MKL Reeds

============================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 83*****
============================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Oboe Reeds are Coming Back!
-Featured Oboe Video
-Oboe Thought of the Week
-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
==========================================

Thursday, 12:35 P.M.
Cornville AZ

I’m pretty excited about today’s issue of the Reed Report.
Mainly because I have a LOT of new things to tell you about.

But first, I’d like to introduce you to a new member of the
family.

(No, not another baby… a dog.)

This is Macy.

I rescued her back in June from a Dog Fair up in Flagstaff,
AZ.

She’s only about a year old. But she’s already had quite a
life. Born in Memphis, TN, she was hit by a car AND had a
litter of 7 puppies all in the first 10 months of her
life… before we adopted her.

So NOW we have a full house. That’s 4 kids, 3 dogs, 7
chickens, 1 rooster and two goats on the way…

Life is good.

OK, let’s get going…

==============================================
Oboe Reeds are Coming Back!
==============================================

We’re just a few days away from offering oboe reeds again.
But things this time around will be quite a bit different…

Of course our reeds will still be guaranteed (unless you
wait 3 months to send them back …

But instead of waiting weeks to get them, you’ll have to
wait just a few days…

We’re REALLY excited to get back into the reed business,
simply because great reeds is a need that every oboist
shares… everywhere.

So be on the lookout for an announcement in the VERY near
future.

==========================================
Featured Oboe Video
==========================================

This week’s featured oboe video is something brand new.
It’s called: Everything Oboe.

Each episode will be filled with a variety of neat things,
but in general, the focus is on the oboe, on being a
musician… and having some fun!

So take a look at the first episode.

See Everything Oboe

And be sure to leave a comment below the video.

If you have something YOU’D like to share with the oboe
community and want to appear (in video or audio) on an
upcoming episode, just let me know.

We’ll be doing interviews with oboists of all types!

==========================================
Oboe Thought of the Week
==========================================

“…be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody
else’s idea of yourself should be.”

-Henry David Thoreau

I can’t think of anywhere this is more important than in
music and in life.

==========================================
The Reed/Oboe Tip
==========================================

This issue’s tip comes from Nicholas Cohen in Rochester NY:

“Greetings from Rochester, NY.  I’ve been reading and
enjoying your newsletter for quite a while now.  I don’t use
a pipe cleaner on my “old” reeds.  Instead I hold the reed
in water in a glass (about half way down the cane), and move
a delicate-tipped feather from the end of the staple in and
out until no more “gunk” comes out into the water.  This
method was taught to me way back in the 1950s by my oboe
teacher in NYC, Lois Wann.  (She taught me lots of other
more important things, of course.)   

That’s a great tip Nicholas! Thank you!

==========================================
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.

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.

This week’s question is a bit different. There’s no right
answer… just your answer. And we’d love to hear it!

Here’s this week’s question:

What’s your BEST memory of the oboe? A performance, a
teacher, a favorite piece? Tell us your story.

Post your answer as a comment below 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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 72*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-The BIG Book: It Keeps Growing…
-Mother’s Day Coupon for 20% OFF!
-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
==========================================

Saturday 6:20 A.M.
Flagstaff, AZ

Early morning…

But we have a picnic to go to today and getting the gang (which
is now 3 kids and 2 dogs) all moving in the same direction can
take a while.

I remember back right after college what a challenge it was to
fit the 4 or so hours of practicing (plus reedmaking) that I did
every day.

It seemed like there was never enough time…

Little did I know how that would change with three little kids
running around.

Moral of the story?

Appreciate what you’ve got right now. It’s special

==========================================
The BIG Book is Here!
==========================================

It’s been a long time coming…

But the BIG Book of Oboe Questions and Answers is finally here.

Actually, it’s not “quite” a book. It’s a whole lot better.

And it’s GROWING…

You can get all of the details here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

And be sure to watch the video at the bottom of the page.

NOTE: If you’re already a subscriber, be sure to login and start
asking your oboe and oboe reed questions. We’ll add the first
update this week with all of the answers!

==========================================
Happy Mother’s Day!
==========================================

Here’s a coupon for 20% OFF anything in our store. It’s good
through Monday night at midnight.

