MKL Reeds

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 43*****
=================================================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-The Latest Reed Special Announcement
-The Reed Tip
-Oboe Reed Trivia

Please add “info@mklreeds.com” to your whitelist or address book
in your e-mail program, so that you have no trouble receiving
future issues!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Note from Maryn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you ever feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day
to get everything done that you want to do?

I guess some people call it being overwhelmed. Where my husband
is from, they call it being “verdutzt.” Don’t ask me exactly
what it means… The gist is that you feel a bit flustered – like
you have too many things on your plate.

I felt that way this week. A lot of new projects on the burner,
my kids running around the house with more summer energy than
they know what to do with…

And it got me to thinking just how many different thoughts you
have to keep in your head when you are playing the oboe. You
have so many different skills to work on and things to listen for
that sometimes it is just too much to think about at once.

I find that the summer is the perfect time to just slow down,
take a deep breath and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
At each practice session, pick ONE thing to concentrate on and
work on that.

For the time being, just do the best you can with the other
things, but don’t let them get in the way of you concentrating on
that ONE thing.

Do that for just 30 days and your oboe playing will be
transformed.

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Latest Reed Special
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’ve ever wished that you could have more control over the
sound coming out of your oboe, I am going to give you the secret
to making it happen in exactly six words…

Ready?

Learn to make your own reeds.

By getting a few beginning reed making skills under your belt,
you will be able to take those commercial reeds that feel like
they were made for “someone else” and make them your own.

In fact, the sooner you learn basic reed making skills, the more
control you will have over exactly how your oboe sounds.

Having that control will make you a happier oboe player, without
fail.

And the summer is the time to get started.

Our just released, “Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Playing
Oboe Reed… in 9 Days or Less” will walk you through everything
you need to know and do to get started on your own reed making
journey.

Even if you are not interested in becoming a top notch reed
maker, learning the basics will help you take your oboe playing
to a new level.

Read more about the guide and preview a sample reed making video
from the book… (high speed internet connection recommended)

http://www.mklreeds.com/9days.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The most important characteristic your oboe reed can have is that
YOU can PLAY it. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, whether
it is a harder or softer reed than you “should” be playing…

All that matters is that you can play it and be expressive with
it.

Don’t forget that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oboe Reed Trivia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each week we feature a bit of oboe trivia to help keep your oboe
brains sharp. Sometimes the questions are easy, sometimes they
are not so easy.

Each Friday night, all of the correct answers we receive from all
of you are put into a hat and one lucky winner is chosen to
receive a special prize.

Congratulations to last week’s trivia winner, Rebecca Biniewicz!

Rebecca correctly identified the material that is not used in
making oboes (pine).

Rebecca, just let us know via email where you would like your
prize sent.

Here’s this week’s question:

What are the “big five” U.S. symphony orchestras and who is the
current principal oboe player of each?

Submit your answers via email to trivia@mklreeds.com by Friday at
5:00PM CST to be included in the drawing.

Good luck!

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

P.S.

I almost forgot to tell you… For all reed orders placed before
Tuesday night at 11:59PM CST, we’ll include a special little
gift, at no charge! Just write, “send me my gift” in the order
comments section when you order and we will be sure to include
it!

Continue Reading

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 42*****
=================================================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-The Latest Reed Special Announcement
-The Reed Tip
-Oboe Reed Trivia

Please add “info@mklreeds.com” to your whitelist or address book
in your e-mail program, so that you have no trouble receiving
future issues!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Note from Maryn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Man is it hot!

Right now in Chicago, the mercury is flirting with the 80 degree
mark. The thing is, it’s only 8:30 in the morning. We are in
for a scorcher! (Just like yesterday.)

Memorial Day is often the time when oboe reeds start their crazy
summer journey. One day your reeds will feel as dry as the
desert and the next day they will be so “water-logged” you can
hardly play them.

