Oboe Reed

Oboe Reed

Jones oboe reeds integrate a long scrape numerous 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 probably still is) a fantasti 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 person 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 even though 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 requiring little effort instructing the oboe would be if you handed out handmade oboe reeds rather of fibercane or even those astounding 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 completely wrong. A good, handmade oboe reed will have to be provided for each beginning oboist on their very introductory 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 know what we are talking about, these labels are perhaps the least helpful share of all of this. Find a place that may make reeds for beginning students, and that will have to be gorgeous much all you need to say.

I am on my soapbox not so long ago regarding all this “hard, medium hard, soft” stuff!! There is likewise this very big 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 ought to make it harder for someone to actually play.

Now, it’s not totally the fault of a band director. And the circumstance is not precisely helped by machine made reed makers 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 specially 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 rapidly and without delay and in all likelihood get enjoyment from playing a lot more.

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

Oboe Reed Photo

Oboe Reed Picture

Oboe Reed Picture

Oboe Reed Picture

Most helpful client reviews

3 of 3 persons found the following review helpful.
Spend a few extra dollars on hand-made reeds instead
By crazyoboist
These are cheap, machine-made reeds, and the quality reflects this. The reeds tend to play flat and have a duck-like tone, and I would not commend them even for the beginning student. Before I learned to make my own reeds I used these now and then and I was never happy with them. Having seen others use them as well, the overall playing capacity of each reed varies greatly: a heap of are playable, others go right in the garbage. Even after adjustment it is difficult to get these reeds sounding and playing decent.

I would strongly commend buying a hand-finished reed (made by machine and finished by hand) or a wholly hand-made reed. They do cost more (approx. $12 intermediate for Jones vs. amid $18-35 for a quality hand-made reed) but the sound quality, tone, response, and everything else that matters is unquestionably worth the few extra dollars you’ll spend.

(Hand-made reeds are far superior to fictitious ones as the maker has more control over all of all of the parts of the reed, like what shape is used, how stable the pitch is, the tone, and the overall response. If one is playing an instrument as difficult as the oboe, they will have to be given each chance to sound their best.)

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
good quality
By sunshine
We’ve purchased this product for regarding a year. It is good quality and last longer than other brands. Good price compare to ones purchased at the stores.

0 of 0 humans found the following review helpful.
Good reed for a beginner
By P. Artz
This is a reasonably priced, easy to play reed for a beginner. There may be some inconsistancy amidst reeds which may explain galore of the poorer reviews.

See all 4 client reviews…