The coupon code you’ll need at the checkout is:

mother1

(Don’t forget to click the APPLY button to make sure you get your
discount!)

Here’s the link to the store:

http://mklreeds.com/products.htm

Happy Mother’s Day!

==========================================
The Reed/Oboe Tip
==========================================

Most every oboe reed problem you will ever encounter can be
traced back to the same few principles – having a sharp, flat,
unstable or (insert reed problem here) reed is really just a
symptom of the REAL problem.

Some of these key principles are:

- You need a centered gouge with a sharp blade.
- You need a compatible shape.
- You need a balanced reed that has response and stability built
in. (This is SO important!)
- Always use a sharp knife and a scraping technique that works
with the cane, not against it (which will squash and squish the
cane as you scrape).
- Use enough air to play the reed.
- You need a well-adjusted oboe.

==========================================
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.

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 this issue’s winner: Lauren Pettitt

We asked when the birth of the oboe was… and there are several
answers dating all the way back to the shawm in the 1200s…
Well, Lauren gave us ALL the answers

Lauren, just email us your address and we’ll send out your prize.

Here’s this week’s question:

Who was the principal oboe player of the Cleveland Orchestra
right before John Mack?

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 71*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-The BIG Book is Here!
-A Page From the Oboe Notebook
-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
==========================================

Friday 7:30 P.M.
Flagstaff, AZ

About a week ago, someone very important to me and my family lost
his 17 year old son.

It was sudden, unexpected and completely shocking.

For him, his life will never be the same. For us, his experience
is a reminder of just how sacred life is.

Of course, music plays a huge part in that sacredness.

But it’s your responsibility to stop, notice and appreciate it.
To pause, take a breath and really experience just how wonderful
life is.

Remember to enjoy the journey… it’s not a dress rehearsal.

==========================================
The BIG Book is Here!
==========================================

It’s been a long time coming…

But the BIG Book of Oboe Questions and Answers is finally here.

Actually, it’s not “quite” a book. It’s a whole lot better.

And it’s GROWING…

You can get all of the details here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

==========================================
A Page From the Oboe Notebook
==========================================

Today, I’m publishing a page of notes I took during the John Mack
Oboe Camp back in 1994…

What’s the big takeaway?

A little one liner I wrote on the page:

“Trust yourself…”

You can see the notes here:

http://mklreeds.com/images/oj5208.jpg

==========================================
The Reed/Oboe Tip
==========================================

If you’re having trouble keeping your reed knives sharp, here’s a
failsafe tip to keep you from hours of “trying to get the darn
things sharp” frustration:

Just buy a new knife.

Sounds simple… but it’s effective.

The fact is, no two oboists scrape EXACTLY the same. So all of
the knife sharpening tips that you find in books may or may NOT
work for you. There’s no such thing as “one size fits all” knife
sharpening techniques.

Sometimes, the best thing is to simply buy a new knife.

==========================================
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.

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 this issue’s winner: Chris Foss

He correctly identified the painter of this picture:

http://tinyurl.com/3y8jn5

It’s Thomas Gainsborough.

Chris, just reply to this email and let us know where
to send your prize!

Here’s this week’s question:

When was the approximate “birth” of the oboe?

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. If you’re a recent trivia winner but haven’t yet received
your prize, it’s coming… A bunch of them just went out this
week!

Continue Reading

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 70*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Still Time for Your 40% OFF Pre-Publication Discount
-A Page From the Oboe Notebook
-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
==========================================

Sunday 2:50 P.M.
Flagstaff, AZ

Sometimes, it’s nice to stop for a moment and give yourself a big
pat on the back for choosing to play the oboe.

It’s not the easiest thing in the world, you know.

I’ve been going through all of my old oboe notebooks and just
chuckle at some of the stuff I wrote 5, 10, and even 15 years
ago.

I’ve come a LONG way.

But I often forget that when I get caught up in the day to day
grind.

Chances are, you’ve come a whole lot farther on your oboe journey
than you even realize.

Take a moment to appreciate that. It’s a good feeling isn’t it?

==========================================
40% OFF Pre-Publication Offer
==========================================

You’ve still got a little time to pre-order your copy of the BIG
Book of Oboe Questions and Answers.

You can see a picture of it here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

Remember, we’re offering a 40% OFF Pre-Publication Discount.

