Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-08-24 03:47
It isn't difficult to soak a reed a few minutes beforehand. In your first period class, have water handy (freshly poured that morning) into a little film canister. A few minutes before the bell goes, or just as you leave that first class, dip the reed in the water, and put it back in the case. By the time you get to the class, the reed should be soaked.
Also, perhaps ask your band director for one extra minute in-class to allow your reed to be properly wet. He may not be aware that an oboe reed requires a touch more soaking than the other reed instruments like clarinet/sax. They have reeds that don't need very much wetness at all to function well.
Keep in mind, also, that a reed doesn't need that much soaking. 1-2 minutes in room temperature water, or 15-30 seconds in warm/hot water should do. If you oversoak the reed, it will be flat, have a large opening, and sluggish response.
You don't want your reed to be wet for too long. (Aside from playing purposes of course) If it stays wet in a case for longer than, let's say, 2 hours, mold (even though you can't see the green yet) will start to develop. The reason is that a dripping wet reed raises the relative humidity in that tiny reed case to just about 100%. Mold starts developing at around 85% relative humidity. This mold degrades the cane much faster than normal.
If you have one of those french-style reed cases, air should pass through the case easily, and the reeds will dry out better.
D
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