It would be nice if the folks who forecast the weather were right
more than they were wrong… That way we could prepare a little
better for these sudden changes in heat and humidity, but I am
not holding my breath for that one… Last week, when one of our
weather men predicted a “beautiful” day, we ended up getting
pelted with hail!

From one oboe player to another I say, “Just hang in there!”

While your reeds can go nuts in the summer, it is also a time
when you will learn a lot about “making it work” anyway. Don’t
get down on yourself because your reeds go nuts, it’s not your
fault. Just keep playing and taking one day at a time.

There has never been a better time to play the oboe!

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Latest Reed Special
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oboe reeds are finicky creatures.

Sometimes they need a scrape here or a scrape there…

If you can scrape a reed, then you are in good shape. If not, you
might be forced to give up on a reed that really has a whole lot
of life left in it.

By learning basic reed making skills, you can start to take
control of your oboe reeds and put yourself in the driver’s seat.

Our just released, “Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Playing
Oboe Reed… in 9 Days or Less” will walk you through everything
you need to know and do to get started on your own reed making
journey.

Even if you are not interested in becoming a top notch reed
maker, learning the basics will help you take your oboe playing
to a new level.

Read more about the guide and preview a sample reed making video
from the book… (high speed internet connection recommended)

http://www.mklreeds.com/9days.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The heat and humidity of summer can really do a number on your
reeds. When a heat wave hits, the humidity can turn your reed
into an unmanageable little piece of wood. All of a sudden, your
greatest reeds get bogged down and become really difficult to
play.

Moving between the heat and air conditioning (especially at
summer camps and music festivals) can throw your reeds for a loop
and keep you guessing which way is up.

While you can’t control the weather, you can control whether or
not you are prepared for the changes that summer brings. Make
sure you have enough reeds in your case so that you are not
caught empty handed when one or two of them decide to give in to
the heat and humidity.

Your reeds WILL go wacky over the summer. Be prepared and don’t
let it get you down…

It’s just part of being an oboist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oboe Reed Trivia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each week we feature a bit of oboe trivia to help keep your oboe
brains sharp. Sometimes the questions are easy, sometimes they
are not so easy.

Each Friday night, all of the correct answers we receive from all
of you are put into a hat and one lucky winner is chosen to
receive a special prize.

Congratulations to last week’s trivia winner, Jerry Tumlin!

Jerry correctly identified the different ways to play an F and
gave each of their names.

Jerry, just let us know via email where you would like your prize
sent.

Here’s this week’s question:

Which material is NOT used to make an oboe?
a.) plastic
b.) pine
c.) grenadilla wood
d.) rosewood

Submit your answers via email to trivia@mklreeds.com by Friday at
5:00PM CST to be included in the drawing.

Good luck!

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

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*****The Reed Report: Issue 41*****
=================================================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* Oboe Reed Trivia – Oboe Range

* Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…

* Reed Tip – Oboe Problems or Reed Problems?

* Quote Corner – B.B. King

* Speak Up, We’re Listening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oboe Reed Trivia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each week we feature a bit of oboe trivia to help keep your oboe
brains sharp. Sometimes the questions are easy, sometimes they
are not so easy.

Each Friday night, all of the correct answers we receive from all
of you are put into a hat and one lucky winner is chosen to
receive a special prize.

Congratulations to last week’s trivia winner, Kasey Nelson!

Kasey correctly listed all of the materials used to make a staple
(brass flat metal stock, cork, etc.).

Kasey, just let us know via email (info@mklreeds.com) where you
would like your prize sent.

Here’s this week’s question:

What is the range of the oboe, specifically from top to bottom?

Submit your answers via email to trivia@mklreeds.com by Friday at
5:00PM CST to be included in the drawing.

Good luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ready to take a break from the oboe for the summer?

Wait just a minute! Don’t let your oboe chops go south.

A little playing here and there will help keep you nimble over
the summer months and make “reentry” in the fall much easier.

Order the Oboe Reed Summer Survival Kit and put a little fun into
your summer oboe practice.

