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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000065.txt from 2004/10

From: "Miriam Williams" <mwquacker@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Another reed-physics conjecture
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:24:42 -0400

Just an aside/addendum to what I wrote previously: I wrote it before I read
any of the wonderful article by John Mack, Effective Guidance for the Young
Oboist. So, I must be doing some things right! : )
Miriam

----- Original Message -----
From: "Miriam Williams" <mwquacker@-----.net>
To: <doublereed@-----.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [DR-L] Another reed-physics conjecture

MW> Good topic/discussion! Here's where a lot of the 'rubber hits the road'.
>
> I think it's fine to experiment and do whatever you find works for you -
> after you learn some basics. Each person's physiology is somewhat
> different. Mine is different from my (former) teacher's, and I have
> changed my embouchure just this last summer. I have more endurance, and
> better control; tonguing fast is easier. Still working some on pitch in
> upper register.
>
> And - I have found that a shorter reed doesn't necessarily mean a sharper
> in pitch reed.
>
MB>> To find the most balanced angle of the reed in the lips, place it in
the
>> mouth minus the oboe and play a B-flat pitch- look at its angle in the
>> mirror and you will see why I feel most players hold the oboe too low.
>
MW> I use a MUTS support and am holding the oboe at a closer angle than I
used
> to. Some rough measurements might be helpful to the discussion here!
> I do think the angle makes a difference, but a teacher and student should
> consider the overbite of the player. I've observed that people with more
> of an overbite than 'normal' can hold the oboe closer.
>
> Michael, do all your students use the MUTS support? If not, do you at
> least have them try it to see how it feels?
>
MB>> I am not as concerned with the length of the reed or its crow pitch
>> as I am with the pitch it sounds with a proper embrechure- which I find
>> to be Bflat. I use a short relatively soft reed and a very
>> loose/well-cushioned embouchure that makes low notes easy and just
>> slightly more lip pressure allows easier high notes.
>
MW> I agree that your reed can crow a Bb and still play well in tune in the
> oboe. More pressure on one blade does indeed affect pitch and can be a
> useful technique, but the embouchure must be set so that (as in Phil's
> description of Ray Still's advice) one can just use some hand pressure to
> attain it.
>
> MHO
> Miriam

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