It Goes Without Saying …

10. February 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Reed Making, Reeds

But of course I’ll say it anyway!

The closer I get to a concert, the worse my reeds feel.

Yep. I’m hating my reeds. Tonight I have a recital at UCSC and tomorrow is Opera San José’s opening night for La traviata.

I’m not sure if it’s psychological, or if I really do have worse reeds when I near a concert. I’m guessing it’s the former. But who cares about the why of it all. It just IS, and I have to deal. So today I’m working on reeds, and hoping a miracle occurs. Truth of it is, though, that I rarely trust a brand new reed, and I’m sure I’ll end up dealing with older ones. The recital is only one piece, and I have a reed I think will get me through even though it’s not stellar. I’ve been using three and sometimes four reeds a night for opera, in my continued search for ones that sound and feel good. I don’t have much in the opera, but I do have a one solo and a few other things that are heard that make for scary times if I don’t like my reed(s).

Last night was our final dress rehearsal. I (foolishly?) walked seven miles during the day, and then I had two students. By the time I started the opera my brain was rather fried. I played wrong notes (fortunately in places that no one other than a couple of people around me would notice). I felt unfocussed. I thought I sounded abominable. I realize I’m my worst critic but still ….

Okay … back to reeds now. I just felt the need to vent!

Well that was Quick ‘n Easy!

27. December 2011 · 4 comments · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

If only reed making took just think long, eh? (But doesn’t he have a lovely sound?)

… and hey, that’s how I open my tips! (But not until I’ve thinned the tip a bit. I’ve seen other oboists cringe when they see me doing that.)

Here is a portion of a Master Class by Leloux:

These videos are to promote playwithapro.com. I need to investigate the site a bit. It appears you can purchase masterclasses, but I’m not seeing the price there. (I’m probably just missing it somehow.) I’d certainly be interested in watching them if the price isn’t too prohibitive.

Wonderful Video of Mingjia Liu

08. September 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

Are you interested in what an oboist does? Check this fabulous video out!

Tired yet?

I hear Mingjia when Dan and I attend San Francisco Opera, and I can tell you he is one magnificent musician!

You can also see Deb Shidler, Peter Lemberg, and Janet Archibald in the opera orchestra. I see them from a great distance as we sit in our Dress Circle seats to enjoy the opera. I have the best seat in the house, from my own opera pit, but I love my dress circle seat too.

A Three Minute Oboe Reed

25. August 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

Well, okay … not quite!

Reed Making in Houston

28. May 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: Announcements, Reed Making

I just received these and have been asked to put them up here. Obviously it’s too far away for me, but perhaps I have some Houston readers (reeders)?:

Learn some basic reed making skills, and/or renew your skills and/or
simply get advice about where to from this point.
Thu June 2nd 6:30-8:30 Early Skills tying, knots and knife sharpening
Thu June 16th 6:30-8:30 Scraping, tying clipping finishing (and review)
Thu June 23rd 6:30-8:30 More scraping, proportions, getting a
crow…sounds, finishing (and review)
Thu June 30th 6:30-8:30 Crows, tone, pitch…will it play? finishing
July to be announced on demand….hopefully you will all be making
wonderful reeds by then. Dr. Leek will supply 3 gouged,shaped folded
pieces of cane per student per class, and will inform you where to buy
it on your own and lend supplies until you have all you need. The cost
is $55 per class , a discount if you buy all of them. ($200).
Registration accepted until the last minute if we have not reached
capacity (8 people), but early birds are prefered. All classes will be
at my house, call (713.440.6766) or e-mail (draleek@hotmail.com) with
questions. If you register, Dr. Leek will send you the supplies list.
Many already have “reed kits” which are OK to start.
Teachers: your students are very welcome! Please warn them that I have
dogs,cats and a bird.

Dr. Leek (BM, MM, DMA Julliard) Associate principal, Houston Symphony;
former member, Pittsburgh Symphony; winner, Geneva International Music
Competition; soloist, New York Philharmonic; concertized and recorded
with Boston Symphony and St. Louis Symphony; recordings on DGG, Koch
Schwann and Gramola; European duo tours with Christoph Eschenbach.

and then this:

Hi All, I have had the good luck to be able to arrange a great
opportunity for all of us: MAKE REEDS WITH THE TOP TEXAS PLAYERS !!!
Each teacher will present a reed making session,
explain choices, equipment and show “how to do it” we will sit at
tables with our prepared blanks and attempt to make a reed in the
style of each player.
Tuesday May 31st Erin Hannigan Principal
Oboist of the Dallas Symphony 6-8pm at my house

Wednesday June 8th Robert Atherholt, retired
Principal Oboist of the Houston Symphony, prof at Rice, 7-9pm at Rice
in his studio

Wednesday June 15th Colin Gatwood 2nd oboist of
the Houston Symphony 7-9 at my house

Wednesday June 22nd Adam Dinitz English
Hornist of the Houston Symphony 7-9 at my house

the cost will be $65 for a 2 hour session, 5% discount if you buy
all of them. The checks should be made out to me. My address is 3223
Milburn St Houston 77021
RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED as we will have limited space!
Hope you join us for this unique opportunity. Please pass this on to
anyone you think might enjoy this, thanks
Anne (713-440-6766)

Read Online

14. January 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Read Online, Reed Making

The English Horn reed is a thin strip of synthetic material that is used as a mouthpiece. The act of tying a reed refers to reshaping it, or using a knife to scrape away small pieces of the reed. This makes the reed more stable and reduces the amount of time that it takes to break in and produce the notes with accuracy and clarity.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Sharpen your knife with another knife by scraping the blades together. This is extremely important for tying the reed.

