Oboe Studio at Northern Arizona University

Rebecca Kemper Scarnati, Professor of Oboe

Oboe at Summer Music Camp

Summer Music Camp 2008 Oboe Master Class

Master Classes Master class meets everyday at camp. In master classes we:   work on technical oboe problems (breathing, tonguing, fingerings, etc) fix reeds and instruments learn how to adjust oboes Work on oboe ensembles Study of pieces being played in major performing ensembles

Reed Classes

Reed Making class meets everyday of camp. Students work on reed making skills from beginning to advanced work. Beginning students learn to wrap and scrape reeds while advanced students learn to finish reeds. When students have developed basic reed making skills. Oboe students need the following equipment for reed making classes: 

• Double hollow ground knife (like MCW deluxe razor knife or Landwell knife soft or medium steel)
• Oboe mandrel Flat plaque (not convex! Blue steel is fine)
• Cutting block
• Spool of FF thread (or EE)
• Bees wax
• 6 inch/metric ruler (we measure everything in millimeters
• 6-12 oboe 47mm tubes that fit the mandrel
• 6-8 pieces of 10-10.5 mm diameter cane gouged and shaped (preferably with a Mack or similar shape)
• Optional: very fine sharpening stone like an Arkansas hard stone, ceramic stone, diamond stone  

This equipment maybe found at any oboe supply shop on line. For example Mark Chudnow Woodwinds sells a First Oboe Reed Kit that contains most of this equipment as does Weber Reeds. Just be sure that the knife that comes with the kit is double hollow ground. Contact the oboe professor if you are at all unsure. Check Links for more oboe supply shops.