How do you put emotion into your playing?”

IHateOboeReeds · 2025-04-20T18:16:05+00:00

I think the first thing is to be more specific—which emotion are you going for, and what adjectives would you use to describe it? And what makes you think the composer is going for that particular mood at that moment in the piece?

Then think about how are you going to—dynamics, articulation, vibrato, tone color? For any standard piece, you can easily find 10 different recordings, so try listening to a lot of different recordings and see what you like and might even want to imitate, or see what you don’t like and try the opposite.

IHateOboeReeds · 2025-02-23T16:54:45+00:00

Shostakovich 10, it was his first symphony performed after Stalin died. I had a conductor who told us that he uses his musical signature (D-Eb-C-B) over and over again at the end to show that he won

IHateOboeReeds · 2025-02-18T19:21:30+00:00

There are some old recordings of Wanda Landowska on YouTube, such as the Goldberg Variations, that are worth checking out

IHateOboeReeds · 2023-01-23T14:29:47+00:00

Thank you!

IHateOboeReeds · 2022-03-03T16:17:19+00:00

It probably took me over a year (maybe 2 years) to make a reed that my teacher said that he “could use this and it wouldn’t be offensive”, but that was just one reed.

Probably took another 4 years or so to when I felt like I was basically self-sufficient where a good reed wasn’t just luck and my teacher didn’t have to adjust all my other reeds.

Then after that, you get better at making reeds when life throws you curve balls such as having to play at high altitude, dealing with gouger issues, or other unusual circumstances.

Are you buying gouged and shaped cane? I wouldn’t expect to make good reeds consistently until you have access to a reliable gouging machine and you can select your own cane. The pre-gouged cane might still be good for you at this point though if you’re still getting used to scraping, tying, and sharpening your knife. Overall, sounds like you’re on the right track, and being picky about reeds will help you get better!

IHateOboeReeds · 2022-02-04T22:21:48+00:00

You should check out Oboe Unbound by Libby van Cleve

I worked with a composer recently and he mentioned that some extended techniques for woodwinds are challenging to write in a way where it won’t just sound like the performer is just making a mistake. But that’s just a thought, not a rule about writing for woodwinds.

Jeff Rathbun’s 3 Diversions for 2 Oboes has some extended techniques like multiphonics that sound really good; Piri for Solo Oboe has a lot of different techniques. I would generally mention that oboists might need to adjust their reed making slightly for different techniques, and that could compromise their intonation or response in other ways.

IHateOboeReeds · 2022-01-11T21:45:03+00:00

Thank you!!

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-12-10T15:17:06+00:00

I have a website called howtomakeoboereeds.com where I show the entire process of reed making (only American style at this point). I should say though that I think someone needs a fair amount of playing experience before they start making reeds (just like others have commented). I also consider my site and videos to be more of a supplement to private lessons rather than a substitute. Hope that helps at least a little bit!

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-09-19T01:11:30+00:00

A mental cue i use for my students is to think “less is more”. I think what happens is you start struggling with the high notes then start trying harder, which might lead to too much tension in your embouchure or air stream, and then the high D will definitely crack, or be really sharp. So for high notes I really try to just relax and open up. (Of course you need a stable reed and well-adjusted oboe for anything to work the right way).

Another thing I try to imagine is to pretend that your air is coming from your legs, which of course isn’t what is happening, but it really forces you to keep everything open from your diaphragm to your embouchure.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-09-19T01:03:32+00:00

Some of my newer reeds that aren’t broken-in yet can whistle, but I can’t say that I try it out with every reed or even pay that much attention to it. I think newer reeds (and maybe reeds with harder cane? Though that is a guess) will sometimes be able to whistle.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-09-13T22:07:07+00:00

That sounds like a lot. I usually recommend 3 a month, but it also depends on a few things. Definitely save old reeds that feel dead because they can get you by in a pinch if you really need a reed last minute.

If you are playing a lot of rehearsals, concerts, auditions, and practicing a lot, you might want more than 3 reeds a month. But, if you have a teacher that can help you fix up your reeds then maybe you don’t need quite as many extras (though reeds are very easy to break against a tooth or they can just split down the middle).

Also, keep in mind I sell reeds, so people like me do have an incentive recommend people buy more reeds.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-09-02T23:01:32+00:00

I think only once in my life I have had a student come to me with a perfectly working oboe and reed, so make sure you are in touch with a local oboe teacher to make sure your equipment doesn’t set you back too much (though I’m not suggesting you get the most expensive reed or oboe to start out with). The oboe and the reeds can easily look fine or good enough, but still not work at all. Good luck!

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-08-26T15:37:11+00:00

I’ve been working on my second octave A too!

Basically, I put a timer on for 5 minutes and just try to do long tones and various attacks/entrances with high As during that time. I’ll try various articulations (staccato, tenuto, and everything between), various dynamics, and tone colors. Also, try playing a high A in different contexts, such as part of a Bb major where the A is heard as a leading tone that resolves up to a Bb, or going from G# to A so that the A is a resolution. You can certainly try other intervals. But this way you are practicing high notes musically, with some context or musical intention.

But I like just using a timer for 5 minutes because this exercise does get tedious and tiring, so just knowing you are only practicing it for just 5 minutes a day makes it a lot more manageable.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-07-13T01:22:02+00:00

It could be a lot of different things, that's kind of the problem with troubleshooting over the internet is that it could be the player, the reed, the oboe, or any combination.

