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General Resource List [supplies, instruments, repairs]
A list of general supplies, double reed retail websites, and repair specialists. GENERAL SUPPLIES (reed tools, sheet music, etc) Forrests Music Double Reed Specialists (https://www.forrestsmusic.com)RDG Woodwinds (http://www.rdgwoodwinds.com)Midwest Musical Imports (http://www.mmimports.com)Hodge Products (http://www.hodgeproductsinc.com)Woodwind & Brasswind (wwbw.com)Amazon (Amazon.com)Sheet Music Plus (sheetmusicplus.com) SPECALIZED REPAIRS John Gobel at Forrests Music (https://www.forrestsmusic.com)Ginger Ramsey at Covey Oboes...
Adjusting Your Own Oboe
Oboes naturally fall out of adjustment from regular use. It is important to send your oboe to a qualified double reed specialist once a year for a tune up to keep pads sealing, mechanisms working, and check for issues. Assuming your oboe has been tuned up recently and all the pads are sealing, these basic adjustments should fix any issues you are having. I personally use several of these adjustments regularly in lessons with my students to keep their oboes playing well. Although John uses a testing strip, I was taught to do adjustments...
Essential Information for the Beginning Oboist
Everything you need to know about getting started on the oboe. Resource List After reviewing this quick tutorial page on getting started, please visit my resource list for specialized double reed vendors that sell supplies, new and used instruments, offer rentals, and provide specialized repair services. Instruments It is very important to have an instrument in a healthy, functioning condition. Please contact me for information on the various options for purchasing a double reed instrument. If you are unable to work with an...
Reeds: FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions and Important Information About Reeds How long does a reed last? How many do I need? Every reed is different, but with adjustments, most oboe reeds will last about 10-15 hours of playing time for students. In general, my beginning oboe students use about 1 per month in their first year. English horn reeds are thicker and therefore can last up to several weeks. Bassoon reeds, being even thicker, can last up to 2-3 months for students. It is recommended to always have a couple of reeds on hand so you have a variety to...
Understanding The Oboe: A must see!
This is a must see video for all music educators, band directors, beginner oboists, and parents. Packed with more essential information then I could fit into the very first lesson, this video talks in-depth about purchasing instruments, taking care of them, and of course, reeds and reed making! At 18:00 there is a full demo of the reed making process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNaS_jy3_eI
Why Choose The Oboe?
This is one of my favorite clips that has been circulating YouTube since 2011. It was originally broadcast in 1997 and speaks beautifully of the challenges and joys of playing the oboe. Why choose the oboe? Simply stated, for someone that has fallen in love with the sound of the oboe, nothing else will do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAllHtkaa0
10 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Making Oboe Reeds
1. Life’s Cycles There are no shortcuts when making an oboe reed. It seems to be human nature to spend our lives looking for an easier road. Making a reed requires a detailed process of cane sorting, splitting, measuring, pre-gouging, gouging, tying, and then finally scraping each chosen piece over several days. A few hours of playing time and reed makers start all over. It’s not how long the reed lasts, but what music you create while it plays. 2. Nothing is worth the stress My sophomore year of college I was using a leather strop to sharpen...