Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2011-01-02 15:36
Howard,
Good points in your notes. I have similar but slightly different sanity checks for the reeds at various stages of development.
Fairly recently, I've started using 2nd octave c# as the first note I play on a new reed.
Its also my starting note each day for long tones.
Once my reed is crowing a c and double octave crow... where I mouth the 'tee' to start the upper c crow, then drop the jaw and mouth an 'Ah' to get the lower c going, I think its ready to play a few notes.
Then I blow a c# 2nd octave but don't use the tongue... just air until the c# speaks.
If it plays with very little pressure, then I'll blow a MF for a while, do scales, and arpeggios, usually D major to start with and test the slur to high D.
The pitch integrity I test by playing A 440, slur up a 5th , then b up to f#, then 2nd E down and octave to low e, and no embouchure change. If pitches hold true and there is no sagging on the bottom e, I have a good candidate for the reed.
My newer Covey has a Philly High D Facilitator and life has gotten much easier as a result.
Post Edited (2011-01-02 15:38)
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