If a ridge occurs in the cane, lightly scrape sideways across the bump until it disappears. The cane is a fragile organic material in itself, but when made into an instrument reed it is shaved to be paper thin. Cane Shapers. A smaller 3 oboe reed case and a larger 12 reed case, the larger case being left at home while the small case stays with the oboe. If the reed is too stuffy or resistant, scrape the reed gently all over. wrap the oboe  reed with Teflon plumbers tape or parafilm wax. It is a good idea to sterilize oboe reeds after the player has been sick. The reed vibrates when air is moved through the opening, causing the two blades vibrate from the changes in air pressure. When the reed vibrates at just the right frequency, the air in the straw vibrates powerfully, and you hear a loud, buzzing note, sort of like an oboe. After sculpting each half of the reed, Josh drops it into a dish of water and we pop out for lunch. Make a fist with your thumb on the exterior of the hand (as if thumb wrestling). The vibrating air produces the sound based on the length of the straw. Alessandro Di Gennaro 5,864 views. That’s because the reed is getting closed and then less air will pass through it. When you blow through the straw, there is a high pressure in your mouth. Do not ever put the oboe down or carry it with the reed in it. • The air stream needed to get the reed vibrating is relatively intermediate – not forceful, but also not minimal. Reed in Stages Normally I make the oboe reed not in one sitting but in many stages. A high-level high school student or college student may be going through 3-5 oboe reeds per month, which is okay if it is due to usage with proper oboe reed care and not neglect. Please feel free to contact me if you would like a few lessons on oboe reed care or any oboe related topics. Resistance is related to the amount of energy needed to make oboe reeds vibrate, the response is related to … This helps the cane to adjust and will extend the life of the reed. The final goal in reed making is to strike a delicate balance: You want a reed solid enough at its base to remain sturdy, but thin enough at the tip that it can vibrate. I usually tell people to expect a reed to provide around 10 hours of playing. There is also a bit of a personal intention in writing this article that I would like to share. Yes, different reed makers may have different soaking preferences depending on their reed making process. The Baseplate, posts, height plate, gouge height adjuster, end grommets, printed cane clips, aluminum spacer plate, guide rail and most importantly, the bed all reflect a positive change from the original. Rubbing the oboe reed on clothing, getting it tangled in hair, hitting it on a tooth, or storing it improperly in a case can all lead to damage. An oboist practicing for 2 hours every day, playing in several college ensembles, and taking lessons may get less than a week’s use out of an oboe reed. The cane must be centered on the oval part of the staple, and when tying, both sides of cane should close at the same time. If the reed is flat, the reed is too long or there is too much taken out of the heart. Take more out of the heart and back, and possibly clip. Me: “Okay no big deal, we caught it early, we can fix it”. Gouged, Shaped & Profiled Oboe Cane. If the reed responds easily, plays in tune, and has a nice tone quality, you’ve made a great reed! Gently scrape the shiny cane off of the heart area. ... Jacopo Di Gennaro with Légère oboe reed - Duration: 0:14. Also, carry a small vial - the plastic ones that regular camera film comes in are good. I am always amazed at how many of my own students struggle with removing the oboe reed from the oboe. A good reed is responsive, balanced, and stable. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. The fact that the oboe reed is double indicates that both sides of it must vibrate equally. These periods where the reed gods seem to be punishing us are known to oboists and reed makers as “reed … Clip the reed (about 1 mm), insert the plaque, and continue thinning the tip. 2. The plant grows to be around 12 feet tall and resembles bamboo. The blank is held with the bottom of the tube in the palm of the hand with the index finger extended to support the reed. In band, do not lay it across your knee - clarinet and flute players are cluless about oboe reeds and you can lose a good reed in a split second when another player bumps it. I don’t sanitize reeds too often (except when I initially sell them) but if for some reason there is a need feel free to use one of the products listed. I have tried “the Reed Life” product and like it especially for reviving old English Horn Reeds. Singin’ Dog Oboe Reed Medium. A dry reed does not have the same flexibility as a soaked reed so any pressure placed on a dry reed will make it split. There are now some reed cases with ribbon and mandrels. The Roy Double Radius Oboe Gouger Version 2.0 is an almost complete revamping of the original design. Scraping the Tip Thinner: Easier response; Creates more vibration - 'bright' sometimes shrill sound; Lower resistance; Flat in pitch, decreased stability Pull the reed out of the oboe as it is turned. I feel that