Instrument Maintenance

Best Practices for Oboe, English horn, and their Reeds

Reed Practices
Oboe and English horn reeds will naturally change over time. Weather,
humidity, air density, and usage time are all factors that will affect the quality
of reed from the time of its completion. While many of those factors can’t be
controlled (although some can with new technological developments being
made available to instrumentalists), there are things any oboist can do to
promote the longevity of reeds (meaning they might get an extra hour or two
of playing time).

Reed Soaking
Oboe and English horn reeds should be soaked in warm or room temperature
water for no longer than two minutes. This ensures that the opening of the
reed is open enough to allow the reed to vibrate without being so open that
the player
has to tighten
their

embouchure to bring the two blades of the reed together.

It is debated how much of the reed should be submerged in water. Some say
that only the exposed and scraped cane should be soaked. Others say that all
of the cane, including the cane hidden from the eye under the thread, should

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

be submerged in water. These factors can be experimented with as students
begin their own reed making journey to find what they like better.

Another Method: (Nancy Ambrose King) Instead of leaving the reed

submerged in water for the entire soaking time, dip the reed in water and,
without shaking or taking excess water off of the reed, leave the reed to sit on
a table or other flat surface to allow the dry cane to naturally absorb the
water. This prevents issues with over-soaking, but will vary based on dryness
of the air on how fast the cane absorbs water, which can cause reeds to be
too dry.

Soaking Containers
Soaking containers vary from player to player. While reed soakers are
available for purchase, there are other solutions that can be more personal to
the player and can come from items found around a household, including:
● Prescription bottles
● Film canisters (thoroughly cleaned with dish soap and water)
● Shot glasses (glass not preferred for beginners)
● Dressing containers/condiment cups with lids (best if reusable and not
disposable)

Reed Protection
Reeds should be stored in a way that they are kept dry and safe from
breaking. There are several ways reeds can be stored, including coffins and
cases of varying sizes, shapes, and styles. Reeds should not be stored in
soaking containers (even if water has been emptied from the container) or
without protection in the oboe case. Some reed protection options include:

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 Oboe Reed Coffin Oboe Reed Case

Note for Purchased Reeds: It is very common to

receive purchased reeds (both machine made and
hand-scraped) in a tube with some fluff that protects
the tip during shipping and transport. While these are
good for the short period of time from maker to player,
they are not good long-term solutions to reed storage.
When reeds are wet after playing, they can stick to the
fluff in the container which can damage the tip. Taking
this fluff out can cause even worse damage to the tip when moving from
place to place. In addition, these containers are fairly flimsy, easily crack, and
aren’t great for long-term protection.

Note on English horn reeds: Reed cases and coffins

for oboe typically CANNOT be used for English horn
reeds. The size and proportional difference of
English horn reeds makes it difficult to fit them into
an oboe case. English horn reed cases are
available to be purchased from several sources,
and can include some slots for oboe reeds, like the
example here:

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

Humidifiers and Temperature Control
All oboes, regardless of material (wood or resin), require
consistent humidity and temperature control to ensure all
aspects of the instrument continue to work properly. Humidifiers
help to keep humidity and temperature (somewhat) controlled
in the case between uses, which prevents cracking (particularly
in wood instruments), warping, and key function issues (such as
sticky keys, dry cork and pads, etc.).

Especially in wood instruments, it is important to keep your humidifier filled. As

living things do, wood expands and contracts with heat and cold, which can
cause movements in key system alignments and function. Keeping humidity
controlled helps to prevent some of the extremes of this, especially in dry
climates.

Each humidifier can function differently, so read the instructions on how to fill,
and allow the correct amount of humidity in your case. It is especially
important to keep your humidifier filled during season changes or during air
or long-distance travel.

Swabs vs. Feathers

Swabs and feathers serve the same function: removing excess water from the
instrument and distributing water throughout the bore to ensure proper
moisture on the inside of the instrument. It also helps to eliminate lines or
streams of water that form during playing and can cause water to continually
get stuck in the same keys (this typically appears in gurgling notes, out of
tune pitches, or inability to jump the octave using the octave keys).

