Oboe reeds are one of the most
tempramental and difficult parts of oboe playing. It is a
"catch-22" -- to be a good oboist, you must be a good
reed maker, but to be a good reedmaker, you must be a good
oboist! Reedmaking takes many years. In fact, some really never
learn to make reeds well! I have been making oboe reeds for
OVER 35 YEARS.
Reed making is something that is very
natural for me. I have had to make so many reeds in SO many
places
in the United States and the world as Principal Oboist with
The United States Army Field Band.
Different altitudes, different climates...all these contribute to
difficulties in reed making, and I have had experience in all of these factors over the years.
The reeds that I play can be
heard under the Favorite Links section. I seek a dark, warm and
vibrant tone. Intonation is of course important, and in that, I
seek A=440. All oboes are different just as all embouchures are
different. I will do my best to make reeds to your
specifications. To do your part, you need to tell me some things
about you and your playing. Email me at:
Email Kerry
You will see many CHEAP reeds on
Ebay, or at major music stores. I cannot compete with those
prices, but then again, I would NOT want to play one of those reeds! Many are not even made with an
"American" scrape. They are uncomfortable, difficult to play and have a
nasty sound. Synthetic reeds are also of this catagory and
are not to be purchased. If you have a teacher, ask them about
reeds. Many teachers do not have time to make reeds for their students, and I can fill that gap. Your
teacher can also do small adjustments on my reeds to perfectly fit
your
embouchure.
Why do my reeds seem "Bumpy" compared to other reeds? That is a question that I have been asked, and the reason is that I put "Windows" in my reeds--in fact, I use DOUBLE WINDOWS. This gives the reed a very nice, DARK sound that is found in many American Orchestras today. There is a favorite quote from the Oboist/Teacher Stevens Hewitt which says, "There is NO dark without light." This means that to have a dark sound, the reed has to have portions that are much thinner. This is one of the difficult things for young reedmakers to understand about the art of reedmaking! So the "bumpy" reed means YOU will have a beautiful sound!
Why am I playing FLAT on these reeds? If your embouchure is not correct, then NO reed will work for you. If you have TOO much of the "Red"part of your lips on the outside of your mouth, then YES, you will play flat. Take a look at the Embouchure Video on my website. That will help you find the right place to put your lips on the reed. You can call me, and I will try to help you! Also, if your lips are very thin, then you will have a tendency to play flat on reeds. If you have a teacher, talk to them! Playing flat on the reed is one of the most difficult things for a reedmaker to work with in young and inexperienced players.
How long do Student Reeds last?
The answer varies, but if you or your young student has not chipped or broken the reed, then a student reed can last several weeks. As a teacher, I do not let my students play reeds older than 3 weeks. I just encountered someone who has had a reed for FOUR months. This is NOT acceptable! Cane just does not last that long and needs to be replaced.
If you have ANY questions, please do
not hesitate to email or call
TOLL FREE at:
1-(866)-585-8707, and I would be
happy to discuss your reed needs with you! If I don't answer, leave a
message and I will return your call as soon as I can.
Thank you for your interest in my reeds and Happy Playing!
Kerry Willingham