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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 2004/12
From: David Weiss <weiss440@-----.net>
Subj: [DR-L] Springs, new oboe break-in period, 3rd octave keys, etc
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 01:14:20 -0500
Dear Sameer,
Nearly all new oboes shrink during the "break-in" period, and it is common
for the posts to "bind." This is what seems to be happening to your horn.
Putting in stronger springs is not the answer.
New reeds tend to vibrate a lot better than old ones, and the same goes for
a wider shaped reed (generalities, I know....please no flames!). The more
vibration your reed has, the more it can overcome mechanical problems on the
horn. In an emergency (horn out of adjustment, pads not quite covering) make
your reeds lighter and you have a better chance of making things work ---
until you have time to take your horn in for servicing. I hope you can find
a more experienced repair person.
Miriam: regarding the 3rd octave key, players who use a typical "American"
scrape reed generally do better to avoid that key. It just makes those high
notes sharp and shrill sounding. They were designed, I believe, more for the
French style reeds or thinner reeds in general. Just because it's there
doesn't mean you have to use it!
Efficiency is the ideal when it comes to good technique. Light spring
tension (obviously, not too light), evenly balanced along all the keys. And
with regard to keeping down the thumb and side octave keys at the same time:
don't do it. It's an unnecessary habit that is of little if any benefit,
especially as your technique becomes more advanced. I encourage beginning
students to get used to rotating the wrist when going from G to A, so as the
ring finger leaves the key, the thumb naturally rotates downward and slides
off the octave key.
David Weiss
On 12/12/04 12:05 AM, "Sameer Al-Abdullah" <simsim29@-----.com> wrote:
> Yes speaking of adjustments, i have noticed a delay in my C# key. If i
> play a passage and then reach the C# key the tone is somehow fainted
> as if there is a leaking somewhere but then just a split of second
> later it picks up and sounds normal. When i play C# by itself , it's
> fine. But when say I'm going down from A-C# the problem is there. THe
> same thing on both registers.
>
> Another interesting thing is that when i play on an older reed the
> problem is there. When it's a new reed there is nothing wrong.
> Moreover, I noticed when playing on a wider shaped reeds the problem
> is hardly there whereas on narrow reeds it's hard to get a good C#.
>
> I should have said this before but the spring for that key went flat
> as my oboe was adjusting to my climate during the breaking in period.
> My repair guy used another spring that fit ok but I think the problem
> started right after that.
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