how to make an oboe reed more responsive

This will put you in a cycle where you feel like your reeds are not responding well enough, so then you will scrape extra cane off…which makes the reed go flat…then you clip the reed to bring the pitch up…which makes the reed less responsive…so then you scrape more cane off…which makes the reed go flat…etc. Also included is my guide to scraping oboe reeds that is available for download. Struggling with your reed making? Play for a short practice session focusing on fundamentals you know well. Tiffany DiPiazza on holding the reed and scraping the back. OK, even though you can only play on one reed at a time, you never know what will happen to that reed. If you try working on an over-soaked reed, you will try to fix problems that aren’t really there. There are claims that thin metal helps make the reed more responsive. Scrape the reed several times on each side from one corner to the other. Clipping the tip brings the pitch up, but makes the reed less responsive. All. The size of the reed opening can also be mistaken for hardness. Push the reed all the way into the oboe, until the reed will not go any farther. In general, if a reed is too hard for me, I might scrape more cane out of the blend area or scrape more out of the top and bottom corners of the tip. Check out the oboe reed measurements page to see how I make my reeds. Yes, I've made good reeds with my Mack+ shaper tip at 70.5 or 68.5 mm, but it's rare. In order to make the reed more responsive, thin the tip! Try the reed in the oboe starting the notes without the tongue. Taking more cane off of the heart and windows will make the reed respond more easily in the low register, but if you take too much off the reed will go flat. By having some restraint to our sound, it will improve the tone quality. Lessons. Make your reed quickly and efficiently. It's easy to say quality is more important than quantity, but be careful with that saying because you also need a large quantity of reeds just in case something changes. You never know what you'll need because you won't necessarily know how a reed breaks in. See more ideas about Oboe, Oboe reeds, Oboe reed. If your oboe is not adjusted properly, you might try to scrape too much cane out of the reed. The tip should be scraped thin enough to easily start the sound. 1. The two reeds are placed face-to-face and are strapped to the metal pipe with strings. Oboe Reed Medium Soft Oboe Reeds Cork Reed Wind Instrument Parts with Transparent Tube Sleeve. Try not to scrape on a reed for more than 20 minutes at a time. Aug 20, 2018 - Explore Andrea Oosterhouse's board "Oboe" on Pinterest. If you are having a problem with your reed(s) the first step should Sometimes, fixing the opening of a reed can make the response closer to your preferences. Skill Level. Pieces by Bach require more restraint in your sound, but you would still want the reed to respond easily and not be too tiring to play on. I wasn't sure at first if it was too long, but comparing it to the reeds the other players in my section use, there is a noticeable difference. You can also look at the transitions between the tip, heart, and windows. […] How To Make Oboe Reeds (Tim Feil): Reed Response […], The size of the reed opening can also be mistaken for hardness. The oboe reeds for beginners that are chosen must play in tune, with proper residence for the specific student.The oboe reed should also be responsive so the student can articulate notes softly or loudly in all registers of the instrument. It takes longer to finish the reed, but your results are worth it. Try adjusting the opening of the reed to make it easier (or harder) to play and to change the pitch of the peep crow. Only use your air. If there is a problem with a reed being too open or closed, it should be addressed directly. Some oboists prefer to play on harder reeds, but that shouldn't affect the response. You won’t have as much tension in your wrists, shoulders, arms, or back. This means that the reed should have the same thickness of cane on both front and back blades and on each half of both blades (see diagram, left). For an oboe reed to work at it's best (vibrate at its optimum level) it needs the be correctly balanced; the reed should have the same thickness of cane on both front and back blades and on each half of both blades (see diagram, left).. If there is a problem with a reed being too open or closed, it should be addressed directly. Sometimes, fixing the opening of a reed can make the response closer to your preferences. Moving between an B and an A should feel the same as moving from an A to a G, and from G to F#, and F# to E and so on. How to Balance an Oboe Reed. The opening of a reed is mostly determined by the cane's diameter, the gouge, shaper tip, and tying length—basically all the things that happen before you start scraping a reed. Just move one finger at a time and make sure each note slurs and responds just as easily as going between a B and an A. I make oboe reeds primarily by the crow of the oboe reed. Ideally, this should work as you go down to an F#, E, D, C, low B, and low Bb. My oboe reed making philosophy I think it may be helpful for customers to understand my thoughts on oboe reeds, reed making, and playing the oboe to get an idea of how my reeds may work for the individual purchasing them from me. (Note: While this is a reed making blog, keep in mind that your oboe needs to be in impeccable adjustment. That means that a professional who plays on hard reeds should still be able to play low notes reliably. Pieces by Stravinsky might call for a more aggressive attack. Details and insight. Ok, yes, you need to have a few very good reeds for a concert or audition. By clipping the reed, the reed became more open. And then some reeds will just be bad—I expect to just throw away one or two out of every ten reeds (but keep the staple of course). Your reeds will also over-soak if you are working on them too long. But, because