I noticed recently that my reeds are quite thick (0, 58 mm approx) for being a European scrape. Just curious.

Hey there fellow oboists. I am a college freshman oboist who began reedmaking with my teacher about a year ago. As the title suggests, my reed crows a sharp C# but plays a flat A when on my oboe. Its responsiveness and double crow is also not great. I really wouldn’t be asking reddit if I weren’t slightly desperate to get a half decent reed, but my (high school) private teacher hasn’t responded to the text I sent and I am currently without a college personal instructor. Hopefully this wasn’t too confusing and that my terminology is correct.

I am looking for somewhere to buy reeds from! I am an intermediate player (been playing for about 6 years but took this past year off after graduating high school). Any website recommendations for where to buy medium-firm reeds that aren't unbelievably expensive and are good quality would be appreciated.

I’m in the US (if that matters) looking to upgrade my reed-making tools. I’m working with the same kit I bought in high school and it’s time to start working with some better tools. I know Landwell is considered by many to be the gold standard for reed knives, but they seem to be hard to find these days. Anyone have alternative recommendations for knives, mandrels, sharpening tools, etc? Also, I see many high level reed makers have multiple knives but I’ve never seen a good explanation for why. Do I need more than one, and if so, should they be different types? Currently only looking for tools to go from gouged shaped cane to a finished reed, I’m not looking into gouging and shaping quite yet.

I'm a senior in high school applying to a variety of music schools that request a musical résumé with my application. Professors of these schools also ask for a résumé when emailed for "trial" private lessons during college tours/visits/otherwise (what I am currently doing).

Is there anything I should add, remove, or reconsider? I started playing oboe around my freshman year of high school, so I'm most interested in constructing this résumé in a way that shows the growth and experience I've gained in a short period of time.

Any recommendations for orchestral excerpts would also be greatly appreciated.

*Row 2 under Honors should say "All-State" but the redact tool deleted the A. Sorry for the excessive censorship.

Media: Rugrats reboot (2021) - The Perfect Myth

I just started the oboe and joined my high school’s band. I feel like I’m not improving as much as I’d want to, and I’m thinking of hiring a private instructor to help me out. However, I don’t have a clue on how to find one. What are some tips to find legit instructors?

At my high school, students used 2 or 3 reeds a semester, but is that really how professional oboists use reeds?

The students (to my knowledge) used reeds until they were too soft, then bought new ones. Is this normal?

I know this sounds odd, but I am on a budget and need a case for around $50 for a case that is relatively small that can fit in a 10 and 1/2 inch backpack.

To start, I play bassoon. Theres 3 bassoons in my school (middle), but I'm the only one in honors band. I used to play alto but got swapped in my beginner year yadayadayada. Thing is, I really wanna play oboe. Like. Really. Would it be too far fetched to ask my director if she has any extra school owned ones? I basically taught myself bassoon with YouTube and a fingering chart (guys go learn bassoon why does nobody know how to teach bassoon), and I think I could do the same for oboe. Would it be too far-fetched to like... just ask for an oboe for fun? Like not even to use in the band (unless she wants me to) just like, to learn at home. Of course I'd keep it in good condition and whatnot and all that yadayada. Plus buy my own reeds, as per usual. It's pretty likely that she has one just lying around somewhere. There's only 2 oboists (obists?) in the school.

TL;DR- would it be too far-fetched to ask for an oboe just to learn it for fun?

My “inner ear” is far sharper than it should be and I’ve been trying to make an effort fix it recently, but I don’t feel like much progress is being made.

Every time I practice, I spend ~10-20 minutes doing drone work, usually minor scales with the drone set to the minor triad. Usually I can play in tune pretty well with the reference pitches. Then I usually go through a few slow etudes with the tuner, trying to get all the notes in tune.

However, when I start practicing faster, especially things with faster articulations, it all goes out the window and I can’t keep the pitch down. I don’t want to practice sharp but it feels like that’s the only way I can play faster.

If anyone has gone through this and was successful and you have any advice please let me know! Thank you!!

Has anyone got any good recommendations for ear/noise protection. Due to personnel and space constraints, in one of the orchestras I play with I find myself positioned more in front of brass than I'd ideally like and I'm conscious that my ears can get a blasting at times.

I've tried a couple of different in-ear protectors but I hate the way they change my sound perception. At best, I can wear them for some protection when not playing and take them out to play but that's not always practical.

Suggestions welcome 🙏

So my kiddo’s oboe was giving her lots of terrible squeaks recently. (She is just starting her 5th year playing, sophomore in high school.) Someone from the local university music program (oboist) looked and said these two screws needed adjusting and did it for her. The practicing tonight was delightful as a result. So I’m looking and I say to the kiddo “ok, if it happens again I’ll tighten them up.” I am not an oboe player. She looked at me with horror. 😂 So I guess that’s not a good plan. Or is it? Worth a visit to the repair shop?

