From:
Maryn Leister
Owner, MKL Reeds
Batesville, Indiana
Monday, 11:35 p.m.


Dear Oboe Player and Friend,

Have you listened to your heart lately?

Our recent move to the "country" (Batesville, IN) has prompted some soul searching for me. And one of the most exciting things I have discovered about my life includes a much bigger and brighter future for MKL Reeds.

And I want to share that vision with you now.

After years of trying every way possible to make our reeds the best and most reliable ones you can buy anywhere, at any price, I have come to a very important conclusion:

I don't want you to have to buy reeds anymore.

Here's why:

I think our reeds are great. Our customers think so too. But the real truth (that you probably won't hear too often) is that there is no true reliability or consistency in commercial oboe reeds... at least not enough to have you raving with each and every new reed you order.

And here's the problem... That "raving" level of satisfaction is what I want to provide, each and every time you do business with me and my company. In a nutshell, I want more for you than you can currently get anywhere on this planet when it comes to oboe reeds.

I have written every book and manual for you with the most honest intentions. I have answered (and will continue to answer) your questions with what I really believe about how best to help you improve your oboe playing.

From the constant flow of reed tips to the beginning reed making manual, I have tried to make it clear that I truly believe that if you play the oboe, no matter what your level, you owe it to yourself to learn reedmaking.

So while my beliefs haven't changed, my level of responsibility for your oboe future has. I want to set you free from ever having to buy oboe reeds again - if you choose.

This is the honest to goodness truth from someone that sells reeds for a living. There is little future for you as a reed buying customer. You will waste time and waste money over the long term. Of course, you will get reeds that really work for you now and again, and ordering reeds from me will give you a higher percentage of "winners" than probably anywhere else. But the nature of reedmaking is such that there is no way to give you a completely consistent reed, each and every time.

And believe me, I've tried. I've tried with the creation of the Reed Profile system, which helps us match a reed to your exact needs. And I've tried by completely guaranteeing every single reed that leaves our office.

But I am still not happy.

Because I know what is in your best long term interest as an oboe player. And frankly, it is not to buy oboe reeds. It is to make them yourself, or at least learn how to tweak the ones you do buy to your exact needs.

Now Rome wasn't built in a day, and I want you to know that I am dedicated to helping you and teaching you and walking with you as you make the most of your oboe playing life, whatever that means for you.

And the way I can help you best is providing you with the tools, support and guidance that you need (or that your students need) to be released from "reed-buyer prison" once and for all.

So there are going to be a lot of changes at MKL Reeds. Some of them will be drastic and some of them will happen over time. But all of them will be deliberately made with your best interest in mind.

So how exactly will this affect you?

MKL Reeds will be transforming from an oboe reed company into a learning company that will help you use reedmaking to improve your oboe life. You will have someone that has been exactly where you are take you through everything you need to know to move you forward on your reedmaking "journey" - at your own pace, no matter where you stand today.

You will have community support, support from other professional oboists, ways to track your progress - all in a way you can understand and complete at your own pace. And I'll try to make it enjoyable along the way, because reedmaking really is an art like any other.

And art shouldn't be a chore, but a way to make your life (your oboe life, in this case) more rewarding and fulfilling.

And please don't worry. We will still have reeds available.

So yes, you can still buy reeds.

So if you want to learn slowly, take a break and just play or have some backup reeds in your case for your upcoming performance, we'll still have excellent reeds for you.

The exact same reeds, guaranteed from the minute they leave our office until you open them up, play them and say "Wow!"

Of course, now you know I'd rather you not buy them, but I understand that there are many levels and steps to learning and improving, no matter what your craft. And I will meet you wherever you are.

So I want to know you and exactly where you're at. I want to know you here at MKL Reeds as a whole lot more than a name, an order number and an email address. Our goal is to have a real oboe relationship with each and every one of you so that we can make this oboe reed dream a reality in whatever capacity you are ready for.

My teacher used to say, "Only brave people play the oboe," and now I know why.

You have already proven your dedication and commitment to buying reeds, and now I want to invite you to take part in our Reedmaking Revolution. Because the perfect oboe reed is the one you make yourself.

I have no doubt that you can do it!

So if you are ready to take the first step and see what this new journey is all about, just click below to move on...