my services allow people to play the oboe, something that brings me great joy, I hope they feel a similar joy. By cutting off pieces of the straw, you alter the length of the air column and change the pitch by doing so. OR 2. Many oboists, including this one,  will rotate oboe reeds so they do not get tired out too soon. As with most things I write, these are not rules but perspective gained from my own students, professional dialogue, and customer feedback. This information will help students and customers to understand how to take care of their oboe reeds and ensure they have a long and vibrant life. If the reed is sharp because it's still too thick, scrape more off. The oboist should only grab the reed by the cork. Lots In Stock. I have spent thousands of hours lurched over a reed desk on a search to understand how to make oboe reeds. As a result there are two types: a wider reed - for the German system, and more a narrow reed with a long staple - for the French oboe. with this information here is what you should expect. The result is a loud, quacky oboe reed that is unstable and can easily be overblown. I understand that way of thinking, it makes logical sense to me, though the student may go through more reeds in the long run,  since the reeds will be over-played in a short time period. Reed Tip Cutters. My goal is not to try to convince anyone that my ideas are the rule of the land, but the oboe reed care suggestions are what I share with my own students and interested customers. I am so happy to provide reeds to so many oboists. The reed should not ever be removed by grabbing the thread. Reed Knives & Files. Buy MMEA oboe audition music; Western District, Find handmade oboe reeds at A.Lakota Reeds. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars studying with great oboists and reed makers and I have a great desire to share my knowledge and skills with people who love the oboe as much as me. The process of reed-making is a culmination of education, physiology, and personal preference; each style of cutting the reed, or an individual’s scrape, is as unique as a fingerprint. I use my strong hand to grab the reed and my weak hand to hold the oboe (right hand on reed, left hand on oboe upper joint). This area should be thicker than the corners of the tip, but thinner than the heart behind it. line). I would suggest a case that holds 3-12 reeds to start. I would advise having a conversation with your student oboist about reed care if they are going through more than 3-4 oboe reeds per month. Always lightly support the bottom cane blade with your finger when scraping. Sounds like the reeds to me, and this is usually the result of 1. the tip being too thin in the center and thus collapsing on itself. Double reeds play an essential role in the resulting sound quality and playability of orchestral wind instruments like the bassoon, English horn and oboe. The answer to this will ultimately depend on the oboist but perhaps my professional experience and opinion will be of some value. used to tie the cane to the oboe staple which helps to keep the reed stable and airtight. The oboe is one of three members of the woodwind family — along with the English horn and bassoon — that use a double reed (unlike, say, the clarinet, which uses a single reed … Make an X from that line up to the end of the reed. Oboe Reed Making Tools. I suggest using disposable nail files to take a little cork off the reed. Reeds must be soaked before they are played on or they will crack. The reed tends not to vibrate as much as it did in lower altitudes. If the reed is very sharp (and not too short), it is not vibrating correctly. Oboe reeds should be stored in a reed case and not the vials or small containers that the reeds are packaged in. An “easy” reed (or beginning/student/soft reed) is almost always scraped too thin, making the vibrations easier to achieve without much air support. The oboe is a very rewarding and beautiful instrument to play. As you get above 5,000 feet, and often into a dry climate, the reeds will vibrate less. These are great. Reed making can be going very smoothly and suddenly nothing we make is working. Since the reed is so thin it can easily chip or crack from even slight trauma. The cane is tied on to the staple so the entire length is approximately 73 mm. The result will be a reed … The reed should be submerged up to the thread in water to become soaked. The majority of oboe reed cases will fall into one of these categories; I sell a couple Ribbon Style oboe reed cases on my website, you can see those by clicking on the links below. Reeds are leaking, or not vibrating, they are vibrating in the wrong places, or we are constantly hacking the tips off our reeds. Air support not being fully there, so the reed not vibrating properly. It tends to make the reed bright and even chirpy if the tip gets overly thin in one place. Double reeds. If the reed is too stuffy or resistant, scrape the reed gently all over. Scrape the cane parallel with the fibers of the reed, but with the knife at the angle of the X, to avoid scraping much out of the middle of the tip. The oboe is one of three members of the woodwind family — along with the English horn and