Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2011-11-04 16:13
First, to answer your question as it was asked, you may want to thin the extreme tip (.5 mm or less from the end of the reed), and increase the definition (by thinning the tip only slightly) between the near-center of the tip and the heart. Lengthening the windows may help a bit as well.
I find it most helpful to imagine specific vowel throat shapes for the different registers of the oboe, and avoid doing too much with embouchure. Try forming an "ōō" (as in "food") shape for G4 and lower, "ah" for the mid-range, and "ēē" for A5 and above. For altissimo notes, I imagine a sustained "h" shape as in the word "he" -- like a cat hiss. If you use these (and other) throat shapes, you should find you have much more control over the speed and volume of the air, can play more easily in all registers, and play better in tune (i.e. if you are sharp on a particular note, "lower"/open your throat shape first, then try more extreme fixes as necessary).
Also, If your oboe is out of adjustment, even a little bit, low notes will suffer first. A more "free" reed may have been hiding an equipment issue.
Best of luck with the new shape/scrape!
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
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