Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-07-19 02:51
<<When ordering reeds, do I still need to start with the softest beginner reeds (medium soft?) or can I move up a few levels with my previous clarinet experience?? >>
When in doubt like this, start with some medium soft and get some medium at the same time, only you can tell when you start trying to blow oboe reeds which is easier for you to get results
Please remember to wetten up your oboe reed in clean water before attempting to blow it, and don't wetten up in your mouth. Also, good to flush reed gently with fresh water after playing too. These are different habits to make, but these do help keep the small oboe reed cleaner inside and delays digestion of reed fibres.
<<Where can one order reeds??? ..... have heard of the Edmund Nielson Co. which makes reeds. They are categorized by the color of the thread (Blue, Red, Black, Pink, Purple, White, etc ..... confused as to which color would best suit me ..... when start using "American Scrape" reeds (from the beginning or wait til I have a firm grounding in oboe fundamentals???)??? >>
I don't shop USA so can't help you with where to order reeds there, check out other posts (including many older ones on this BBoard) for their suggestions
Or, DIY Private Eye by looking in the Yellow Pages for local suppliers close to you, or in next big town/city close-by, etc. Also search engine to pull up online double reed specialists with catalogs, browse thoroughly, compare prices, & choose those closeby so you have more chance to drop in and see them yourself once in a while. Still, better to order across states if prices better for same thing, or if company is really better deal overall (speedy order & mail service, variety of available items, prices, etc).
The Nielsen website does attempt to explain their colour system, but as a beginner on oboe you need to find reeds you can play, so look only for descriptions of easy student reeds, whatever color they are.
<<How do you know when to start upgrading strength??? >>
General guidelines here -- medium commercial (taper cut) oboe reeds will play about 15-20 minutes until they get too wet to play and collapse (aperture closes up). Softer reeds won't last that long (maybe 10 minutes).
Main problem with soft & medium reeds, can't get strong sound out of them.
OK, during duck & geese awful tone phase, thank goodness!
Now, how long can you comfortably play continuously while training your oboe embouchure?
If you can only play maybe 10 minutes before your lips can't go any more, a medium soft will probably last long enough, why pay that bit extra for a medium when you can't play it long enough (yet)? Reeds don't last very long, they're a high turnover disposable item rather like toilet paper, kleenex and paper towels, and would you pay through the nose for these things? (Learn to make your own eventually, but leave that for now)
If you can play 30 minutes, a medium will maybe last that long. When you can physically play over 30 minutes, you start rotating reeds, mediums every 15-20 minutes for each hour of play.
Medium hards are better when your embouchure is in really fit condition, they play longer and louder too.
Rotating reeds by playing them lightly every day extends their cumulative playing hours over weeks instead of blowing them out in a few days.
A medium reed has about 10 playing hours in it.
This spreads out shopping demands for new reeds to once every 4-6 weeks or so, instead of more frequently if you only have one or two reeds played all the time. However the downside is that each shopping trip will be a big price affair, as you'll want several reeds at once. When ordering by mail, it's a good idea to check postage & handling expenses, and try to order the maximum stuff covered by their minimum rates.
If, however, your medium commercial oboe reeds (these are tapered like clarinet reeds) start closing up in 10 minutes, your embouchure's too strong (euphemism, it may also be too tight), go to hand-made reeds and stay on them after that. However, think playing about 12 months is about right to develop oboe embouchure enough so it can actually loosen up, beginners really tend to overbite. Clarinetists have strong lower lips but their upper lip needs balancing for oboe playing. This is what will take some time getting used to.
During this embouchure training period, it's more economical to use the commercial reeds. When your embouchure's in better shape, that's when to go to hand-made reeds (aka American scrape). These are contoured and shaped on the surface, quite different from taper cut.
BUT ... well-made hand-mades play better even for beginners. It's a matter of availability and how much you want to pay for reeds. So yes, do experiment.
Any reed you can't play now (after pre-soaking it enough!) can be put away safely for later. Make sure it dries fully before storing, especially important in your semi-tropical part of the world. As your embouchure improves, you will find more reeds you can play.
And, any oboe teacher you do sign up with will have their preferences, go with what they want you to do. They may want you on hand-mades right away, because hand-mades can be adjusted a bit to suit you better, but taper scrape can't.
Thanks for reading through this lengthy reply, do these ideas help you any?
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