bassoon — that use a double reed (unlike, say, the clarinet, which uses a single reed … Yes dead, worn out reeds can gain a second life. If your reed is not vibrating correctly, check and make sure there are no obvious mistakes or thick pieces of cane in strange spots. Oboe reed care starts with soaking the reed. (Rocking the wrist will create a scooped out portion of cane, and we want to make sure the cane always gets thinner from back to tip.). I have found there is a limited amount of resources available that cover the effects and challenges of making and adjusting oboe reeds at high elevation. Be sure to wrap only to the end of the staple and not beyond! Try to stay away from the center of the heart unless the reed just doesn't vibrate at all. I am not truly sure how long germs stay alive in such instances, but I think it is better to be safe than take the chance. They'll last longer if kept in a proper case that is made for a reed. There is nothing greater than the satisfaction of creating an amazing reed that will do everything an oboist requires. Try this quick reed test to determine if an oboe reed is suitable for playing. High Speed Video of Vibrating (harmonica) Reed (Front View) 500fps - Duration: 0:10. Saliva will break down the oboe reed quicker than water, so I advise you favor soaking oboe reeds in water. First, determine whether the sound of the reed is dull and wooden or whether it's thin and shrill. When you blow through the straw, there is a high pressure in your mouth. The small vials are airtight and will cause the reed to mold. The reed is probably not well balanced in this case, and where to remove wood should be visibly obvious. Continue thinning and clipping until the reed crows easily at about a C. The finished reed is about 70 mm long. A private teacher will be able to share more information than is provided herewith your young oboist about oboe reed care and other oboe related topics. In the case of an un-vibrant reed, it is usually better to try to get more vibrations by scraping the heart and even the back, as well as the sides and corners of the tip. The reed being squeezed or bitten and thus sounding pinched. I know some parents will buy a few reeds and only allow their student to have access to one reed at a time. When the reed vibrates at just the right frequency, the air in the straw vibrates powerfully, and you hear a loud, buzzing note, sort of like an oboe. structure of oboe reeds. Oboe reeds are made from a plant called Arundo Donax. This special blend of metals ensures that the wire is not too malleable or brittle to allow the reed to vibrate correctly. The reed should respond immediately, vibrate freely, and have the pitch of C in two octaves. When traveling from a lower altitude to a higher one, generally two things happen to oboe reeds: 1.The opening becomes more closed which tends to cause sharpness. There are many oboe teachers offering online lessons, the student will gain valuable insights by studying with a qualified oboe teacher. Student:    “Aaron, I know you said not to , but I grabbed the reed by the thread to remove it and now it is starting to unravel”. The reed will literally stop vibrating because they are blowing so much air, the tip of the reed will collapse. If the reed is not vibrating well, scraping the whole tip, including the center, is seldom a good idea. I find many of my students cannot figure out how to get a good hold on the cork. Your jaw may have just dropped if you are new to this. If it is too hard to get a sound, thin everything more (the tip, the heart, and the back). The reeds get smaller as the cane diameter becomes smaller. Newer reeds can usually  be soaked for a shorter period of time, older reeds may need to be soaked longer. Double reeds are used on the oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn, bass oboe, Heckelphone, bassoon, contrabassoon, sarrusophone, shawm, bagpipes, nadaswaram and shehnai.They are typically not used in conjunction with a mouthpiece; rather the two reeds vibrate against each other. I suppose a glue gun or any other high strength adhesive will work just fine too. The primary function of reed is to vibrate and the thinner the tip the easier the vibrations are able to move through the reed. Oboe reeds are not costly ($15-$30), but you still want to keep your oboe reed in good condition so you don't have to buy another. If it's too thin, the reed becomes loose and noisy - … Large flat reeds like baritone saxophone come from sections closer to the ground. Oboe Reed Thread. 