Hi everyone

Problems, problems - my daughter - who is to take her grade 4 in about 7 weeks (another story and another problem), has suddenly developed a flat E on her oboe. What do you all think? Is it her? Is it her reed? Or is it her oboe?

Why would she suddenly become flat on one note? She has had problems with her reeds and I am waiting for one to arrive. I am just hoping that it isn't her oboe, because she can't really afford to be without it at the moment, if I have to take it to the repairers.

Any ideas?

Thanks, from a mum who is getting a bit tired of all the exams/music/reeds/problems!!!

Well I'm probably not the best person to take advise from; My teacher takes care of any problems with my oboe but when my B was very flat before my grade two we discovered it was because one of the screws was coming loose. Could it be somthing like that? I had to carry a screw driver with me to tighten the screw when it came loose. I got some very odd looks
But like I said don't take my advice to seriously.

On the oboe, it's quite common!

For your daughter's birthday (or sooner) please buy a wonderful little book called 'A method for adjusting the Oboe and English Horn' by Carl J. Sawicki.

It probably has to be ordered from the USA, but isn't too expensive - especially considering the amount of money it saves you.

In the meantime, do the following:

Draw a quick sketch of the F, E and D keys on the lower joint and the adjustment screws.
Get a set of those tiny screwdrivers that cost almost nothing.
Very methodically, get your daughter to play D-Eb-E-F-F# over and over again, listening carefully to the E and paying attention to how the keys feel.
Turn the adjustment screw closest to the E key 45' clockwise. Mark this on your sketch - so you don't forget.
Repeat D-Eb-...etc Basically see if there's a difference.
Rotate it back, then further so it's 45' anticlockwise.
Repeat. Try 90' each way.
Try the adjustment screw next to it.
As long as you don't get confused over which screw you've turned, and by how much, you won't do any harm. In fact, it's impossible to do any real harm! A woodwind repairer will put it right in seconds.

N.B. Don't be tempted to turn them too much. Even less than 45' can make a huge difference!

All those small screws look terrifying at first, but in fact they're life savers. They allow the oboe to be adjusted far more easily than a clarinet.

Steve

Please be very careful if you set about trying to adjust your daughter's oboe for her, especially at a time when she needs it badly for her exam preparations. It is very easy to alter one screw and then find something else won't work and, before you know it, the whole instrument is unplayable.

Yes, it is possible to maintain your own instrument (and Stevensfo has shown how) but I beg to differ with him about the potential to make trouble. A young pupil of mine's father decided to "adjust" her oboe for her last weekend and it took our local, highly skilled, repair man almost an hour to sort it out.

Personally, I'd bet it's probably a reed problem and I'd try a new reed before you try fiddling with the oboe. If the reed doesn't sort it, take it to the mender now. It's probably something really easy that could be sorted quickly, maybe whilst you wait. BTW, your daughter should always have at least two working, useable reeds in her reed case - an absolute essential if she's taking an exam.

Final thought, what's her teacher's view on the flat E?

Best of luck in getting it sorted and for her exam.

Whoops - I didn't read the bit about the exam preps! In that case, Oboist is quite right. Best be careful.

In the book I mentioned, the function of each adjustment screw is explained, though more importantly, which are the most important screws and the key - or groups of keys - that they affect. You're taken through a simple process where you test that each pad is closing correctly and which way to turn the screw if an adjustment is required.

It took me about one hour to go through the instructions and I was left with a vastly improved oboe! It does however assume that the pads are all sealing correctly, but that's usually pretty obvious.

Something for you to try on a rainy day, but perhaps....after the exams!

Steve

I guess the first bit about exams just didn't register and I went straight to the problem with the flat E. Agreed, with the exams looming, it's not a good idea for a crash course in oboe repair!

I noticed that Undercoat (Can we call you Dulux for short? ) is waiting for a reed. Interestingly, most of the adjustments don't require a reed. You use a 'feeler' - usually a piece of cassette tape - which you place under the pad and pull out when the key is closed thus feeling how tight it is.

Though of course, having a reed does help in the end. Especially for exams!

Steve

Thanks for all the replies - I would ask her oboe teacher - but I am not sure who he is(!), if you have read my previous posts you might understand this!! I was a bit stressed last night over the flat E, as you may have guessed, the exam is getting me down a bit - she still only knows 2 of her pieces and the exam is 7 weeks away (eeeek), but she is a bright girl and although she probably won't get a distinction (or Honours as it is Guildhall), so long as she passes, I am happy.

I will wait for the new reed to come - it is coming from Torda reeds, so I hope it is good and if it is, I plan to order 2 more for her before the exam. Otherwise I think I will go to the repairers and ask them to be quick with it.

You could call me dulux, but my tin of undercoat is the cheap stuff from Wickes . . .

I think undercoat's waiting for the reed to check if that is what is causing the problem....