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We are now located in Palm Springs, CA. Hot and dry but at sea level. Some of the reed adjustments might be a little different now that I'm not adjusting from 5000 feet elevation to your elevations. Should be a little easier! If you need any advice about adjusting reeds with regard to elevation extremes, just drop me an email. It isn't complicated but there are some things you might want to know.

Another thing: Palm Springs has THE best weather in the country during the winter months. If you ever want to spend some time here and want to learn how to make reeds when you aren't hiking or lounging by the pool, please let me know! Los Angeles is only a couple hours away by car as well. Plenty to do there! Reed seminars are now in the making and I'll let you know when they might take place.

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Do you know that there are two basic styles of American oboe reeds? Question is, is it an oboe reed style or an embouchure style? Kind of a 'chicken or the egg' thing.

The two styles of reeds can be categorized, at least in part, as to where the reed is crowed. For those of you who don't know what the "crow" might be, that is the term we use to check the vibration of the reed we are playing or making.

Many of you may already know all about this, but to me, it is a relatively new way to look at it. Do you crow the oboe reed near the bottom of the thread, with a very passive embouchure, or do you crow it at the bottom of the scrape at the top of the thread, with more of a normal embouchure (slightly looser)? Both kinds of crowing should be a double octave C but where and how the crow is executed seems to reflect an embouchure style. The two styles of reeds/embouchures are NOT compatible with each other, by and large.

The next blog entry will talk about oboe embouchure styles as they relate to the placement of the crow. Meanwhile, you can experiment with it. Knowing what kind of crow you do and being able to execute both (to distinguish one from the other) may help you determine what kind of reed will work best for you, may help you in your reed making and reed adjusting, and may also help you with your students. If you have any thoughts about this topic yourself, please feel free to email me.

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Hi everybody and welcome to Meg's blog, a day in the life of a reed maker. Today's entry is simply to wish you all happy holidays.

May the New Year bring much Peace, Love, growth, great health, and prosperity. I also wish you patience, flexibility, and open mindedness in whatever challenges and adventures you may face this year!

Generally this blog will be covering matters dealing with reeds, adjusting them, styles, whatever. Thrown in from time to time will be some thoughts, ideas, and experiences regarding teaching the oboe. You are welcome to share with me some ideas as well! Just email me. I love the discourse!

Thanks for stopping by and once again, Happy Holidays!