10 hours is the actual time spend playing, not sitting and listening to the band director talk, not time spent looking out the window while it should be played, but actual playing time. Take a slow and deep breath through the mouth and then blow strongly to produce a robust sound. I would suggest soaking the reed for 2-3 minutes in warm water to start if you are not sure of the reed maker’s suggested soaking method. Cork grease can also be used to lubricate the cork which may allow easier removal, just be aware that it may also decrease the ability to get a firm grip on the cork. Each one is thoughtfully put together to help provide you with the best tone possible, and the only use the highest quality Arundo donax cane available to help ensure the best handmade oboe reed. Reed Making Machines. Excess moisture should be shaken or blown out of the oboe reed before it is stored. If we support the cane more on one side or the other, both the produced sound and the tuning will change. Reed Drying Boards. The oboe is enough of a challenge without being in the dark about oboe reed care and maintenance. I advise the student be given access to at least three reeds at a time. The Response of the oboe reed is not a measurement of how much energy is needed, but how quickly the reed reacts to the energy that is present within the system. Such oboe reeds have a smaller tip opening but vibrate freely and are very stable. Oboe Reed Making Kit. Excited to share the latest addition to my # etsy shop: Student Oboe Reed # studentoboereed # beginneroboereed https://etsy.me/3pyWSeP Perfect oboe reed for the beginner oboist. The majority of oboe reed cases will fall into one of these categories; Mandrel style holds the reed by inserting a small tube into the bottom of the reed. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Be careful not to put more spit in the reed. The heart acts like a valve between the tip and the back. Oboe reeds come from cane that has a diameter of around 10-11mm. Reeds are very delicate. Tube Cane Splitters. There is more leverage turning the oboe than the reed. OR 4. A chipped or broken tip will cause the reed to stop vibrating well and may sound odd or … A moldy reed will look dark or speckles on it. An oboe and bassoon both use a double reed that consists of two pieces of cane that vibrate against one another. I wrote a longer guide “How To Soak Oboe Reeds” Here. Use a pushing motion with your knife rather than a rocking motion and scrape All THE WAY over the edge of the reed to ensure the tip is the thinnest part of the reed. The fingers should be right up against the oboe, pushing against it even. Clip. “a guide to soaking oboe reeds”. When an oboe reed shows signs that the thread is loosening there are a few things that can be done. The thread will loosen over time and become unraveled if the oboist consistently pulls and rotates the thread. I offer live online video lessons on oboe performance, reed making, and performance strategies (these lessons deal with mindfulness for performers,  where we look at the mind-body-emotional connection during a performance and how to establish a friendly relationship with our thoughts and emotions). Crow the reed. Oboe reeds are expensive ($15-$30). The reed will come out if it is turning. Mandrels. Again, push the knife forward rather than rocking it. I feel that a reed maker will have more respect for oboe reeds than someone not knowing what goes into the process and follow a more serious oboe reed care regiment (Just in case you are curious here is the process “how to make oboe reeds step by step”). Oboe reeds soaked in water will last longer than reeds soaked with saliva. Oboe Reed Thread. Each time you clip, just take a tiny amount off, then re-thin the tip toward the corners and re-test the reed. A reed can be expected to last a 2-3 weeks in a situation like this with proper oboe reed care. If the reed is very sharp (and not too short), it is not vibrating correctly. Remember, clip the reed to improve stability, not tone. I attribute this to changing seasons. Affected by the length of the tube, this vibrating air in turn affects the reed’s vibrations. Place the cork between your thumb and fist  and squeeze firmly. If it's too thick, the tip vibrations will not continue, and the reed will feel stuffy and resistant. Singin’ Dog is a well-known maker of oboe reeds, and this particular reed is entirely handmade. Dull knives ruin reeds! Later on, the American system Scrape more from the heart and back, and possibly corners. Shake= shake the wrist while holding the oboe reed. There are some products out there that claim to prolong the life of oboe reeds. Keep the string very taut when wrapping to ensure a nice, strong hold on the cane. To “rotate oboe reeds” means one reed is not played until it is dead, but several reeds will be played in a rotation of some sort. The  plant grows wild all around the world, and is farmed specifically for instrument reeds. There is not a standard way to construct an oboe reed, so the products of individual reed-makers vary substantially. used to tie the cane to the oboe staple which helps to keep the reed stable and airtight. The plant in its harvested form is usually referred to as “cane”. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Both types have different ways of scraping. The student may benefit from having two reed cases. The oboist will need to place the oboe reed in their mouth up to the thread. I get a bit nervous seeing the reeds being grabbed by the thread and wiggled back and forth as if extracting a loose tooth. Gouged, Shaped & Profiled Oboe Cane. In doing so, you will be able to make a that is stronger and will last much longer. Find handmade oboe reeds at A.Lakota Reeds, Find high quality student oboe reeds and student bassoon reeds at MallarReeds, /*
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