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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 2003/09

From: Rhondda May <rmay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Oboe Reeds Strength
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 08:08:56 -0400

Sameer,

Good answers from Jennifer. I'll suggest a couple tips.
It isn't very difficult to learn the basics of reedmaking, but you can
spend a lifetime perfecting your reedmaking technique.
As to whether a reed should be hard or soft, the answer is "not too hard
and not too soft" - the "too" being a combination of your own comfort
level and the resulting sound.
One thing I can suggest. Listen to as much music as you can, so you get
an idea of what you'd like your own sound to be. When you meet with the
other oboist, try to buy a reed from him that is comfortable and sounds
good. Once your body (your mouth, your airstream, your ears) is
accustomed to the way a good reed feels, you can begin learning to
duplicate that reed from scratch.

This topic could occupy this list for hours....
Good luck,
Rhondda May
Hong Kong

Sameer Al-Abdullah wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I was wondering if someone can tell me about oboe reeds strength. What
> make the reeds we make/buy soft or medium or hard? Is it the gouging
> process or the scraping or both?
>
> If I buy gouged shaped and folded cane will i be able to control the
> strength of the reeds during the scraping process? And if so which
> part of the reed controls it? the tip??
>
> And finaly what does the shape of the cane affect? I saw some cane
> thats narrow and some thats a bit wide. Anyone knows anythign about
> this???
>
> Thanks
>
> Sameer Al-Abdullah
> =and I miss you like the desert miss the rain
>
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