You can find out all of the details here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

(Pssst… we’ve also lowered a bunch of prices on our website.
So if you haven’t taken a look in a little while, you might be
pleasantly surprised

==========================================
A Page From the Oboe Notebook
==========================================

Today, I’m publishing a page of notes I took during a reed lesson
way back on November 6, 1993.

During the reed lesson, I created a simple profile of my “perfect
reed.” And I’d like to share it with you.

I put the notes up on Flarp, our blog.

You can see them here:

http://tinyurl.com/2pohf8

==========================================
The Reed/Oboe Tip
==========================================

Ever have a problem with your reeds cracking down the middle?

I used to.

When I was just starting school at Eastman, I went through a
tough period where most of my reeds cracked… right down the
middle.

Now sometimes reeds just crack. That happens. But when it
happens again and again, that’s a real problem.

For some reason, my cane was always weak in the same spot.

If that ever happens to you, there are two probable culprits:
your gouge or your guillotine.

For me, it was the guillotine. It was weakening the cane… in
the same spot… each and every time.

And it caused me a whole lot of frustration before I figured it
out.

==========================================
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.

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 this issue’s winners: Bryan Harris AND Anthony
Marra!

When we wrote the trivia question, we were thinking of Samuel
Barber. He died without completing his Canzonetta. But we
learned something extra with all of the responses that came in.

Turns out… there’s more than ONE answer.

Another answer to our trivia question is Marco Aurelio Yano.
He’s a Brazilian composer who died in 1991 at the age of 27. His
unfinished oboe concerto was later completed by Alex Klein.

Bryan and Anthony, just reply to this email and let us know where
to send your prize!

You’ll find this week’s question on our blog, Flarp.

Here’s the page:

http://tinyurl.com/3y8jn5

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 69*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-40% OFF Pre-Publication Discount
-A Page From the Oboe Notebook
-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
==========================================

Sunday 9:50 A.M.
Flagstaff, AZ

First, let me thank all of you for your kind comments from last
week’s newsletter.

I wasn’t sure how things would go considering the Reed Report
hadn’t been published in so long.

But I appreciate all of your kind words.

And if you sent in a reed question, I got it. You’ll start
seeing some of the answers in future issues.

We’ve been busy this week doing some house cleaning on the
website. Putting up some new things, taking down some old ones.

Flarp (our blog) is back and running… (and we deleted all of
the S*P*A*M comments that got posted the past few months–over 10
thousand of them.)

So if you haven’t been to the website in a while, check it out.

==========================================
40% OFF Pre-Publication Offer
==========================================

We’re just about done creating something brand new.

You can see a picture of it here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

It’s called the BIG Book of Oboe Questions and Answers.

And we’re offering a 40% OFF Pre-Publication Discount.

You can find out all of the details here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/bigbook1.htm

(And don’t miss the video on that page. It ties in with the Reed
Tip for today.)

==========================================
A Page From the Oboe Notebook
==========================================

Today, I’m publishing a page of notes I took way back on April
13, 1995 from a masterclass with oboist Richard Woodhams.

I put the notes up on Flarp, our blog.

You can see them here:

http://mklreeds.com/flarp

==========================================
The Reed/Oboe Tip
==========================================

If your reeds are too open, it might be a symptom of a gouge
issue or a scraping issue. Funny enough, both usually involve
the exact same problem: a dull blade!

Although an open reed can result from a gouge issue, it is more
commonly related to trying to scrape with a dull knife. The cane
seems to build up at the end of the tip, causing the reed to
“gape” open.

If your knife is dull, you will really have a hard time
effectively doing the “channels” in the back of the reed. If
this is the case, the resulting reed will probably be propped
open closer to the tube as well.

==========================================
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.

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 this issue’s winner: Teil Buck!

The correct answer was C: Cracking in the head joint.

Teil, just reply to this email and let us know where to send your
prize!

Here’s this week’s question:

Which 20th century composer died before finishing his/her oboe
concerto?

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 63*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Highly Recommended
-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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday 7:55 p.m. EST
Batesville, IN

“Inspiration comes very slowly and quietly.”

-Brenda Ueland

There have been many oboe pieces that I have practiced on end for
days and months but just haven’t been able to “get.” Musically,
it just doesn’t click for some reason.

