This week on the blog, I want to continue reacting to the anonymous oboist who sent me an email about emotional hurdles to reedmaking. She specifically cited fear of failureContinue readingReedmaking Fear and Anxiety
Reedmaking Guilt and Shame
I got an email recently. I loved your recent video about Ugly Fixes, in which you mentioned oboists experiencing social anxiety about how our reeds look. I have definitely experiencedContinue readingReedmaking Guilt and Shame
Reeds for a Rainy Day
I’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks – away from home but not away from my reed business. (That’s a decision I’ll rethink for next year, but IContinue readingReeds for a Rainy Day
Reed Drift
This topic comes out of a conversation we’ve been having in Reed Club lately. Last week was my THIRD orchestra concert since the South Bend Symphony started back up post-pandemic,Continue readingReed Drift
Put WORDS On It!
I came in from my run this morning, and said, out loud, to Steve, “You know? The ONLY thing I hate about winter running is how cold my hands andContinue readingPut WORDS On It!
How Do You WISH You Could Describe Your Reeds?
In Reed Club last Monday, we took a moment before we started scraping to set some intentions. We each said one word – an adjective to describe what we WANTED ourContinue readingHow Do You WISH You Could Describe Your Reeds?
Make More Reeds
I recently met with a former student who proudly described THE reed she was working on to me. She’d gotten it to a point where it made a beep, butContinue readingMake More Reeds
Reed Mindset
In a recent dress rehearsal I became aware of just how GREAT my reed was. It felt so EASY to play the oboe. I could come in perfectly softly, withContinue readingReed Mindset
Reed Habits
How do you change your reed making habits? Even if you feel like a reed beginner, I can promise that you have developed some habits, for good or ill. This isContinue readingReed Habits
Five Minute Reedmaker: Length of the Windows
My Five Minute Reedmaker Season Two seems to be largely about experiments. People ask me how LONG, how THICK, how SLOPED, etc – and I’m running the experiments for them andContinue readingFive Minute Reedmaker: Length of the Windows