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Re: Synthetic oboe reeds

Author: Bill_D
Date: 2004-06-08 19:52

Joel Clifton wrote:
> A little side note . . . another thing that's making me feel
> nervous about playing the oboe is the lung pressure it takes.
> When I watch an oboist play it looks like they're about to
> burst, and at least some of the oboists I know have a lung
> exercise thing. Do you really have to blow as hard as it
> looks?

I started with flute, went to clarinet, and then to sax. I started oboe about one month ago. How hard I need to blow is reed dependent. I've got a few reeds that play comfortably, i.e., I don't need to "blow hard", and they sound nice and play in tune. My teacher made a reed for me, and sent me home to practice with it. It required a lot of pressure. At the next lesson, he agreed it was too hard to blow, and adjusted it.

I wonder the same as you about why oboists look like they are straining. I suspect that I'm playing incorrectly, but at least I'm comfortable and enjoying the oboe. I look forward to answers from experienced oboists.

Good Luck!!!

Bill

Post Edited (2004-06-08 19:54)

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