Feathers are best for young students (although used by some professionals).
They eliminate the problem of swabs getting stuck in the reed well, or

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anywhere else in the bore. Feathers are used by taking the instrument apart
and running the feather around all sides of the bore. Feathers need to be
replaced much more frequently, and tend to move more water than remove
excess over time.

Silk swabs are more common and typically come with the instrument. Swabs
should be used by turning the instrument upside down, and dropping the
weight at the end of the string into the bell and feeding it through the reed
well. Pull the swab as far as it can go, but no more to prevent it from getting
stuck, and then pull from the swab to pull it back out. Be aware of the string so
it doesn’t get stuck in the keys or key system of the instrument. You can also
swab individual pieces of the instrument, and the platforms of the tenons
when taken apart. For English horn, take the top joint and bocal off before
swabbing.

Swabbing an Oboe
Swabbing an English horn
Feather - Oboe

Swab Maintenance
Silk swabs will also require weekly cleaning. To clean a swab, hand wash with
mild soap (dish soap or light laundry detergent - preferably unscented) and
warm water. Once clean, hang the swab to dry. Do not use the swab again
until completely dry (24-48 hours).

Maintenance and Upkeep - Oboe & English horn

Oboe and English horn, like any woodwind instrument, require daily, weekly,
and yearly maintenance. Usage of any instrument, especially wood, requires
more maintenance because of the breathability and fluctuation of

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temperature and humidity, which causes expansion and contraction in the
wood. This leads to movement of keys, which can affect alignment. Special
care is required for any oboe or English horn to ensure that they stay in good
working condition.

Instrument Stands
Instrument stands (not to be confused with music stands) are stands for
which to set the instrument down when you are not playing for a period of
time. These stands allow the instrument to stand upright, preventing water
from entering tone holes or vents, and gives the player easy access to pick up
and start playing in rehearsal, performance, practice, etc. Some stands are
higher quality than others, but what is most important is that the stand is
stable and for the correct instrument. These stands are available for both
oboe and English horn, and can come in multi-instrument settings.

Cases and Backpacks

While oboes and English horns come with a case by the maker, some
instrumentalists opt for higher quality, backpack, double, or temperature
controlled cases. This is up to the player, their lifestyle, and budget. There are
several options for all of these different ways of transporting your
instrument(s).

Daily Maintenance
Before playing, a player should ensure that the instrument is warmed up to
the temperature of the body and space they are playing in to prevent
cracking and early warping of the bore. Holding each piece of the instrument
under an armpit is a common way of warming up the instrument to the
body’s temperature. Why body temperature? If an instrument is only warmed
up to the room, and hot air from the body enters, it will warm up too fast,

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which can cause a quick expansion of the wood, which can lead to cracking.
This is particularly important for the top joint of the instrument.

After completing a rehearsal or practice session, it is important that the

instrument is swabbed thoroughly before being put away. It is also important
to check for cracking, loose screws (don’t tighten screws unless they are
actively coming out of the instrument). It is also important to not take the
instrument through any drastic temperature changes too soon after putting it
away. The instrument is still cooling down to room temperature, so, for
example, taking it into a snow storm after rehearsal is not ideal for the
well-being and longevity of the instrument.

Yearly Maintenance
Every year, oboes and bassoons should be taken to a specialist to be
inspected, the bore oiled, and the key system readjusted. This is especially
important for beginner oboes as they go through lots of use (and potentially
abuse) by younger players as they are adjusting to playing the instrument.
This is also important for players who have purchased a new instrument, as
the instrument goes through a “breaking-in” period during the first year. Of
course, all players should consider scheduling their yearly appointment to
keep their instrument in top working condition for their needs. The less you
play, the fewer maintenance appointments you will need.

Emergency Maintenance
Unfortunately, there is sometimes a need for emergency maintenance in
cases of cracking, bent keys or rods, stuck swabs, etc. Be aware that your
specialist may not be able to get your instrument in right away, so having a
back up instrument or way to rent an instrument for a short period of time
may be in the best interest of the performer.These things happen to
performers at all stages, it is, unfortunately, the nature of the instrument.

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023