MKL Reeds

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 47*****
=================================================================

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you had a great fourth of July celebration. My family
sat around eating hot dogs and hamburgers and helping my little
dog Emma through the festivities.

Number one on her list of “doggie nightmares” is the fourth of
July fireworks. She prefers to spend the whole night hiding and
shivering under the couch.

No matter what you did yesterday, I hope you had a fun (and
relaxing) holiday.

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

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

Order the MKL Reeds Summer Fun Package and put a little fun into
your summer oboe practice.

Each kit includes:

-2 Oboe Reeds (Regular or Professional)
-1 “Sweet Treat” to enjoy during a practice break (don’t forget
to brush your teeth
-Get everything packed up in a fun tropical summer bag

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.

Order today!

http://www.nexternal.com/mklreeds/Product36

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

Keep your reeds safe during breaks in rehearsals and
intermissions at performances by always putting them in your
reed case when you go off stage.

Leaving them on your stand or soaking in water can lead to
accidental crushing or chipping, so take the time to put
them away before you go have your snack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Grace
DeRose-Wilson!

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

Here’s this week’s question:

Which is better, a feather or a swab? WHY? (There’s not a RIGHT
answer here, what we’re looking for is a CONVINCING 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

P.S. If you don’t know how to make oboe reeds yet, your oboe
reeds are probably holding you back from reaching your full oboe
potential. Just getting the most basic reedmaking skills under
your belt will help you extend the life of your oboe reeds and
give you the control to tweak them to your exact needs.

If you knew that learning basic reed making techniques would help
take your oboe playing to a new level, when do you think would be
the best time to start learning?

Get the details about “The Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First
Playing Oboe Reed… In 9 Days or Less” below…

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

Continue Reading

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 46*****
=================================================================

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you believe it’s almost July?

The fall is coming so quickly and we will be celebrating New
Year’s before you know it.

My daughter Amelia is almost 4, my son Egan is on his way to 2
(we haven’t even cut his hair yet and we have one more on the
way in November…

When it really comes down to it, the most valuable resource on
earth isn’t gold, silver or anything else like that. It’s time.

Time to do what you want to do and achieve what you want to
achieve.

Try this. At your next practice session, don’t just plan it by
making a list of goals… SCRIPT IT by making a plan for each
minute.

When Hollywood gets together and creates a movie, they don’t
begin shooting when the outline is done. They shoot when
everyone knows the SCRIPT – the exact words everyone will say at
precise times. Not too much (except some room for the actors to
be creative) is left to chance.

And would you believe it… when shooting is done, they actually
get through the whole script? You never hear Hollywood execs say
something like, “Well, time just got away from us… We just
didn’t have time to shoot the ending. Hope you like the movie
anyway.”

It isn’t a coincidence that they get done, it’s just good
planning.

Setting goals for a practice session is good, but it is just the
beginning. Create your own practice session “script” so that
each minute you spend on the oboe is accounted for and
contributes to moving you closer to what you want to achieve.

That way, interruptions won’t derail you. You won’t have time
for interruptions because every moment of your practice time will
be accounted for and given a distinct purpose, before you even
get started.

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

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

We’re having a mini-sale on 10 of our new manuals: “The
Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Playing Oboe Reed… In 9
Days or Less.”

Why?

Our local printer made a mistake.

Generally, we are really happy with our printer. They do a good
job and they are pretty fast.

But when we got our latest job back from them, we realized there
was a problem… A bit of a miscommunication…

Actually, it was our fault for not checking the order before we
left the store, but… we’ll just keep that between us.

10 of the manuals in the batch came back without a front or back
cover. The usual is cardstock cover with a clear vinyl coating
and black vinyl for the back. On ten of them, it just didn’t
happen.

We can’t sell them for full price so here is what we are going to
do:

Order one of our “misfit” reed making manuals (ALL of the content
is there, intact and in order, it’s just the cover that is
missing) and choose option 2 (the Independent Learner, $97.00)
and we will upgrade your order to Option 1, the Whole Kit and
Kaboodle (a value of $167.00.)

In a nutshell, you pay $97.00 and we will throw in:

1. Unlimited access to me via email for 60 days for all of your
reed making questions.
2. One FREE reed critique. You send me a reed or two and you
will get a complete report about the reed with a list of things
you can do to improve it.

“The Whole Kit and Kaboodle” retails for $167.00, but you’ll get
a free upgrade when you purchase one of the “misfit” manuals for
$97.00.

Just write “MISIFIT MANUAL” in the order comments when you order.

Like I said, we’ve got 10 of them.

You can get the details below…

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

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

Put the lip balm on after your practice session, and not
before.

If you use it before, you’ll soon begin to see waxy
buildup on your reed near the string. There may also be
some on the inside of the reed, which you won’t be able
to see. This will surely begin clogging the air that needs
to go through the reed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Dani Pennell!

