Summertime

For most, summer is a shift in the daily routine. Here at our house, my husband is winding down at school (he is a middle school band director- brave and patient!) and gigs have slowed to a current halt for me as many of the ensembles in Las Vegas are off during the summer. It is always nice to have a little break and catch up on some of the non oboe things in my life like chores, planting some flowers, and playing with our cocker spaniel, Pixie.

Of course, oboe things always sneak in. I still have my practice routine and some performances\auditions to think about as well as my private students one day a week. Out of habit\just knowing that the time will come when I will need them, I have continued my usual reed routine resulting in a bit of a (dare I even say it!!!) overabundance of reeds at the moment.

The notion of a "summer job" has even crossed my mind. We are thinking of buying a house and it would be great to have the extra cash- then the same old idea comes back to haunt me...

"WHAT IF... I opened up a reed making business???"

In theory- yes it should work. It is something that incorporates my college and graduate school training, I have plenty of supplies and now with my gouger, much more control over my final product. I am able to produce consistent reeds that I am proud of and pleased to play on... but what about other people???

I have always kind of thought that just like different oboes, there are different oboe players. When I was in San Francisco, only two of us played the same type of horn and all of us had some pretty different reed styles.

My reed criteria are as follows (and in this order)... but I know this varies from person to person.

1. stability

2. intonation

3. response

4. tone

(If some of you would like to comment with your reed criteria ranked in order of importance to YOU, I'd love to see it!)

This little venture would definitely keep the summer more busy and interesting- to say the least! I just don't know if I am ready for such a thing.

We will see.