosophy,” they all somehow end up making great reeds.