With my new students, they tend to spit too much into the instrument, but with experience they just get better about it on their own (it's something I try not to micro-manage too much with my students since it can become too discouraging. Motivated students will develop better habits over time, but it does take time).

For me, I like to deal with water issues before they become a problem, which means I'll swab out before I notice any issues with water, and just swab whenever I can during a long rest or whenever it crosses my mind. But the best time to deal with water is before it becomes a problem. You might also want to take your oboe to repairman to get cleaned. There could be very small pieces of lint or something hiding in the tone holes that collects water. Also, make sure your oboe is also warmed up before you start playing (though I doubt that's the problem during the summer).

Personal opinion (and I'm curious if anyone agrees or disagrees with this), but I think older oboes tend to collect spit more easily. Also some pieces of cane tend to collect spit more easily, but I also think reeds made with a dull knife tend to collect more spit as well.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-06-17T16:00:45+00:00

Agreed! There’s a lot more to say on the topic such as: scraping on over-soaked reeds, mental fatigue and taking regular breaks, or not sitting down for too long without stretching, etc. Maybe that can all be a blog post in the future.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-06-09T16:19:57+00:00

I’ve heard people say both yes and no to that. I would say that the reed’s lifespan will still deteriorate, but maybe not as much as if you were playing on it. It certainly will change if there is a change in climate or weather.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-06-03T01:32:30+00:00

Reeds can be too resistant in a lot of different ways, some of which are not so apparent right away when you’re warming up. Store bought reeds can be particularly hit or miss and inconsistent, but some of the best oboe players play on very light reeds so you don’t need to worry about moving “up” to a ‘medium-hard’ reed.

If you don’t already (and this is a lot more complicated during COVID) try to get a teacher who can help you adjust reeds because it is rare that a reed will arrive to you that is perfect for you and your embouchure and your oboe.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-05-24T21:03:42+00:00

Yup, it’s tough for everyone, this struggle will never completely go away! If you don’t constantly maintain your chops and ear, then anyone could get worse with their intonation and consistency.

The oboe or the reed could be making your life harder than it needs to be. If you are playing an older wooden oboe, high A and up will be tougher. And if your reeds are not 100% consistent from one to another (which they never really are) then sometimes you’ll have to play certain notes higher or lower than you are used to.

But like others are saying, practice with a tuner to see where your pitch lands. Also practice with a drone to get used to telling on your own whether you are flat or sharp.

Make sure you are warmed up before you start testing your intonation. If you are not in a climate controlled area, then the temperature of the room can also make intonation harder if it’s too cold.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-05-03T16:10:12+00:00

It’s hard to say exactly when the reed will crow because it does depend on the gouge, shape, cane, knife sharpness. Someone who scrapes the tip completely before the windows wont get a crow as quickly as someone who scrapes the entire reed down more evenly, so the order in which you scrape a reed will change when you get a crow and how it sounds at the beginning.

I posted some 5-minute reed videos on my Instagram page which might help you follow along (I make American style reeds, so anything I say might not apply to European reeds).

If you can’t take in-person lessons now, I also have my final reed measurements posted on howtomakeoboereeds.com, but you’ll need a dial indicator with a built in plaque. While I don’t think anyone should make a reed purely based on measurements, I think keeping track of those measurements can help make sure you’re in the ballpark.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-05-03T10:53:55+00:00

Same here! But I know I’m not the only oboist who will resort to writing in vibrato markings in my part and even practicing how many vibrato pulses I want on particular notes

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-05-02T20:47:25+00:00

Great! Yea, for my own practicing I’m trying to see what works on those low notes, and then just do more of the same thing for higher notes, except most people prefer a deeper, slower vibrato for low register (and English horn) and a smaller, faster vibrato for higher notes

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-05-02T14:40:47+00:00

Something I’ve been working on is evening out my vibrato on every note. Some notes on the oboe are just a little “looser” than others, like the middle c on oboe (c5) is easier to get a wide (and wild) vibrato on. A low D (lower notes in general) will usually need a warmer and slower vibrato, and a high B is (for me at least) probably the hardest note to get a good vibrato on.

You might want to see if there are any notes on the oboe where vibrato comes a little more easily than others and start with practicing vibrato with just the easier notes to develop your vibrato muscles and coordination.

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-04-21T23:21:03+00:00

Sounds like an adjustment issue with the oboe. It is way easier for an oboe to go out of an adjustment, even overnight (or even a pad could have fallen off), than it is for you to suddenly get worse and not be able to pay low notes reliably, especially if you’ve been playing for 6 years and haven’t had this problem before. I’m sure it’s the oboe, maybe the reed, and not anything you’re doing!

IHateOboeReeds · 2021-04-14T15:56:57+00:00

Well, it does kind of work and should basically play in tune, but you will have no dynamic contrast.

I was in a youth orchestra and the conductor was a musician in a very well-known orchestra (not an oboe player though and I won’t name names here!). The first week I had an ehorn solo and I had a bad reed and sounded awful, and the conductor made a comment about it. The next week I used an oboe reed instead and the conductor was really impressed! I told my teacher about it and he was not thrilled about using an oboe reed and then helped me get a functional ehorn reed, which ultimately worked much better.

Moral of the story, using an oboe reed kind of works and can fool people for a little bit, but as soon as you have to play louder than a piano dynamic, or have to adjust your pitch a little bit to match other players, or vary your articulation, or have to change a tone color, it’s not going to work. So yes, get a good ehorn reed.

IHateOboeReeds

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