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Re: Air Quantity and Reed Strength

Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-08-05 08:10

Passive is certainly an understatement (lol). I think of the palate focus sensation as maintaining an egg of air pressure in your mouth with the palate raised and jaw dropped and the lips then just become an area to relax for release of the pressure rather than directing focus towards the lip/reed area and trying to build pressure there. Any firmness would be from drawing the lips in from the side in horizontally.

I also like thinking of it as a meditative "ohm" with the embouchure while trying to maintain "balance" (egg) in the mouth as it's easier to focus on it that way (for me). Heck, if you think of it as meditation you simply must utter a long tone and "ohm"-ing in on proper embouchure formation naturally follows. :-)

On the subject of reed strength and adjusting reeds though:
If the reed you have is a well made and functional reed, major adjustment should not be necessary. Break your new reed in over a couple days and allow your embouchure to get used to it. If your reeds are of the same hand maker they should always be of equal strength and if you continue practicing on reeds of the same strength then when you switch to new reeds of the same strength you shouldn't be going through a life changing experience.

Don't adjust reeds like a drug addict trying to get his next fix!

Adjustment should be for finishing and fixing sudden problems. If you keep adjusting your reed down for ease of play whenever you missed a day of practice your reeds will get softer and softer and softer and any new reeds will be harder and harder and harder. Stick to a strength and always practice at that strength, if you need to adjust for a performance adjust for that or a sudden temperature change adjust for that, but don't continue using that reed for everyday practice... it is now a softer reed and then when you next have another "issue" you'll adjust again. It's like a drug addict getting his fix, you get used to it, and then you need more... eventually you'll overdose and can't play anymore. You'll have to check into the Oboe Betty Ford clinic and have to build up your embouchure again since you can't function on anything and heaven forbid you repeat the process... it could be fatal and you'll find yourself playing in the alto sax section... again. ;-)

Regards,
Stephen

♫ Stephen K.

Post Edited (2006-08-05 08:16)

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Air Quantity and Reed Strength new

ohsuzan

2006-08-03 17:11