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Re: over-soaking reeds?

Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-05-28 11:00

I've been out of the performance scene for some time, but when I was there, I was very busy! My experience has 2 answers for you:

1. no, it's not possible to over soak them. I've left reeds soaking for 24 hours and they played wonderfully. What happens is that they open up like crazy and you have to be careful pinching them back to a decent aperture. But then the cane is so soft that it's usually safe to do so. They dry up normally afterwards.

2. what I call "performance soaking" is as follows: soak the reeds well under running lukewarm tap water OR just soak them normally for 15 minutes or more. Then leave them in the reed case in your shirt pocket (or such) for the time it takes you to leave home and go to the concert hall - do NOT shake out the excess water. By the time you get to your warm-up, the reed should be perfect. Then, just dip the reed in your water dish and put it back in the case (shirt pocket) between show numbers (leave the excess water in the reed).

I don't know if different reed scraping styles affect this process or not. I uses an "elongated European" profile without American-styled "windows". Contrary to many other Oboists in my acquaintance, I find playing easy, enjoyable and I get no headaches. My sound and performance have been well applauded.

Best of luck!

Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music

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over-soaking reeds? new

Jaysne

2010-04-17 18:58