Each kit includes:

-2 Oboe Reeds (Regular or Professional)
-1 Mini Scale Sheet (A scale a day keeps the fall oboe blues
away.)
-1 Shatterproof Freezer Bottle (to keep your favorite drink cold
while you are practicing.)

The best part is, you can get all of this for the same price as
two reeds!

Take a look by visiting the link below.

But please note, there are only 35 of these available, and when
they’re gone, that’s it until next year.

So order today!

http://www.nexternal.com/mklreeds/Product34

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a good reed, your oboe should play all the notes, from top
to bottom, with equal ease. If your reed feels really good on
some sections of the oboe (usually the middle register) but is
really hard to deal with down in the low register, the problem is
probably not your reed.

The oboe is notorious for getting out of adjustment really
quickly, so learn what it feels like when everything is working
as it should be.

You’ll realize then how often you’ve blamed your reeds for your
oboe’s problems!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be
yourself while you’re doing so.”

- B. B. King

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speak Up, We’re Listening…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a testimonial? We’d love to hear it!

www.mklreeds.com/talkback.htm

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 40*****
=================================================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* Oboe Reed Trivia – the Staple

* Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…

* Reed Tip – How Long?

* Quote Corner – Oliver Wendell Holmes

* Speak Up, We’re Listening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oboe Reed Trivia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each week we feature a bit of oboe trivia to help keep your oboe
brains sharp. Sometimes the questions are easy, sometimes they
are not so easy.

Each Friday night, all of the correct answers we receive from all
of you are put into a hat and one lucky winner is chosen to
receive a special prize.

Here’s this week’s question:

What materials are used to make a staple?

Submit your answers via email to trivia@mklreeds.com by Friday at
5:00PM CST to be included in the drawing.

Good luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Place an order over $100.00 between now and Thursday, May 4 and
you will receive FREE Standard Shipping when you use the coupon
below.

NOTE: You MUST use the coupon code below to receive your shipping
rebate. If you choose Silver or Gold shipping, $6.50 will be
deducted from your order total.

HOW TO GET THE SPECIAL
———————–
1. Surf to: http://www.mklreeds.com
2. Click on any of the links to the order reeds page.
3. Fill up your shopping cart with reeds.
4. On the left hand side of the shopping cart, click “Enter
Coupon”
5. Enter the following coupon code: 100ship
6. Go to the checkout and complete your order.

Don’t Miss Out!

http://nexternal.com/mklreeds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So just how long should an oboe reed last?

The life of your oboe reed will probably be between 6 and 12
hours of playing time depending on who you are and what you do.

When a reed is past its prime, it will feel worn out and used up.
It may be closed and may no longer let you use as much air as you
once did. It will feel mushy and it will be very cushy in the low
register.

In general, it’s always a good idea to have reeds of different
ages in your case so that you are never without a few reed
choices.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and
you will find that it is to the soul what the water-bath is to
the body.”

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speak Up, We’re Listening…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a testimonial? We’d love to hear it!

www.mklreeds.com/talkback.htm

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

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*****The Reed Report: Issue 39*****
===========================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Never quit.

* Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…

* Reed Tip – Fit to be Tied

* Quote Corner – Mahler

* Speak Up, We’re Listening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Lesson Learned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being a successful oboist can mean a lot of different things
depending on exactly who you are talking to. Some people think a
paying orchestra job is success, others just want to have fun
while they are playing.

Whatever your oboe goal is, what would you identify as THE most
important ingredient for reaching it?

Think about it… What do you say?

Talent? Luck? Knowing the right people? Lots of practice?

Want to hear my answer?

Perseverance. NOT quitting.

There is hardly a goal that cannot be achieved if you have
perseverance. More than talent or anything else, having
perseverance will determine whether or not you get where you want
to go with the oboe.

No matter how big or small your goals are, the only way you fail
is if you stop trying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Featured Product and the Latest SPECIAL News…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Private Lesson in a Box

This is the ONLY product we offer with a discount sale built
right into it.