I read this here

Liang Wang On Reeds

29. October 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making

“To make a good oboe reed, first, it’s a sharp knife, second it’s a sharp knife and third it’s a sharp knife. Therefore I’m extremely conscientious with how sharp my knife is. Usually if I do have a sharp knife I know the reed is probably going to be okay.”

And did you hear that high C? I’m not talkin’ the high C we all play … but higher.

When To Start?

12. August 2010 · 10 comments · Categories: Asked Online, Reed Making

Read online:

When is it a good time to start making oboe reeds?

hi i am oboe player and when i went to band camp last year i learned a little bit about making reeds and i really want to learn more. oh and i am in eight grade.

I would love to hear from instructors out there about this. I know of someone who begins teaching reed making extremely early. Others don’t. Do you wait until a student reaches a certain level, or a certain age? Do tell!

I prefer having my students learn from someone else, although I will teach reed making if necessary. I just think others might be better at teaching the craft since I really despise it so much!

It Looks Easy … Or Does It?

09. August 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making

Reed Making Video … Quickly!

I Recognize This Voice

30. June 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

Anyone else?

So … do you all wrap the same way? Do you do anything differently? If so, what is your technique?

I find this to be a very clear video, and I think could be quite helpful to young reed makers. So Diane, will you continue on with more steps? And will you send me some reeds, please?

Pretty!

08. April 2010 · 4 comments · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

This video makes reed making look enjoyable, and these reeds look so pretty!

The Art of Making Oboe Reeds, Jennet Ingle from Paul Hamilton on Vimeo.

Mine aren’t quite as nice looking … and I’ve never thought of reed making as fun. Oh well!

Reed Purge

12. March 2010 · 2 comments · Categories: Photos, Ramble, Reed Making

Yesterday I wound twelve oboe reeds, readying myself for some upcoming work when I know I’ll be too zoned out to do much whittling. I really need to get working on them, but one thing I usually find myself doing prior to really hunkering down and carving is a “reed purge”. I pull nearly everything out (only leaving the very few best reeds alone), put them in water, and go through each and every reed (oboe and English horn) to do a “search and destroy” mission.

Mission accomplished!:

IMGP0001

Not as messy as some days, as I had done a purge not all that long ago. But for some reason I love the look of all the stuff on the floor! I feel as if I’ve really accomplished something.

What’s remaining:

  • 12 oboe blanks
  • 11 English horn blanks
  • 16 oboe reeds (not saying their great … just not at the “destroy” stage yet)
  • 17 English horn reeds (ditto)

Wow … I just noticed that I have 28 oboe reeds and 28 EH reeds if I add up the finished and blanks … this isn’t anything deliberate. It just happened that way. Funny.

IMGP0003

& now I have to pull out the vacuum.

Sure, Bassoonists Make Their Reeds Too …

23. December 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Bassoon, Reed Making

… but oboe reeds don’t last as long. (At least as far as I’ve heard.)

But here is an article about Barrick Stees and bassoon reed making. Take a look. Then just repeat after me, “Oboe reeds are more difficult to deal with …”. ;-) (No, dk, I don’t expect you to agree with me!)

Reed Making

18. November 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making

… I’ve been putting it off ALL DAY LONG! I’m really so very good at procrastination. Honestly. I never procrastinate about procrastination. Aren’t you proud of me?

She tests the reed, blowing or “crowing” which makes a vibrating sound. She does this a few times.
“This I would call hard and flat,” she says. “Ugly.”
She tosses it on the desk. She’ll never use it.
“It’s a lot of work and the outcome is uncertain,” she says. “Everyone thinks making reeds is cool until they have to do it.”

When I procrastinate I find fun things to read. ;-)

Making An Oboe Reed Looks Rather Easy

26. October 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Reed Making, Videos

Obviously it takes a great deal more time to make a reed, but you can kind of get the idea by watching this video. You might not want the sound on, but if you like band music perhaps you will. You choose. I think the reed maker clips her reeds earlier than I do, but it’s difficult to tell, since the video does alter time a bit … maybe she’s thinned the tip more than I’m thinking. I don’t use a knife to shape; I’d rather dull a razor blade than a knife. I tie and knot slightly differently but at least this gives those of you who have never made a reed a look at one person’s method. At the end she even plays a few notes for you.

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