It is really hard to force inspiration or creativity, and I think
I have learned that backing away does make it easier.

If you are feeling devoid of inspiration, give it some time and
work on the problem in a different way. Leave your music on the
stand, your oboe in the case, and go out and enjoy life.

Try to look at everyday things and objects differently. When you
return to your practice, perhaps something will be there that
wasn’t there before!

Sometimes, when you change the way you look at things, the things
you look at change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Highly Recommended
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You’ve got a little over 24 hours left to take advantage of the
reedmaking guide holiday clearance sale…

If you missed the last email, here are the details:

We’ve been working hard to update our reedmaking guide, “The
Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Playing Oboe Reed… In 9
Days or Less.”

Basically, we’re taking all of the feedback we’ve gotten from our
clients and are rolling it up into a bigger, better reedmaking
guide we’ll release sometime in 2007.

In order to “clear the shelves” before the new version comes out,
I’ve decided to offer you a coupon for 50% off the guide as it is
now, before the updates.

Plus, I’ll pay for the shipping.

But there is a catch…

This offer expires THIS Sunday night (tomorrow, December 17) at
midnight, Indiana time.

So you’ve got just a little over 24 hours to grab this chance to
improve your reeds, by improving your reedmaking and scraping
skills.

And remember, this guide is valuable even if you have no
intention of ever making your own reeds.

In fact, here are 4 ways you can benefit from the guide even if
you plan on buying oboe reeds for the rest of your days:

1. Ever been stuck with a reed that was great BEFORE the weather
changed? Learn how to breathe new life into your reeds by
learning just the basics of scraping…
2. Learn how to adjust your reed for any type of music, whether
it’s Mahler or Mozart.
3. Ever had a reed you just didn’t have time to break-in? With
basic scraping skills, you’ll be able to play your reed right
away.
4. Stop waiting around for the perfect reed to be sent to you.
With basic reedmaking skills, you’ll be able to transform even
mediocre reeds into ones that work for you.

Here’s how you can get the special:

HOW TO GET THE SPECIAL
———————–
1. Surf to: http://www.mklreeds.com/9days.htm
2. Click on any of the Order Now buttons on the page.
3. On the left hand side of the shopping cart, click “Enter
Coupon”
4. Enter the following coupon code: guidesale
5. Go to the checkout and complete your order.

You’ll get your 50% discount AND won’t be charged for shipping
(unless you order other stuff).

You can find out all of the details about the guide by visiting
the page below.

But remember, this offer is only for my current clients and
subscribers, so you won’t see any reference to it on the
website…

Here’s the address:

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

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

To get the best sound out of any reed, most players
should put less reed in their mouth, get their chin up and
bell down, and blow more air.

Try it and see!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Kathryn Wendt!

Kathryn answered that a cracked top joint is one of the most
common problems for a brand new oboe.

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

This week’s question is a bit different. In fact, there are two
questions. We’re always in search of new ways to help the oboe
world with reeds and playing the oboe. Sometimes we come up with
good ideas… And sometimes they are so off the wall we just
stuff ‘em in a drawer. But this time, we need your feedback.

So we’re taking a poll. And instead of choosing one winner from
the responses, we’re choosing 5. That’s right, we’ll be sending
out 5 trivia prizes. It’s the holiday season after all!

So here are the questions to answer:

1. Would you subscribe to a monthly service that allowed you to
view an in depth oboe reed critique (either video and/or audio)
and then receive a summary of hints and tips to apply to your own
situation? Everything would be structured to help reedmakers AND
non-reedmakers. (If not, what WOULD help you?)
2. What would a service like that be worth to you and your
reedmaking or reed adjusting?

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 62*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Highly Recommended
-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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 2:05 p.m. EST
Batesville, IN

“Fear has a smell, as love does.”

-Margaret Atwood

I think the appropriate adaptation of this quote for oboists is
“fear has a sound.”

It does not matter how much you practice or how good or bad you
think your reed is. Fear is obvious, and it is a sound that has
no place in music.

My very wise teacher had a saying along the same lines that I
will never forget:

“Fear is not an appropriate color.”

It is a bizarre thing, because someone can play very well and
still play fearfully. And someone else can play less well,
missing notes here or there or whatever but be full of
confidence.

