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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 2006/11

From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] reedmaking book
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:48:54 -0500

Agreed! Making reeds, bassoon or oboe, is not difficult. Making them work
is an art. I have been at the job of writing such a book for a couple of
years, but I keep bogging down in the reality that the finishing is the
truly important and elusive part, and there are certainly myriad variables.
For my own commercial reeds supply business, I have constantly tried to
narrow the range of variability; the material itself is virtually infinite
in its challenges. When I finally reach a point of reasonable certainty, I
will release my little opus for critical assessment.
Herb

On 11/6/06 3:23 PM, "philfrei@-----.com> wrote:

> My vote is for the book by David Weber. I've read that and several
> others, but I think the Weber book is the most helpful.
>
> I think would be some real interest in a book or guide that focuses on
> adjusting reeds (for people who limit themselves to buying commercial
> reeds). Unfortunately, the few I've come across have had flaws. One had
> an extreme need for a proof-reader (I doubt the writer even had "High
> School" proficiency), as well as some rather far-fetched claims.
>
> Mark Weiger wrote a chapter on reed adjusting for "Teaching Woodwinds:
> Oboe" published by Schirmer 1999. It's pretty helpful, with diagrams
> about the various areas of a "Philadelphia style" reed, and his
> suggestions for the most part are non-controversial and lie within the
> accepted canon of practical theory, but the actual trouble-shooting or
> adjusting guide seems a little thin. It consists of a pick list of 6
> things one can do if the crow is too high, and 6 things one can do if
> the reed crows too low. He advises assessing the status of various
> aspects of the reed, but doesn't lay out clearly which of the 6
> solutions apply to the various "statuses" one has assessed. It would
> seem to me that for a beginning reed-maker, or someone who just wishes
> to spend time adjusting, not making reeds from scratch, this aspect
> should be laid out more explicitly. A beginner might have trouble
> knowing which of the 6 "solutions" to try first.
>
> In Mark's defense, given the complexity of reeds, it is not at all
> clear that a more explicit trouble-shooting guide could be put
> together. Maybe someone else will rise to the challenge?
>
> I'd like to suggest some of the following topics in a good "reed
> adjusting" guide:
> - examples of some typical, popular commercial reeds with adjustments
> being made on them,
> - a discussion of how reeds tend to alter with weather, altitude, and
> with use and age, and the sorts of adjustments one might make to deal
> with these changes
> (Example: it seems to me that the blend tends to absorb a bit more
> moisture over time than other parts of the reed, resulting in a
> reappearance, over time, of the infamous "dark band" at the blend's
> edge. A beginner could be directed to evaluate the blend by looking at
> it through a bright light to see if such a band has developed.)
> - at least some sort of acknowledgement of different playing styles or
> practices, and the reed adjustments one might make to fit those styles
> (a bit difficult to ask for, since most players tend to just try to
> master their own approach rather than learn about other people's
> approaches)
> - a differentiation between types of resistance: the "air resistance"
> (due to the size of the opening) and the "vibration resistance" (due to
> reed stiffness) are entirely different in how they affect performance,
> and require very different sorts of adjustments.
>
> - Phil Freihofner
>
>
>
> Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 10:11:20 -0600
> To: <doublereed@-----.org>
> From: "eightsmiths" <eightsmiths@-----.net>
> Subject: reedmaking book
> Message-ID: <00ef01c701be$45512bb0$0200a8c0@YOURZE8CXVR8TT>
>
> Can you all recommend a good reed making book for me? I know there are
> several books out there, and I don't know which to choose. I've also
> seen
> the e-book at www.makingoboereeds.com . What do you think of it?
>
> Also, is there a book or website specifically devoted to adjusting
> reeds?
> Over the past few years I have bought so many reeds that don't work for
> me.
> I'd like to learn how to adjust them so I can use them.
>
> I have a Landwell medium knife and all the other reedmaking tools, but I
> have never made a working reed.
>
> I am an adult amateur oboe player (4 years now!) and I've only had
> lessons
> for a short time before getting pregnant with my last baby now 18 months
> old. I play my oboe in my church orchestra and in a homeschool band
> with my
> children. I don't feel like I am progressing at the moment and I'd
> really
> like to find a teacher. However, funds are short (music lessons for the
> children get priority over lessons for mom) and the nearest oboe
> teacher is
> an hour away.
>
> Anyway, any suggestions for good reed making and reed adjusting books
> will
> be appreciated.
> Ruth
>
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