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The Player

  1. Name?
  2. Email Address
  3. What kind of sound do you prefer? A more "round" or "covered" or a more focused, sound? Cleveland or Philly or somewhere in between? (Note: Don't use the term "dark". Everyone uses it and it can mean a hundred different things to a hundred different oboists. And besides, in all of my orders, I've never heard someone order a "bright, screetchy reed")
  4. Who are some of your previous teachers? Do you know their style of scraping?
  5. "Do you prefer more resistance to blow against or more free-blowing reeds?
    more resistance    more free-blowing
  6. Do you prefer larger openings or smaller openings?
    large openings    small openings   somewhere in between
  7. Do you prefer wider shapes or narrower shapes?
  8. Do you have any reedmaking experience? Would you like your reeds completely scraped to feel "broken in" or would you like them feeling "new" but adjustable later?
  9. Do you tend to take more reed in your mouth or less?
    more reed    less reed
  10. How long do you prefer your tips?
    1mm    2mm    3-4mm   Don't care. just make it work!
  11. Do you use any "lip pressure" (i.e. biting) to muscle up the reeds or do you have a very open, little contact embouchure?
  12. Do you keep a flat chin when you play? (Many players don't, and this question is very relevant to the response in the low register.)
    yes    no    not sure
  13. What kind of music do you play generally? (2nd oboe symphony, chamber music, band, etc.)
  14. Are you playing anything specific coming up? (Dvorak Cello Concerto 2nd oboe. What a pain! It needs a really stable reed in the lower register, maybe even slightly pitched up to get those Db's in pitch.)

The Instrument

  1. What model oboe do you use? Please state brand and model number. (Royals, Yamahas, Marigauxs seem to need bigger openings. AK's generally need more resistance built in. Older Lorees such as C series or B series generally need a more covered reed.)
  2. Does your oboe generally feel sharper, flatter, or the same as other oboes you've tried? (Royals tend to be flatter, older Lorees tend to be sharper, etc.)
    sharper    flatter    the same
  3. Is your instrument a bit blown out? Are there certain notes that stick out more than others? (Common symptoms of blow out include unfocused middle C's and Bs, unevenness in the top register, etc.)
  4. Is your instrument sealing well?
    yes    no
  5. Does your oboe have any other oddities that might not make a lot of difference to you, but the reedmaker could cater to?

The Player's Surrounding

  1. What location do you live in? What is the general weather going to be in the upcoming month?
  2. What is the humidity there?
  3. How high is the altitude there? What is the difference between the reedmaker's altitude and your altitude?

Other thoughts?

Other (comments)