Strive to remove any fear from your playing. If you detect any,
ask yourself where it is coming from. Sometimes we just need to
acknowledge it and move on instead of acting like everything is
OK.

I remember my first solo recital after I had graduated and left
school. I was a “professional,” but I didn’t feel like it. I
had a really hard time being on my own at first because I
realized it was all up to me, and that was very scary.

Luckily, I recorded the recital and literally could hear my own
fear. It was then that I decided it was going to be confidence
or bust from now on, because it just wasn’t worth it any other
way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Highly Recommended
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We’re in the holiday spirit here at MKL Reeds…

To have just a little bit of fun, we’ve put on our rhyming caps
and created a holiday oboe poem that will make you laugh,
cry and marvel at why we all choose to play such a crazy
instrument!

It starts like this:

Twas the day of the concert when all through Sue’s house,
The sound of her reed making was waking her spouse.
And the noise from her scraping and clipping and crowing,
Was causing the pain in his head to keep growing.

He said, “Don’t you think you could stop for a minute?
I keep having this dream and your reed tools are in it.
The knife keeps on yelling it’s taken for granted,
The cane tells old stories ’bout the day it was planted…

You can get a F*R*E*E laminated copy (suitable for framing) when
you order our new sightreading guide, Play It Right The First
Time, before December 24.

You can get the details here:

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

(Don’t worry, if you’ve already ordered, you’ll get one
automatically

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

Here’s a quick tip from our reed tip archive:

Great reeds don’t always look perfect.

In fact, some of them are downright ugly!

Judge your reed more on how it functions and use its looks as
clues to how you could improve things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Patrick Kane!

Patrick answered Beethoven, Gordon Jacob and Graham Powning;
three oboe trio composers from 3 different musical periods.

Although Gordon Jacob and Graham Powning are both technically
20th century composers, they were active during different parts
of the century, with different styles, so….

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

Here’s this week’s question:

What is one of the more common problems for a brand new oboe?

A. increased risk of getting a feather stuck in it
B. cracked top joint
C. stuck low B-flat key
D. rusty keys

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 61*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Highly Recommended
-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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 10:00 a.m. EST
Batesville, IN

“I need to take an emotional breath, step back and remind myself
who’s actually in charge of my life.”

-Judith M. Knowlton

I have yet to meet a professional musician who couldn’t benefit
from reading this quote!

Although being a “freelancer” might seem like a lifestyle full of
freedom, sometimes you can feel trapped – like you have anything
BUT choices.

Money isn’t always abundant in this profession, so there is this
feeling that we have to pounce on each and every opportunity that
comes our way. We have to play every wedding, every holiday
concert, even the week long concert series with 450 Variations on
the “Stars and Stripes Forever.” (No it’s not a real piece, but
just imagine…)

It’s not difficult to see how you might feel like your life is
out of control.

The solution is different for everybody, but it usually always
involves trying to develop some balance and perspective.

So maybe you have to take a job you’d rather not take. What can
you do to feel more in control of that decision?

Maybe it’s planning something special for yourself to do the next
day, or booking that recital date you’ve been meaning to. Or
maybe it is as simple as seeing these gigs as important stepping
stones to reaching your larger goal.

Either way, never forget that you always have choices and the
opportunity to make your life YOUR life – just the way you want
it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Highly Recommended
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Attention Reedmakers!

If you’ve ever felt a bit lost on your reedmaking journey and
just want some help getting back on the path to great reeds, the
“Nothin’ But The Truth Oboe Reed Critique” will help you get past
the obstacles that are standing in your way.

You can find out more here:

http://www.mklreeds.com/oboe-reed-critique.htm

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

If you are learning to make your own reeds and are still at
the beginning stages, don’t waste your money on expensive
cane.

Look online or call your oboe supply shop and ask them if
they have “mystery cane,” or cane they use to center their
gouging machines, for you to purchase at a significant
discount. When you are just learning the basics of how to
tie cane on and how to get control of your knife, you really
don’t need anything too special, and this can save you a lot
of money over time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Jack Burk!

The answer we were thinking of was Samuel Barber. He died while
writing his oboe concerto commissioned by the New York
Philharmonic.

