“It’s all in the tip” and other sage advice
My first oboe teacher, Frank Morphy, taught me how to make reeds about 40 years ago. I should say, he began to teach me, because my learning since then has never stopped. For many years, I looked to make the perfect reed, but have come to know that what I really want is a reed that allows my embouchure to work. It needs to be stable, in-tune and have good response. The definition of good can change depending on the style of music or even the challenges of a particular piece on a program. Recently, my search has been for tests that help to identify a reed as good and tips that help to make reed making more successful. My first reed teacher told me that John DeLancie had a sign over his desk, "It's all in the tip" - a reminder not to take too much cane out of the heart or the back before the reed is finished. As I begin this blog, I also hope that it's all in the tip (and test), and plan to assemble a collection that will grow and be refined as I share with others.
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