Here’s what you get when you order the MKL Reeds Private Lesson
in a Box:

-1 Oboe Reed (Regular or Professional) – $25.00 Value
-A copy of our book, “Does Practice Make Perfect?” – $37.00 Value
-A subscription to our 52 Weeks of Oboe Reed Tips – $27.00 Value
-3 MKL Reeds Pencils

And you get it all for only $60.00

That’s a 30% discount over buying each product separately.

Order Now…

http://www.nexternal.com/mklreeds/Product28

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue’s reed tip comes from the Reed Tip archives:

When tying or buying blanks, make sure the reed is not tied past
the end of the staple. Most staples are 47mm, but other lengths
are available.

A reed that is tied beyond the staple, or “over-wound,” will not
behave like a normal reed. It will be inconsistent and
unpredictable and should be discarded or rewound as soon as you
notice this imperfection.

Visible signs of an over-wound blank include an extra narrow
throat and a “choked” appearance where the winding ends. Use a
ruler to measure the length of
the staple if you are not sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“If a composer could say what he had to say in words
he would not bother trying to say it in music.”

-Gustav Mahler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speak Up, We’re Listening…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a testimonial? We’d love to hear it!

www.mklreeds.com/talkback.htm

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

===========================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 38*****
===========================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Put on Your Blinders

* The Latest SPECIAL News… April Showers

* Reed Tip – When You Overblow…

* Quote Corner – Copland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Lesson Learned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nobody else matters.

I don’t mean that in a negative way. But when it comes to the
oboe, put your blinders on, because the only thing that should
matter to you is what you are doing on the oboe and whether or
not you are enjoying it.

There’s a lesson I wish I had learned earlier – before auditions,
before music school, before I even started playing the oboe.

I remember that feeling I would get in the pit of my stomach when
I heard that someone was going to take “this audition” or had
gotten a job with “that” orchestra.

For the longest time, stuff like that bothered me. I felt
competitive all of a sudden. Not sure why, but I am sure you’ve
had the same feelings.

Now, as I look back on my oboe life, I wonder why I worried about
that kind of stuff at all.

The people who I thought would end up waiting tables for a living
now have orchestra jobs.

The folks who were “over-achievers” when we were younger – well,
a whole lot of them don’t even play the oboe anymore.

And almost all of them seem to be pretty happy.

The point is, don’t worry about what anyone else is doing when it
comes to the oboe and music. Enjoy what YOU are doing. That’s
really all that matters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Latest SPECIAL News…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April showers bring May flowers…

Let us buy your reeds a good soaking this April.

Order two or more reeds before 11:59 PM April 21, and we’ll
include an MKL Reed Soaker at no charge!

There’s a limited supply, so don’t delay…

HOW TO GET YOUR REED SOAKER
—————————–

1. Surf to: http://www.mklreeds.com
2. Click on any of the links to the order reeds page.
3. Fill up your shopping cart with reeds.
4. On the left hand side of the shopping cart, click “Enter
Coupon”
5. Enter the following coupon code: soakit
6. Go to the checkout and complete your order.

That’s it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you find that you are consistently overblowing your reeds, YOU
may not be the problem that needs to be solved.

Most likely, the opening of the reed cannot handle the amount of
air you are putting through it, and so it squeaks, kind of like a
recorder does when you blow too hard. Instead of using less air,
find a reed with more resistance that lets you use the same
amount of air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, ‘Is
there a meaning to music?’ My answer would be, ‘Yes.’ And ‘Can
you state in so many words what the meaning is?’ My answer to
that would be, ‘No.’”

-Aaron Copland

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

==========================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 37*****
==========================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Stories from My Oboe Past.

* The Latest SPECIAL News… We Have a Winner!

* Reed Tip – Which Way is Up?

* Quote Corner – Stokowski

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Lesson Learned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I never made it into Juilliard for college.

At the time, it was one of the worst days of my life. The day of
my audition I was sick as a dog. My mind was good for little
more than sitting in my bed with a box of tissues, sneezing my
head off.

