Author: oboedrew
Date: 2008-12-17 20:32
Claire,
If you look around online, you'll have no trouble finding a variety of such summaries, with tips like "If the reed is flat, clip the tip," and "If the reed is not responsive, scrape the tip," etc. Such summaries are DANGEROUS! Aspiring reedmakers have ruined much cane in futile attempts to adjust reeds in accordance with such grossly over-simplified instructions. The truth is that every reed problem is the result of the interaction of numerous factors. The process is too complex to summarize, and when even the most well-intentioned oboists attempt to provide such summaries, they inevitably lead the aspiring reedmaker astray.
To clarify, no given section of any given reed is ever inherently too thick, too thin, etc. It's all about the proportions of the sections to one another. So the most that any reedmaker can safely say is that if you scrape more out of section X on reed A than on reed B, the result will be Z, all other factors being equal. Note that last part: ALL OTHER FACTORS BEING EQUAL. All other factors are NEVER equal.
So here's my word of caution for the day: anytime someone (or some book or article) tries to diagnose your reed problem without having seen and played your reed, be skeptical. Reedmaking is best learned in person.
Cheers,
Drew
www.oboedrew.com
Post Edited (2008-12-17 21:57)
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