Little did we know that several of you would come up with another
answer as well: Marco Aurelio Yano.

Yano did complete the entire manuscript for his concerto
(commissioned by Alex Klein in 1988), but did not complete the
orchestration before his death at age 27.

You can read about the work here:

https://www.cedillerecords.org/079.html

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

Here’s this week’s question:

Name at least 3 composers of oboe trios from 3 different musical
periods.

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 60*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-Highly Recommended?
-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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday 10:30 a.m. EST
Batesville, IN

Before we jump in, let me thank you all for the many, many kind
wishes you sent to me and Talula. I read every one and am very
grateful to have such a caring group of oboe folks! Thank you!

Okay, let’s get started…

“To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the
person you are”

- Anonymous

How often in music do we daydream about the day we will play
perfectly, or the day when we will have the perfect reed?

Do you know what you are missing when you are dreaming of those
days?

You are missing the very day you are living. This very moment.

It’s great to set goals, but don’t forget to enjoy where you are
right now! There is a lot of happiness and joy and learning in
where you are right this minute – you just have to look for it.

Your circumstances will always be changing – but you will be the
same person next year at this time, so figure out what makes you
unique now and don’t waste those things!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Highly Recommended
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What did you accomplish in your last practice session?

Was it the same thing you set out to accomplish when you started?

If not… it’s easy to fix.

By learning just a few key secrets about how to practice more
effectively, you will be able to accomplish even more on the oboe
in less time. And that will help you reach your oboe goals more
easily than ever before.

And the good news is, it only takes a few minutes of reading.

Find out more…

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

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

Know who to ask for reed help if you feel like your reed
needs scraping and you can’t do it yourself.

Your oboe teacher is always the best person to ask. Chances
are, your band director is NOT an oboist (though some
are). If your band teacher is not an oboe player, don’t
trust him/her to work on your reeds. Also, as well meaning
as your classmates may be, inexperienced knife control can
easily wreak havoc on a reed. The best policy is to only
let your oboe teacher work on your reeds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Cooper J. Wright!

Cooper submitted the trivia question chosen for this week.

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

Here’s this week’s question:

Which 20th century composer died before finishing his/her oboe
concerto?

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

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 59*****
=================================================================

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

In this issue:

-A Note from Maryn
-What’s Happening at MKL Reeds?
-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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday 10:30 a.m. EST
Batesville, IN

“I also know that when I’m trusting and being myself as fully as possible, everything in my life reflects this by falling into place easily, often miraculously.”

- Shakti Gawain

This is a meaningful quote to remember, especially as musicians.

It is so easy to NOT trust ourselves and think that everyone else is ahead or has the answers. There is so much competition, and not always a lot of affirmation from anybody about our “progress.”

Perhaps the hardest, yet most rewarding part about doing what we do is that we must learn to truly be ourselves. Anything else is false when trying to communicate through music, and the listener will figure this out, no matter how technically proficient we might be.

In music, as in life, it seems the best results come to those who are themselves.

It is a LOT easier to be someone else, and it can be a daily challenge to figure out exactly who we are, what we believe, and where we are going.

The best part is that things do fall into place in the way that is just right for each person… that’s pretty miraculous!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What’s Happening at MKL Reeds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October is absolutely beautiful in Batesville. The leaves are turning and the weather is crisp. And we’re getting into the Halloween Spirit.

OK, some folks in Batesville already have their Christmas decorations out on their yard, but we’re taking one holiday at a time.

Put some extra “spirit” in your oboe reeds with the Halloween Spooktacular Package…

But hurry, these reeds are spooked and they might just disappear into thin air!

Here’s where to get yours…

http://www.nexternal.com/mklreeds/Product41

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

Are you playing your reed or is it playing you?

A reed needs certain qualities to make a happy oboe player. Above all else, it’s got to have response and stability…

If you feel like your reeds are ever missing one or both of these qualities, you need to develop some basic knife techniques and do some scraping…

Scrape the tip to increase your response and scrape the back of the reed (but stay away from the heart) to increase the stability (after you clip it).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Patricia Mitchell!

Stravinsky never wrote a solo work for oboe…

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

Here’s this week’s question:

For this week’s trivia, send us YOUR best question and we will try to stump our readers in the next issue! Please provide the question and answer.

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