I should have been in bed, but instead, there I was…

Pacing across the floor of that room in the Juilliard School,
waiting for the chance to play my best and get in.

Long story short: I didn’t feel well, I didn’t play well. I
didn’t get in.

You would think that would be something that would bother me
forever, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever could
have happened.

I owe most of my current happiness in life and music to never
getting in. Odd how things often work out that way.

That’s a lesson I remember to this day. Don’t worry if, at
first, your plans don’t work out the way you intend. There is
always a larger plan that is sometimes hard to see until it is
behind you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Latest SPECIAL News…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have a WINNER!

The winner of the MKL Reeds TalkBack Testimonial Contest is:

Hannah Gibson of Brooklyn, NY

Here is the testimonial she sent us:

—————-

Transcript of a radio interview of Hannah Gibson, conducted by
Bob Edwards, aired on NPR on May 16, 2113.

Bob: Good evening, I’m Bob Edwards. Today we have with us live
in the studio, Hannah Gibson, the first oboist with the Boston
Symphony Orchestra. Hannah, welcome.

Hannah: Thanks Bob. This is a real honor.

Bob: Well we appreciate your being here. Why don’t you start
with telling us, generally, about your experience as an oboist.

Hannah: Ahh… Let’s see. Intense. Totally a love-hate
relationship. Full of ups and downs and so many varied
experiences.

Bob: I think most professional musicians would describe their
time with their instrument as “intense.” But a love-hate
relationship?

Hannah: Yeah. Like my sister and I (laughs). No, seriously,
though. I love the oboe. I’ve always loved the sound of it; its
uniqueness, its strength. Band directors and teachers told me to
start with the clarinet – it would be easier. Seemed to me like
a ridiculous idea – I wanted to play the oboe because I wanted to
play the oboe, not the clarinet. So I guess there was always a
fundamental need for the oboe specifically.

Bob: And the flipside?

Hannah: Oh god, the reeds. How I envied the flutes and the
trumpets, who with a little twist out or a little push in could
just sit down and play. To be able to relax, assured that you
were in tune (or if you weren’t it would be easily fixed and not
an embarrassing demonstration of your lack of musicianship) and
simply play along with the orchestra and really enjoy it.

Bob: So the reeds got in the way of your musicianship – of your
musical experience.

Hannah: Yes. A lot of it was my lack of experience both as an
oboist and a musician. It was also certainly a problem that came
from not having an amazing ear. It was a frustration with myself
and my playing that was easily blamable on the reeds. But I do
think that oboists are at a general disadvantage because they
have to spend a greater percentage of their time making reeds and
less actually playing, and as an amateur musician a lot of time
playing under non-ideal circumstances.

Bob: To get where you are today, you clearly have overcome your
early struggles. How did you work through the problems?

Hannah: I was about three-quarters of the way through college
when I discovered MKL Reeds. The first (and only, still to this
day) company that consistently shipped me reeds I could depend on
to sound good. Before discovering them, I had reached near
desperation. I was writing my thesis and going to lectures and
working and really had no time to spend on reeds. My playing was
faltering and I didn’t know what to do.

Bob: Then you found MKL.

Hannah: Yep. They got me through senior year. We did an amazing
tour of Iceland – our final yearend concert was huge – and I had
great reeds. I was really thankful. I was totally able to enjoy
my last year in the university symphony. And honestly, who
knows? Had I gotten too frustrated I might have given up the
oboe for good. And of course MKL they helped me through my
audition with and acceptance into the BSO: my dream job since my
college days in the city. Thanks MKL for saving me from my
frustration and helping me do what makes me happy!

—————-

Thank you all for your excellent (and VERY creative)
testimonials. We are so excited to hear that our reeds are
helping you in so many ways.

Choosing a winner was NOT an easy task.

Hannah, your prize (including your 10 oboe reeds) will be shipped
out in just a few days.

Congratulations!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue’s reed tip comes from the Reed Tip archives:

Many reeds (and all of the reeds at MKL Reeds) are finished so
that one blade is (almost imperceptibly) longer than the other.

