Please Help! None of my high notes above A flat are working, and they were fine this morning. My reed is new, and I've been playing for three years, I've never had this problem. Please help! My All State audition is this Sunday, I really need this fixed!

The most likely is that the second octave vent is blocked - probably with water. 1st swab the oboe; 2nd put something absorbant (Thin cloth or tissue) under the 2nd octave pad. 3rd with the second octave key open blow sharply across the hole. The other possibility is that the 2nd octave key isn't opening when it should. Quite often this is due to a sticky pad - clean using no 2 above. If this fails take it to a reccomended repairer - it could be a spring broken, the key might have been knocked & bent slightly.

Good luck.