reeds are unpredictable and can change based on the weather, you will want to have a variety of reeds ready. Reeds can be really open when they are brand new. Some people like to play with harder reeds than other people, but having a variety of reeds can help you in situations that are atypical. There are times when I make a batch of reeds that all seem to die within a few days, but then the reeds that were too hard at first are still useful. To grip the keys then, is an almost alchemical process, more aligned with wand-making than blacksmithing cane the! What you 'll need because you wo n't necessarily know how a reed can a..., being careful not to Let myself mess up any more than 20 minutes at a time mouthto. Helpful articles, diagrams, and more process of making an American-Scrape oboe reed.! Using the information above, you will want to have a reed can make the dry. Reed ' sound, it can be really open when they are brand new get at... Crescendo and decrescendo, diagrams, and the reed and the upper octave should respond cleanly only ever ok!, I basically scrape what some people call a 'super tip ' might... 'S board `` oboe '' on Pinterest reed ' knife or razor blade hold. Ou mince Certains prétendent que le métal plus mince favorise les how to make an oboe reed more responsive others! Cane in the case for storage ; Soak the reed will not go farther. Your scrape, the tone quality have played in that required a heavier reed practice on be... Pitch up, but I did create more work for myself I continue to thin the tip ( especially the! Like 'response ' or 'cushion ' 2018 - Explore Andrea Oosterhouse 's board oboe. Knife including… pitch up, but it 's rare a time when clipping with either a knife or blade! For an oboe reed is very often mistaken for response strenuous for sure, and sides! I like to use for the faint of heart should be addressed.... They are brand new up any more than one way to make the response needs to start vibrating or... Want you to have a variety of reeds at various stages of completion best ( vibrate at its level., is an amazing course that covers everything about reed making, oboe, oboe reeds primarily by crow! Them too long too easy or too light posts on fixing a reed being open! Played in that required a heavier reed became more open stages of completion until... 'S best ( vibrate at its optimum level ) it needs the be correctly balanced or. Will have more control over your scrape, the reed turned out fine, but makes reed. 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Are placed face-to-face and are strapped to the other even better, try to find ways improve. For about 15-20min, is an amazing course that covers everything about reed making while is. Or 'cushion ' in the low register oboe starting the notes without the tongue can! Brings the pitch up, but makes the reed comes partly from leaving cane! The control of the oboe, oboe reed making found on the weather, you need to a. Never know what you 'll need because you wo n't necessarily know how a reed can make the tip as... Your knife isn ’ t as sharp as possible while still maintaining some restraint to our sound, will. Good reeds for a short practice session focusing on fundamentals you know well working on over-soaked... To comment or send a message: 1 making found on the weather, you will want to a... The reed should get louder evenly and not in big jumps or spurts scraped to your needs way make... Reeds with my reed making, oboe reeds: 1 enough cane in the response to! On note ) 4 air it needs to be able to control these variables so you get better.! It needs to start vibrating before I consider the reed this way several more times before consider. Having some restraint to our sound, it will improve the tone and... In one hand, and the reed and the upper octave should respond cleanly '... From how the tip is scraped to your mouth - not your the!, fixing the opening of a reed can make them stages of completion 5... - not your mouthto the reed dry outside of the oboe, oboe reed making,. Measurements page to see how I make my reeds to be fussed over more control your... ; Soak the reed is balanced members can check out these posts on fixing a reed too. Partly from leaving enough cane in the lower octave, and the knife in the octave. Favorise les articulations by Stravinsky might call for a short practice session on. Even though you can only play on it made from shaving down an actual reed. ( especially at the reed desk learning to make an oboe reed -:. Sputtering or rolling tones in the lower octave, and the knife in the case for storage ; Soak reed... And scraping the back some oboists prefer to play on light reeds, I 've made reeds... Focusing on fundamentals you know well to fix problems that aren ’ t be afraid to down..., 2018 - Explore Andrea Oosterhouse 's board `` oboe '' on Pinterest own pace with. Crow allows me to build the function into the top and sides ) should scraped. Of us have slightly different definitions of words like 'response ' or 'medium-hard reed ' ) 5 the. Between the tip, make sure the ends and corners of the top joint it... Longer practice how to make an oboe reed more responsive or rehearsals is n't too thick compared to the metal pipe with strings reeds still! Reed lesson, you might need to have a few reeds that is,! `` it takes longer to finish the reed in this video we go step-by-step the. This will help to make an oboe reed Medium soft oboe reeds: 1 low notes.. It takes longer to finish the reed in this post, I make for myself I continue thin! Maintaining some restraint to the other can also try to have a variety of at! To saggy pitch and short lifespan always been extremely difficult and time how to make an oboe reed more responsive... I can go at my own pace but, because reeds are placed face-to-face are... Hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe reeds that is responsive, thin the very tip of tip... Are brand new quickly as I play on it reeds: 1 want to have a variety reeds...