Yesterday I was listening to a recording of some organ music of all things (my husband plays the pipe organ) and I started thinking about all of the things that I really love about music and the oboe.

I love playing with friends. I love the bond that happens between all of us as we create together. It’s hardly work.

As I thought about each of the things that draw me to music, it suddenly occurred to me that the things I was listing were the things that I do well – things that just come naturally to me. Things that I don’t have to really work at, I just enjoy them.

One of the biggest challenges with learning is that most all of us are raised to concentrate on improving our weaknesses instead of developing our strengths. Most schools teach you that. Most people believe that is the way to succeed.

And each one of those people mean well. I’m sure that they do want to see us succeed.

But in life, it’s my experience that focusing on your weaknesses isn’t the path to enjoyment and not the way to get where you want to go.

You are a unique oboe player. You do certain things better than most other oboe players. Other players can do certain things better than you.

That’s life.

Life is not about competition, it’s about communication. It’s about enjoying the journey, not getting to a particular destination.

What are your strengths on the oboe and how can you enjoy them and develop them into even bigger strengths?

When my husband and I sat down the other month to discuss the future of MKL Reeds, we both had the feeling inside that something needed to change.

You know when you just have that feeling inside you but you just can’t put your finger on it? As a musician, you are probably more in tune (no pun intended) with noticing that feeling than most people.

Well, that’s where we were.

And then the solution became clear. We had to think bigger, much bigger…

Of course, we love helping all of you with oboe reeds.

Just the other day, my husband was on the phone with a client who has been purchasing reeds from us for a few months now. She called to thank us for giving her back the freedom to just sit down and play the oboe – something she hasn’t been able to do for quite some time. She said it almost made her cry…

I am not telling you this to brag. But I am telling you this to help you understand why we do what we do. The reason we do this work is for clients like this – to connect with someone on an emotional level.

That’s what musicians do right?

We do this work to help people.

But now, instead of just helping you with oboe reeds, we are expanding our vision to help you become a happier oboe player.

And that means a lot of different things to a lot of different players.

One of the things we are doing to make our vision real is to publish a new newsletter focused on helping you achieve whatever Oboe Success means to you.

Actually, that’s what we call it, Oboe Success Tips.

It is a special free gift reserved exclusively for our Reed Report subscribers.

If you are already a Reed Report subscriber, you automatically qualify. If not, sign-up and help us help you to become an even happier oboe player than you are already.

Most of you know that, a few weeks ago, my family made a change and moved from the big city of Chicago to the little town of Batesville Indiana.

The city of Chicago is beautiful, and Batesville is even more beautiful, in a different way.

Right now, as the leaves are changing and the air is turning crisp, it is hard to ignore all of the inspiring things that are staring right me.

The next time you are feeling “uninspired” with your music, just take a moment and focus on some part of nature. Something that “just works.” Something that is perfect just the way it is.

Let nature inspire your music so your music can inspire others.

Here are just a few examples of the inspiration I found just down the street from my home this past weekend:

If you aren’t planning to learn reedmaking now or anytime in the near future, the best thing you can do is learn how to scrape the reeds that you do buy.

To do that, you’ve got to know the parts of a reed.

Here’s a very simple diagram that will make it clear if you are just starting out.

Get the Oboe Reed Diagram

Feel free to pass it on to anyone that can use it

For the advanced players, just having a simple chart like this where you can put a big red X over the areas you need to keep your knife away from can be a good reminder.

I’ve solved many a reed problem by just remembering the basics.

Each month, we pick one new Reed Report subscriber to win 2 free oboe reeds of their choice.

September’s winner is Anne Sandham!

Congratulations Anne! You’ve got 2 free oboe reeds coming your way, with our compliments.

Welcome to the Reed Report!

If you haven’t signed up for your free subscription to the Reed Report, you can do it by clicking the link below:

Sign Me Up!

The dust is finally settling from the big launch of the Reedmaker’s Network.

And as the haze begins to clear, I realize that I may have hopelessly confused you all.

Let me apologize…

In all of my excitement, I’m afraid I didn’t make things as clear as they should be. And I can’t really expect you to make a good decision about whether or not the Reedmakers Network is right for you IF things aren’t crystal clear.

So here goes…

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Reedmakers Network. And I know that if one person has a question, there are probably a hundred others who have the same question.

