Oboe Reeds

Oboe Reeds

Jones oboe reeds integrate a long scrape galore pros use. They are made from french cane and machine cut for better precision.

Let it be known that I like band directors, and that without mine long ago I would not be sitting here writing with regards to what I recognise regarding the oboe.

He was (and in all likelihood still is) a wondrous man who encouraged me, taught me what he knew but then was modest sufficient to say that he could take me no further. He commended a professional oboist in town so I could carry on learning the things he could not instruct me, and I am everlastingly grateful.

So, you could say I have a outstanding deal of respect for band directors.

I know they are instructing a lot of kids a lot of dissimilar instruments, and there is no way any individual may be an expert on all of them. I give them credit for trying!

But there’s something that has been coming up a lot in my instructing and even when fielding reed questions that has been bothering me. And altho I am sure band managers aren’t the only ones to “blame,” that’s where I am starting to work towards a solution.

The problem seems to be in advising the young band oboists in the selection of oboe reeds. Now, a lot of a band conductor has purchased handmade oboe reeds from me, so there are exceptions.

But to the majority out there, do you recognise how much more comfortable instructing the oboe would be if you handed out handmade oboe reeds rather of fibercane or even those amazing profiled music-store reeds?

The reason is plain and simple.

These reeds do not give hope or courage to good habits and make the oboe difficult to play, more difficult that it ever needs to be.

The idea I keep hearing is that somehow, good reeds are reserved for good students… but that is totally wrong. A good, handmade oboe reed must be provided for each beginning oboist on their very basi day of playing the oboe.

Talk to a professional oboist and see if they may work with you in making reeds that young students may handle, or consult a professional reedmaking company (yes, like MKL Reeds) that may work with these requests.

Although we need “labels” on reeds so that we all recognise what we are talking about, these labels are perhaps the least helpful part of all of this. Find a place that may make reeds for beginning students, and that must be gorgeous much all you need to say.

I am on my soapbox not long back when it comes to all this “hard, medium hard, soft” stuff!! There is likewise this very huge misconception out there that once a student has been playing for more than a year they need to “graduate” to a “harder” reed… and by the time they have been playing a while they are being handed these “hard” reeds they can’t even play!

I just don’t understand where this all came from, thinking that increased capacity on the oboe in some manner means you must make it harder for somebody to genuinely play.

Now, it’s not exclusively the fault of a band director. And the circumstance is not precisely helped by machine made reed manufacturers that are labeling their reeds in this way either.

Here’s my take on it:

An oboist needs a reed he may play, NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Buy oboe reeds for your students that are handmade and are not classified in this way, unless you may talk to an individual and explain what you need.

What a more progressed student needs in a reed is resistance, which is much dissimilar that hardness. So, stop handing them hard reeds once they pass the year mark, and exceptionally when they seem like they are struggling.

Unless you may scrape these reeds down for them, they ought to not be encouraged. Better yet, get reeds from a professional oboist because these will make your occupation requiring little effort and it will make your students improve more quickly and in all likelihood receive pleasure from playing a lot more.

I can’t imagine how hard a occupation it is to be in your shoes, but think of the awful start out you may support give to each and each kid that chooses to play the oboe.

Oboe Reeds Pic

Oboe Reeds Pic

Oboe Reeds Photo

Oboe Reeds Image

Most helpful client reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Good reed
By Lori Green
My son, who plays the oboe, says this is a good reed. I am not sure what precisely makes a good reed, but he likes it. It was also for less than buying reeds in our local music store.

1 of 1 persons found the following review helpful.
jewelmb
By Juliet E. Miles
I in truth am embarrassed to confess how much I like these reeds. I have played the oboe for over 25 years now and used to make my own reeds on a regular basis. Since having kids and as I grow older, I just don’t have the time or forbearance anymore. I in the first place purchased some of these reeds for a couple of my private students and was astounded at how good they were. I do from time to time have to do some scraping to make them just right, but not much! Besides that they are made of very high quality cane and they don’t close up too speedily so they last a long time. I highly commend these reeds!!!

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
I’m dissapointed
By KenKen
I ordered this reed so I could save a lot of cash since at my local music stores they were over $20. It came and I was excessively affected emotionally to undertake it out. Well…it was very unresponsive, or it’d go flat. I wont be ordering reeds of the internet ever again.

See all 3 client reviews…