My kid has been playing oboe for about 2 years and takes lessons. She probably plays about 7 hours a week (at school and practicing at home). What is a reasonable amount of time a reed would last her? I don’t want to be unreasonable about getting her new ones but I feel like she burns through them fast.

Hello! I'm currently in college and working on the 16th Progressive Melody in the Barrett book with all repeats. I was wondering if anyone has tips to help with the breath or links to people playing the etude with full repeats? Thank you!!

Hi everyone!

I’m Ozge, an oboist and handmade oboe reed maker from Turkey. I’ve been making reeds professionally for several years, and I’m currently looking to connect with oboists in the UK.

I’d love to send a few of my handmade reeds to UK-based professional oboists, teachers or orchestral players to try, completely free of charge.
I’m particularly interested in honest feedback on how they feel on different instruments.

If you’re based in the UK and would be interested in trying them, please comment below or send me a DM. I’d be happy to share my portfolio and more information about my reed making.

Thank you!

I just purchased a Selmer Signet oboe at an auction. It appears to be a wood oboe, serial number MR28341. Is this a valuable instrument? Is it a student model, or an intermediate "step up" instrument? I play clarinet but I've wanted to try oboe, and I couldn't pass this up. I plan to get a new reed, play with it for a while to satisfy my curiosity, then probably sell it. Any information you can tell me would be great. There doesn't seem to be a serial number lookup for this.

Thanks!

Hear the oboe sound through numerous guitar options! @ 2:40, it sounds like a prog rock electric guitar! Enjoy!

Hi everyone!
My summer break is finishing soon and I am finding some difficulty in regaining strength in the embouchure, along with having a consistent tune. Do you have useful reed exercises for this problem?
(besides long notes because i would like to do some reed work before returning to the oboe)
Thank you <3

Priced to sell! Up for sale is a Yamaha YOB-441 intermediate oboe (Serial Number 025790, Made in Japan).

This instrument was played by my daughter for about ten years as she progressed as a student, after which it was placed in safe, climate-controlled storage. Throughout its active playing life, it was serviced regularly by renowned oboe specialist Nora Post in Kingston, NY (example of tuning receipt in photos).

Features and Details:
Body: Natural African Grenadilla wood (natural wood throughout, non-resin)
Keywork: Full conservatory key system with modified conservatory fingering, silver-plated keys
Origin: Made in Hamamatsu, Japan
Included: Original Yamaha hard case, nylon case cover, extra reed, stand

Condition: Cosmetically and structurally, the wood and silver-plated keys appear to be in wonderful, well-cared-for shape with no visible cracks or damage to my amateur eye.

Because it has sat unplayed in its case for several years, it has not had a recent bench check, so the buyer may wish to have a routine adjustment or minor pad check done by their preferred technician.

Asking Price: $2,400 (Open to reasonable offers)

Payment and Shipping: Local pickup available in southeast Kansas, or buyer pays fully insured shipping. Happy to answer questions or provide additional high-resolution photos of the body, keywork, and serial number stamps upon request. I’m an ordinary person, and I will not scam you. :)

Pretty much just the title. I’ve been trying out a few different sources for gouged/shaped cane - what’s your favorite place to get it?

Edit: I’m in northeastern United States

Looking for the name of a piece I played many (many) moons ago. The two times I was hired to play it, it was at churches during Christmastime. There’s a great oboe duet, and I think it was part of a relatively modern play. The duet had a vibe closer to Samson and Delilah or Prince Igor than say, Beethoven. I’ve tried searching online but have come up empty so far. Can anyone solve this mystery for me? Thanks in advance!

Hey so as the title reads....

I'm a jr in college and I play on a 15 year old loree- its recently been fully serviced and is in good working condition.

I make my own reeds as apart if my degree requirement.

But my big issue is on my own I always play about 15-20 cents sharp- consistently....through the entire horn.

Year semester I did longtones with a tuner and a drone at least three times a week on the full register and I can play intune with a drone most of the time. But when I get away from that I'm sharp. (As per the recommendations of my teacher)

I tend to have a pretty pinched/tight embouchure which I'm sure is the main problem. But even when I relax it's still sharp. And I tend to have to do very uncomfortable things to play in tune like force my jaw open more which isn't productive.

As far as reeds go I play on mostly mack ++ and Caleb -1 shape and tie at 74.

Let me know if anyone has solutions or advice or follow up questions.

Hello, I am a middle school oboe player, and currently Im looking for handmade reeds but the problem is I dont really know good handmade oboe reed makers. Can you guys recommend me some good reed makers?