Wahey this is my first thread since re-creating an ABRSM account!

Anyway, onto business. I've been playing the oboe for almost eleven years now, and was wondering whether anyone has the problem of extremely painful cheeks after a short playing time. It never used to happen to me but now it happens all the time. At orchestra one of the other oboists and I have to sit and flex our jaws in between pieces to try and get rid of the strain - does anyone know how to get rid of this completely? We considered electronic cheek massagers, but it doesn't seem too viable a solution...

Stephie.

Don't know Stephie, but welcome to the forums anyway.

I would say that your reeds are possibly getting too soft for you - something similar happens to me if I try and play on too-soft reeds. (Or alternatively, too hard ones - but I imagine that would be more obvious to you!) You could try getting harder reeds and see if it makes a difference?

Thanks


I don't know if that's it though. I play on either Fortay reeds (purple) or, for the cheaper option, Brittania Regency reeds. I use the Regency for practice and Fortay for performance (nicer sound ). I always get medium and those are really good and responsive and I can play anything on them, so I don't know if I should change it just for the sake of my poor old cheeks Any more possibilities that won't make me change the reed strength?

If you've been playing for 11 years, medium is not that strong a reed (presuming you play regularly). I'd say you should try a MH next time. You can always scrape it down if it's too tough.

Would MH be better? Maybe I'll try that then - do you think that it is that the reeds are too soft? Thanks You'd think I would have thought of that being a long-term oboist...