How to FIX your OBOE REEDS - Beginner (Part 1)

Hello there, oboists and oboe fans! I am proud to have partnered up with Melissa Scott of Sandpiper Oboe Boutique to present the solution to all of your reed issues... the oboe reed finishing kit!
If you're an oboist who is at a beginner-to-intermediate level and you're looking to be able to adjust or fix your own reeds, go to this link and order your kit today: sandpiperoboe.com/collections...
In this video, I introduce the kit and its contents, and talk about how to fix the top two most common oboe reed issues: flat reeds and hard reeds.
Thank you so much to Jones Double Reeds for sending me the reeds which I adjusted in this video. Feel free to check out my Jones Double Reed Review video: • REVIEW | Jones Double ...
The track I'm using while I'm talking is generously provided by Scott Kramer. You can hear more of his music here: / scott-kramer-4
Please leave any suggestions for future videos in the comments!
Please like my video if you enjoyed and subscribe to me here on KZbin.
Connect with me on my other socials:
Facebook Page: / oboeariofficial
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If you're feeling excited about taking your oboe playing to the next level, reach out about online oboe lessons via my website: www.oboeari.com
~Resources~
REED FINISHING KIT: I highly recommend this kit if you are learning how to adjust reeds for the first time!
sandpiperoboe.com/products/re...
MERCHANDISE: You can support me by buying my merch :)
www.oboeari.com/mysterycane

[@jeywithane130]

so many years on yt, and this is the first time ever i actually care abt the sponsorship in a video :'D

[@oboeari]

Love it!! Haha

[@gj4257]

This is hands down the best most informative and entertaining oboe channel. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us! I think your name should be Oboe God Ron. 😁

[@lizard1954]

Thank you so much for this video. I had my 1st 6 months of lessons in person and the last on FaceTime. Fixing the reeds was like a magic trick to me. I may not be ready for a knife yet, but after watching you today I pulled three unplayable reeds out of the trash, soaked them and squeezed then for 30 seconds as you said. Presto! All three are now playable.

[@oboeari]

Amazing!!! Glad to hear it!!

[@mobrown6043]

As a beginning oboe player I love your videos! Thank you so much for such good help❤️❤️

[@oboeari]

You're welcome!! I'm glad I can help!!💕

[@LuxordGenius]

This is the best partnership, I am buying this kit PRONTO.

[@curranneely9097]

Might have to get one of those kits as I've been working with some pretty old second hand tools... Learning how to adjust reeds has been a game changer for me, especially as over time it's become much more intuitive to see what I need to do to get what I want. Now I've been able to adjust reeds not just to work properly, but to get the sound I personally want and work with my specific embouchure. Id honestly say it's the most useful skill I've learned in improving the consistency of my sound as I don't have the means to be constantly buying reeds, and don't have the time/training to spend hours making my own as of now. Thanks for a great video!

[@curranneely9097]

Also would you have any tips for fixing reeds that are too raucous/easy to play and have a harsh sound? So far I've been scraping the back and thinning the corners of the tip to deepen and focus the sound and build in more resistance, but the sound still sounds a bit harsh on some reeds and tends to just get too flat as I thin the Windows.

[@oboeari]

Thanks for your kind words, Curran! And I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. In terms of fixing wild reeds, I think my best tip is to scrape the rails off the plateau. This really calms a reed down. Additionally, I would have a sharper transition between the tip and the heart, so fewer vibrations go through the reed! Hope this helps!!

[@Dazai-qk9bh]

Oh wow, one of my teacher's student is the person that made the sandpiper oboe so my teacehr reccomended this very kit to me when I started making reeds. Would definetly reccomend it!

[@hahas507]

amazing video :)

[@bjazz68]

Thank you very much.

[@ioana2286]

What If my reed is not making any sound?? When i blow in it without being in the oboe.

[@aedenskelton9789]

Are you guys restocking soon?? I’d love to get one

[@kiwifruitll]

hello!! wondering if ur reed adjustment kit is still available for purchase? and if so, where could i find it? thank you so much i find your videos so helpful especially because i am struggling in my orchestral group.

[@hellloooopeopleee]

thx

[@aidanknox2430]

What do I do if my reeds are becoming too closed after playing on them awhile? Is it natural as they get older, or am I doing something to cause this? Thanks for the video!

[@oboeari]

Absolutely natural!! The more you play on a reed, the enzymes in your saliva start breaking it down. Once the reed feels very closed within a few minutes of playing and has almost no dynamic range left in it, the reed has died and onto the next!

[@MayraMartinez.SK1111]

No tiene envíos a México 😞

[@jamieleonard9173]

Hi Ron :) Could you please do a full “reed care” video? I’ve been playing for years, but I’m self-taught. I’ve heard to not soak the reed for too long, but then I’ve also been told I didn’t soak it long enough because it dried up before my piece was over (and I didn’t have an opportunity in it to re-salivate the reed). So - how long is appropriate to soak it? How long is too long? Do you soak it for a different amount of time before it’s first use versus every other use? Next, how long, on average, do reeds last? I’m not sure if I’m over-using them, or if they’re actually lasting a long time because I only play twice weekly, 2 hours each. Also, what’s your routine to break in a new reed? And finally, how many do you recommend having ready to play at any given time? I feel like I had way more questions than this, but I’m drawing a blank, haha. Just if you could answer any and all reed care questions that you can think of, I’d greatly appreciate it. Your videos are so helpful! :) Thank you

[@jamieleonard9173]

Also I’d love to take lessons with an instructor to help me with all of this, but it’s not financially feasible right now - so you’re my best bet until I can do so. :) Thank you!!

[@MattAllenTeller]

Maybe too late to ask a question here....but I live at 2500 feet in the desert, and every reed I have bought (online, and from pro makers) is stiff and does not crow the lower C. In trying to adjust them, if I scrape to get them easier to blow, they then go flat, and then if I clip to raise the pitch, they are too hard to blow again. What can I do to adjust these reeds?

[@TrulyAmerican1944]

Did you ever figure it out? I think I have the same problem

[@MattAllenTeller]

@@TrulyAmerican1944 Nope. A year later and still the same problem. I'm trying to make my own again, and even they have this problem. Resistant and flat.

[@TrulyAmerican1944]

@@MattAllenTeller LOL.

[@ultimawerewolfbluephoenix9670]

So you're telling me i could've avoided throbing head aches from playing on a hard reed?! 😭