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

Here’s this week’s question. It’s a bit more advanced:

What are harmonics on the oboe? Give an example of one fingering.

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. You can still get a Reed Maker’s Manual WITH a cover if you
want at regular price. We do have them. Just write “REGULAR
MANUAL” in the order comments so we make sure to send you what
you want.

Continue Reading

=================================================================
*****The Reed Report: Issue 45*****
=================================================================

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We’re back up to 90 degrees today in Chicago. Luckily, there is
a nice breeze blowing – but 90 degrees is 90 degrees. It’s just
hot!

The problems really start about 4 o’clock in the afternoon when
the sun begins pouring through the front windows and the whole
place basically becomes an oven… and we’re the ones who get
cooked.

Do you have your summer oboe plan set yet? You know, your list
of things you want to work on and achieve by the time Labor Day
rolls around?

Your summer oboe goals don’t have to be many, or even very big,
but it is important that you have them.

After all, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will
get you there.

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

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

We have the world’s BEST mailman at MKL Reeds. His name is Pete.

Rather than us having to make a ton of trips to the post office,
he just picks up all of our mail everyday. That means he lugs
our bags of reeds around with him as he goes through the
neighborhood. The bags are heavy and we feel bad for the guy.

We constantly apologize and tell him that if things get out of
hand, he can tell us to stop and we’ll stand in line like
everybody else at the post office.

You know what he says?

“It’s no problem. The more you send, the better the chances that
I will have a job next year. And I love my job.”

We’re not kidding. That is really what he says… and he shows
it everyday.

He is the happiest mailman we have EVER met. Almost like
something straight out of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood… (yes, we
know it shows our age to mention this show

So, to help Pete’s job security, here’s what we’re gonna do:

FREE STANDARD SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $45.00!

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

Order through Tuesday, June 20 at 11:59 PM and you won’t pay for
STANDARD (USPS) SHIPPING if your order is over $45.00.

(If you choose another shipping method, $9.95 will be deducted
at checkout.)

Follow the directions below to receive a $9.95 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: helppete
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 Tip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ALL REEDS ARE NOT created equal.

Sometimes you’ll use the same cane, shape and gouge and get
completely different results. It’s the same story when you
are ordering reeds. No two are exactly the same.

Remember that handmade oboe reeds are LIVING creatures, and
are affected by moisture, humidity, temperature, altitude
and other things we don’t yet understand.

Go with the flow, learn what you can and make the best of
the situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Olivia Richards!

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

Here’s this week’s question:

Name 3 major oboe manufacturers and the locations of their
corporate headquarters.

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 44*****
=================================================================

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to know 2 secrets to being a successful oboe player?

1. Knowing what success means to you.

Oboe success might mean winning the audition for principal oboe
of the New York Philharmonic, or it might mean just getting
through this year’s Easter Cantata at church. Either way, never
forget that success is not an objective thing. Only you can
define exactly what it means for you.

2. Just keep going, and smell the roses along the way.

You only fail if you stop trying. Playing the oboe is not just
about reaching a certain goal or winning this or that audition or
competition.

It is the journey that is meant to be enjoyed.

Of course you will have good days and bad days, but both kinds
are equally important to your oboe journey. The good days help
you appreciate just what a wonderful instrument the oboe really
is. And the bad days keep you humble and serve as a reminder
that it is during the hardest days that you grow the most.

So don’t forget, oboe success isn’t something you achieve, it is
something you grant to yourself. It is within everyone’s reach.

Now let’s get to the good stuff…

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

Learn how you can get a free reed.

(Keep reading…)

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 way
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.

Plus…

Order now through Thursday night at 11:59 PM CST…

And we’ll throw in a FREE handmade oboe reed!

That’s an extra $25.00 value just for ordering before Thursday
night.

To get your free oboe reed, just write “Send Me a Reed” in the
order comments when you order.

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

And remember, this offer expires at midnight on Thursday.

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

If you forget a reed is soaking in water and leave it there
for a really long time, don’t worry, the damage isn’t
permanent. Reeds can’t drown.

Allow the reed to sit a few days and dry out completely
before playing it, and it should be fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Graham Mackenzie!

Graham correctly identified the “Big 5″ U.S. Symphony Orchestras
and the current principal oboe players of each.

Here they are:

1) Philadelphia Orchestra – Richard Woodhams
2) Boston Symphony – John Ferrillo
3) Chicago Symphony – Eugene Izotov
4) Cleveland Orchestra – Frank Rosenwein
5) New York Philharmonic – Sherry Sylar

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

This week’s question is just a bit different. Actually there is
no right answer… there is only YOUR answer. But the deal is
the same… Send an answer and get entered into the drawing.

Here’s this week’s question:

What is your number one MOST annoying oboe reed problem, that, if
it were solved tomorrow, would make your oboe life immensely more
enjoyable?

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 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

=================================================================
*****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

===========================================
*****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