Since we just wrapped up the school year, you might have a bunch of old reeds in your reed case like I do! I kept a handful of old reeds...

Do your reeds come with a bit of plastic around the thread and base of the reed? If so, please leave that plastic on the reed, it’s...

Earlier this week at a lesson, one of my private students had a dramatically stuck Db key. Like stuck down so hard we had to press the...

One of my favorite topics to work on with student oboists is the concept of air/embouchure balance. We know that both the air we blow and...

It’s been a while since I last shared my list of reed recommendations with links, so I thought I would update you today. You’ll notice...

We know that our warm up time at the beginning of a practice session is super important because it reinforces fundamental skills of...

Oboists are always searching for that optimal tone with the least amount of effort, right?! Before I share the 3 quick ways to improve...

Last week I talked about the feeling of back pressure that comes with playing oboe. As we play, we can’t blow all our air through the...

Today’s edition was inspired by a question I got from Newsletter subscriber Glen last week. Glen is a multi-woodwind musician, and says...

I’m excited to have a guest writer on the blog/newsletter today, my friend Jeff Padgett. I met Jeff at the beginning of my Master’s...

This weekend begins the holiday season for me: I have my first concert of holiday music on Saturday with the Merced Symphony, and it...

This edition is dedicated to the Redwood Middle School beginning oboe students. Last week at our sectional, I did some reed adjusting for...

Last week I described how an oboe might change due to the change of season. You may have also been wondering about how oboe reeds might...

Here in sunny California the temperatures are starting to drop. Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, there are a few things you will most...

Now that we’re in mid-October, I’ve been evaluating my students’ reeds to make sure that they are playing reeds that are appropriately...

I’ve been making the rounds in middle and high schools, and one of the common issues I’ve discussed lately is how to properly articulate...

A few years ago there was a lot of interest in sanitizing reeds to make them safe for another person to play. Reedmakers came up with a...

Last week I showed you how to use a pipe cleaner to clean your reed and this week it’s time to learn how to use a pipe cleaner to open...

Are your reeds a little old? Maybe you haven’t been brushing your teeth before you play? They could look a little discolored but play, or...

...something that many musicians don’t think twice about, but an essential step in maintaining your instrument. Did you know that there...