I recently had a professional oboist state that no professional oboist would ever make it in the field playing on a soft reed. I know that reed make is quite an art but are soft reeds really that horrible?

If you are talking about commercial reeds or reeds you buy, then soft is not really the way to go. These reeds usually have less tone quality and a shallower sound. They are mainly for beginners.
It depends on your level and how long you have been playing. When you make your own reeds you can make them whatever you want.

Been playing for five years and looking to go to college next year. The reeds are made by the private instructor. The instructor's attitude is why play on a hard reed if it's easier to paly on soft. Doesn't it make a big difference in the overall loudness and tone?

you want a reed to be as easy to play on as possible while still having good projection and some resistance.

this is in terms of making them, as i have no experience with commercial reeds (only one i've played on was the one that came with the first oboe i played 7 years ago)

You don't have to make your own reeds to become an oboest, I get all my reeds ordered from this website http://www.kge-reeds.com/store/index.shop
These are the reeds Anthony Camden used for all concerts and recitals

I purchase my reeds at a Long&McQuade. I usually get Medium Soft because they give me a louder more 'oboeish' sound.

music-ace44=)

There isn't really a yes or a no. cus it depends on ur style of playin. There's no point playin on hard reeds if u cant get a decent note out of it.

From the tips I've read about being a better oboist, you need to try out harder reeds to strengthen your embouchure. I have been playing for 4 years and usually buy Medium Hards or Hards. A reed that is too soft will vibrate too much and create a rough sound, while a reed that is too hard for your embouchure will be stiff and unresponsive. However, everyone's mouth is different and a Medium Soft might work perfectly for you while others may use a Medium Hard reed, like myself. But before you decide to use Medium Soft reeds indefinitely, you will want to try out a Medium reed. If it gives you a better tone and more sound, then that may be your comfort reed. If it doesn't sound any better within a week, then maybe you are meant for a Medium Soft reed.

thut, if you are a serious oboe player, you do need to make your own reeds. any oboe player in a major orchestra makes their reeds, as do most oboe teachers, and even many students.

i'm not sure your background though, so maybe you are not as serious of an oboe player, but i have never heard an oboe player say that its ok to rely on commercial reeds (its also expensive as hell!!! these are reeds not crack we're talking about!!!)

Hello Budding Oboists!

I have been playing professionally for wow, it's been awhile now, and tripped across this thread on my wanderings through cyber space.

First off, I want to correct whoever stated that all professional oboists make their own reeds. This is entirely false (even some of the most accomplished stars of the oboe world have other people make reeds for them...*ahem* Ray Still NEVER made his own reeds). Some of us just don't have the time or patience to make reeds. However, you would be correct in saying that MOST pros make their own reeds, usually because it is hard to find a reed maker who has a diameter, gouger, shaper, and scraping style that produces a reed that we can use (and more importantly: Sound GOOD on).

As for the subject of the thread: "Are hard or soft reeds better?" (BTW, if you look in the Forrests Double Reed Catalogue, it states that "hard" strength is for oboists who want to put the finishing touches on an unfinished reed) But...It ultimately depends on your teacher, as young oboists are easy to influence. lol. The late John Mack preferred that his students play on reeds with "meat on the bones" (i.e. harder reeds), and others pass on the tradition that lighter/softer "more scraped" reeds are best. Neither is right or wrong, because there are so many factors involved when choosing the reed that is the correct style for your physiology, facial features, embouchure, blowing style, etc. etc. etc.

My take-home advice is to use the strength of reed that allows you to play with the best tone/tuning YOU can produce (well, and allows a good range of dynamic as well). My, personal, reeds are on the light side (and I make my students' reeds the same way) so that I can play most orchestral pieces and concertos without killing myself (I don't want to die in the middle of a performance because my lips are shot).

And BTW, you DO NOT need to play on hard reeds to develop your embouchure. You can "work" your embouchure by playing and you should STOP practicing at the first sign of major fatigue to your lips, as continuing past this point is counterproductive and this is when you will develop bad habits such as biting.

So...find the lightest/softest reed you can find that gives you that great, dark, rich, buttery oboe sound (you all know what I mean) and stick with it! No need killing yourself with something hard just to be an "amazon warrior" oboe player.

Happy Practicing!!

Hello Budding Oboists!

I have been playing professionally for wow, it's been awhile now, and tripped across this thread on my wanderings through cyber space.

First off, I want to correct whoever stated that all professional oboists make their own reeds. This is entirely false (even some of the most accomplished stars of the oboe world have other people make reeds for them...*ahem* Ray Still NEVER made his own reeds). Some of us just don't have the time or patience to make reeds. However, you would be correct in saying that MOST pros make their own reeds, usually because it is hard to find a reed maker who has a diameter, gouger, shaper, and scraping style that produces a reed that we can use (and more importantly: Sound GOOD on).

As for the subject of the thread: "Are hard or soft reeds better?" (BTW, if you look in the Forrests Double Reed Catalogue, it states that "hard" strength is for oboists who want to put the finishing touches on an unfinished reed) But...It ultimately depends on your teacher, as young oboists are easy to influence. lol. The late John Mack preferred that his students play on reeds with "meat on the bones" (i.e. harder reeds), and others pass on the tradition that lighter/softer "more scraped" reeds are best. Neither is right or wrong, because there are so many factors involved when choosing the reed that is the correct style for your physiology, facial features, embouchure, blowing style, etc. etc. etc.

My take-home advice is to use the strength of reed that allows you to play with the best tone/tuning YOU can produce (well, and allows a good range of dynamic as well). My, personal, reeds are on the light side (and I make my students' reeds the same way) so that I can play most orchestral pieces and concertos without killing myself (I don't want to die in the middle of a performance because my lips are shot).

And BTW, you DO NOT need to play on hard reeds to develop your embouchure. You can "work" your embouchure by playing and you should STOP practicing at the first sign of major fatigue to your lips, as continuing past this point is counterproductive and this is when you will develop bad habits such as biting.

So...find the lightest/softest reed you can find that gives you that great, dark, rich, buttery oboe sound (you all know what I mean) and stick with it! No need killing yourself with something hard just to be an "amazon warrior" of oboe player.

Happy Practicing!!