For optimum reed performance, identify the SHORTER blade and
always play the reed with this SHORTER blade on your bottom lip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their
pictures on silence.”

-Leopold Stokowski

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

=========================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 36*****
=========================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Stories from My Oboe Past.

* The Latest SPECIAL… Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

* Reed Tip – Our Readers Chime In.

* Quote Corner – Beethoven

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Lesson Learned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few years ago, I travelled throughout the U.S. and Russia
playing oboe with the American/Russian Youth Orchestra.

We started with two weeks of rehearsal followed by a quick U.S.
tour through Nashville and New York. Then we left the country to
play in places like St. Petersburg, Moscow and with Valery
Gergiev, the Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky
Theatre in St. Petersburg.

The whole trip was exciting, exhilarating, terrifying and
completely exhausting.

It was great.

The entire 8 week event tested my skill, my patience and my ideas
about what it means to play the oboe and to be a musician.

Moral of the story?

If you ever get the chance to do anything on the oboe that
absolutely scares you silly, GO FOR IT…

You won’t regret it, because there will always be something that
you will take away to help make you a better player.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Latest SPECIAL…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy (Belated) St. Patrick’s Day!

FREE STANDARD SHIPPING ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!!

This offer expires Monday night at 11:59 PM, so hurry and save
on your next order.

Order through Monday, March 20 at 11:59 PM and you won’t pay for
STANDARD (USPS) SHIPPING!

(If you choose another shipping method, $6.50 will be deducted
at checkout.)

Follow the directions below to receive a $6.50 shipping discount
on your next order:

HOW TO GET YOUR FREE SHIPPING
—————————–

1. Surf to: http://www.mklreeds.com
2. Click on any of the links to the order reeds page.
3. Fill up your shopping cart with reeds.
4. On the left hand side of the shopping cart, click “Enter
Coupon”
5. Enter the following coupon code: stpats45
6. Go to the checkout and complete your order.

That’s it! Your reeds are on their way, FREE of our
standard shipping charge.

(This offer does not apply to our 52 Reed Tips)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To complete our series on keeping your reeds clean, here
are TWO reed tips from our readers.

RE: Your Advice in Issue 34 (Reed Cleaning Tip):

I much prefer using a small bird feather, about 3-4 inches.
Inserted into the staple end, with reed held in a glass of water,
a wondrous amount of gunk swirls into the water. After rotating
the feather while pumping it up and down several time, the tip
slightly protruding from the reed tip, it is pulled back out,
rinsed and dried for next time. The feather quills do a gentle
scrub and DO NOT leave fluff behind in the reed.

-Frank Davis

Reed Cleaning Tip for a Well-Soaked Reed:

Take a short piece of fishing line – make a small loop and insert
it into the reed through the tip (carefully!). Push it down to
the beginning of the staple. Gently squeeze the blades together
and slowly pull out the fishing line. Amazing what will come out
if the reed has been played a lot – amazing difference in
response!

-Cathy MacIntyre

Great reed tips Cathy and Frank! Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks
and invents.”

-Ludwig van Beethoven

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

=================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 35*****
=================================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Helping you learn at MY expense.

* Don’t Miss… The Spring Fun Package

* Reed Tip – Another cleaning tip.

* Quote Corner – Charlie Parker

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learning My Lesson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One year, during the time I lived in Nashville, I was called to
solo in the orchestra at the famous Country Music Awards.

Now I am about as uninterested in country music as you can get
and I probably ran into a few country music superstars without
even knowing it, but I learned something special that day that
bears repeating.

The name of the game at the Country Music Awards is “fly by the
seat of your pants.” No warmup, no preparation, no rehearsal.
Just trial by fire.

I remember the traffic was especially bad that day and I rolled
in with not too much time before the performance began. There
was no rehearsal (of course) and we were not even sent music to
prepare.

I walked to my seat (not knowing I, the little lone oboist was
about to be in THE spotlight with some country artist whose name
I STILL don’t know) and took a look at the music.