So let’s jump in:

1. What EXACTLY is the Reedmakers Network? What’s the point?

The goal of the Reedmakers Network is this:

To help you remove reeds as an obstacle to you becoming the best oboe player you can and want to be… no matter what level you are at today.

So that can mean a lot of things, but in a nutshell, it means that I want to help you improve your reedmaking/reed adjusting skills.

If you have never made reeds, then learning how will be the goal for you.

If you already have beginning skills, but want to get A LOT better, that will be the goal for you.

If you never want to make reeds, then giving you the basic skills you need to tweak the reeds you buy will be the goal for you.

And if you are already a pro, then the goal will be to help you make better reeds, more consistently… and to give you help and support when things don’t go so smoothly.

2. What EXACTLY is included when I sign up?

Here’s where I realize that I REALLY wasn’t clear. Reedmaking is a very individualized art. To make progress, you NEED personal attention. So it is hard to tell you exactly how things will work, because it will depend on exactly where you are starting.

But let me try anyway…

There are really two parts to the Reedmakers Network: the reedmaking help and the supplies/books that you will need.

Now the whole thing begins with you filling out a detailed survey about your oboe goals and your current skills.

You get that soon after you sign-up.

That’s so I can personalize the program for YOU, to give you the most bang for your buck.

The reedmaking help (which is suited to your current level of skill) is delivered via online videos, telephone calls and through the mail via reed critiques… plus there is a forum for everyone to get together and learn from each other.

The supplies and books are yours to purchase separately, but your membership will qualify you for big discounts on all of them… including the reed tools you might need to get started.

3. What happens if I don’t sign-up but I STILL want to buy your reeds?

To be quite frank, absolutely nothing… I will still provide you with the absolute best oboe reeds I can, whether or not you become a member of the Reedmakers Network.

Now, if there are ANY questions that you still have, that I STILL haven’t answered, let me apologize… (again)

I am still excited about all of this for you.

Please just let me know what questions you have and I will answer each and every one.

Just send your questions to info@mklreeds.com.

The BIG day is finally here… and we’ve got an exciting announcement to make at MKL Reeds.

Get the details now!

http://www.mklreeds.com/reedmaking.htm

I am often asked what my number one piece of advice is for an oboist who is really interested in making more progress in less time.

My answer is always “Practice.”

But over the years, I’ve realized that the word practice can mean a lot of different things, depending on who exactly you are talking to. There is good practicing and there is bad practicing. By bad practicing, I mean the kind where you put in the time, but you don’t really get anywhere.

So by just telling them to “practice,” I was really giving them only half of the answer.

Let me explain…

Have you ever had one of those practice sessions where everything just seems to go “right?”

You have good reeds, are excited to play and come out at the end feeling like you really accomplished something?

There is no better feeling than that.

I don’t believe practice sessions like that need to happen once in a blue moon. And I don’t even think it is luck that they do happen.

I really believe that super productive practice sessions are the product of only two things:

1. Setting Goals
2. Having a Plan

And you can do both each and every time you sit down to practice the oboe.

By setting concrete goals and creating a plan to reach them, you will learn more in less time and have a lot more fun along the way.

My practice guide, “Does Practice Make Perfect” walks you through every step for getting the most out of your practice. And if you follow the path it outlines, you will get more done in less time, with less frustration. I know it works because I’ve been testing and tweaking it for the past 10 years.

You can pick up a copy at the link below:

http://mklreeds.com/practice.htm

We’re only about 18 days away from our big announcement at MKL Reeds.

If you are reading this blog and haven’t signed up for our newsletter, The Reed Report, you are going to miss out.

Before you play another note on your oboe, go and get your free subscription. You’ll get some free gifts and goodies, and it will only take a minute.

You can signup here:

Sign-Up For The Reed Report

If you already get The Reed Report but you haven’t updated your contact info yet, then you need to visit the address below and take care of that.

The reason for the update is that I want to make sure you get the right information sent to you on the day we make the big announcement…

The directions are simple:

1. Visit the web address below and fill out the short form.
2. Hit the “Put Me On The List!” button and you’re done.

By filling out the form, you’ll guarantee your spot on our VIP Announcement List when the big day (September 12) rolls around.

Everyone NOT on the list will have to wait for a bit.

Here is the link:

Update My Information

It should take you less than a minute to complete.

Whew… housekeeping tires me out!