Not 30 seconds later, everything began… And then in the blink
of an eye it was over. Done.

I felt like I had been on the craziest roller coaster ride of my
life. A ride that only lasted about 45 seconds.

What did I take away from this whirlwind experience?

Always be prepared for ANYTHING…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t Miss…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celebrate Spring with the MKL Reeds Spring Fun Package.

Order the Spring Fun Package and get your reeds wrapped in green
and white threads.

Each package includes:

-2 oboe reeds (regular or professional)
-1 cube organza box
-Some YUMMY treats!

What’s the best part?

You pay for the reeds and you get the rest of the stuff
FREE!

ORDER NOW…

Click on the link below:

http://www.nexternal.com/mklreeds/Product33

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s another reed tip that will keep your reeds “gunk” free and
playing their best:

Often, after a lot of use (or a lot of Chapstick application to
your lips), your reed will get visibly gunked up with “stuff” in
between the two blades of the reed where the air is supposed to
go.

If this occurs, take your plaque and GENTLY scrape the gunk out
without chipping or bending the fragile reed tip. This can be
done multiple times over the life of a reed and will help extend
its life by allowing it to play as clearly and as unmuffled as
possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If
you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you
there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary
line to art.”

-Charlie Parker

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading

===============================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 34*****
=============================================

Congratulations! As a subscriber, you are one of the
first to see this important information.

In this issue:

* A Lesson Learned: Helping you learn at MY expense.

* Don’t Miss… – We are humbled…

* Reed Tip – Do your reeds need a cleanin’?.

* Quote Corner – Victor Hugo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learning My Lesson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I remember when I first got to music school, I was on the path to
learn how to make the “perfect oboe reed.” I studied all the
reeds of my mentors and past teachers and tried to piece together
all of the tips and secrets that I could get my hands on. My
plan was to combine them into a recipe for the perfect reed.

After all, if anyone knew how to make it, THEY did.

Early on in my time at school, I remember my teacher always
talking about learning to make a reed “for you.” He said that
was just about all that mattered.

At first I didn’t really get (or listen to) what he was saying.

Remember, I was on the quest for THE perfect reed. I had a reed
notebook where I stored all of the wisdom of my teachers and I
knew that it was just a matter of time before I hit the jackpot.

Of course as time went on, the words of my teacher started making
sense.

I kind of chuckle at myself for ever thinking that there was a
“perfect” reed out there to be found.

When I help students learn about reedmaking, I pass on what has
now become MY reed philosophy: “Learn to make a reed for YOU.”

Simply put, “What works for you works for you.”

It really doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing.

Don’t go searching for THE perfect reed, go searching for YOUR
perfect reed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t Miss…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we launched our TalkBack contest last week and asked all of
you to let us know how we are doing, we were NOT prepared for the
flood of thanks and well wishes that came our way.

I’d just like to say how appreciative and humbled all of us at
MKL Reeds are to hear all of your kindness and support. It means
so much to all of us here that we are helping so many people in
such great ways.

We are sooooo lucky to have great customers like you.

But don’t worry, we won’t let it go to our heads. We’re not
really in this to be famous.

Please accept our sincere thanks and appreciation for all of your
kind words.

If you missed the details about the contest, you can get them all
at the link below:

http://www.mklreeds.com/talkback.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reed/Oboe Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you play the same reed for a while, make sure you take the
time to CLEAN it every now and then. Take a pipe cleaner, insert
it very gently into the bottom of the staple and twist.

You will be surprised at what comes out.

If you are a professional playing your oboe day in and day out,
your reeds probably won’t even last long enough to get dirty, but
just in case, give it a try.

Keeping your reed clean can improve the clarity of your sound and
the response of your reed.

Don’t forget to try it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into
words and that which cannot remain silent.”

- Victor Hugo

Thanks for reading. Until next time…

Happy playing,

Maryn Leister
MKL Reeds
maryn@mklreeds.com
http://www.mklreeds.com

Continue Reading