Achieve intense musical expression
How to Train your Oboe Reed is a 4-week online group coaching program for oboists. Advance your knowledge, skill and experience in oboe reed making.
Next Workshop starts in Fall of 2020. Join the waiting list:
Are you tired of …
- worrying if your reeds will last?
- having to choose between easy and beautiful?
- being afraid to scrape more?
- scraping too much and ruining a reed?
- tearing off corners?
- not knowing what to do next to improve your reeds?
- paying ever higher prices for finished reeds that don’t fit your needs anyway?
- feeling anxious about your reeds?
then enroll now!
Imagine…
- Feeling motivated and confident in your reed making
- Getting answers to your reed making questions
- Knowing where to scrape next and how
- Serving your unique artistry with the right materials and measurements
- Having more time and emotional energy to spend playing the oboe!
Learn How to Train your Oboe Reed
JK Reed Making
I’m Jeanine Krause. Welcome to my studio and to this new way of learning reed making. I’ve been preparing for several years to offer this four week “How to Train Your Oboe Reed” program. My students, colleagues and I were skeptical about learning reed making online but with the help of some brilliant and very easy to use technology, we quickly came to love the flexibility. You can learn whenever you want. You can connect with oboe reed makers all over the world looking for solutions to the same problems. You can watch skill demonstrations over and over until you get it. And there is no danger I will take your reed and fix it for you. With guidance, you develop the skill to do it yourself!
I am passionate about reed making and I want your skills to keep up with the demands of your musicality. I want you to look forward to sitting at your reed desk. I want you to make reeds that allow you to achieve your own unique musical expression.
Over four weeks, you will develop your handiwork, monitor your mindset, trust your own experience and fill your reed boxes.
With my support and that of the of the community, you will approach your regular reed making sessions with curiosity, motivation and enthusiasm.
I know what it is like to suffer from Reed Anxiety. You make reeds but you know you could do better. Sometimes you don’t know what will improve your reeds and even when you think something might work, you don’t always follow through. This could be because you lack time, courage, skill or materials. You want clarity and confidence and you want to have a reliable and constant supply of fantastic reeds.
Once you have trained your oboe reeds you will …
- be free to express yourself
- have greater flexibility for chamber music, orchestral playing or solo work
- positively influence the sound and function of your reed
- save money
- wrap reeds that seal securely at the sides
- find the correct balance of flexibility and stability
- know where to scrape and how much cane to remove
- manage your time to accommodate both reed making AND practicing
- play reeds that are easy AND sound beautiful
- have a box full of playable reeds
- enjoy an intimate connection to your oboe
Say goodbye to Reed Anxiety!
Are you ready to make fantastic reeds? Reserve a spot in the next workshop.
“It is very worthwhile to get all the information and assistance you need. Jeanine is very patient and explains it three or four times until you can do it. The atmosphere is friendly and benevolent.”
Birgit Gaudron
passionate amateur Oboist
Here’s how it works
How to Train your Oboe Reed: Knowledge, skills and experience in oboe reed making
An 4-week online workshop
Opens Fall 2020
In this course, the focus is above all on a sensible, reliable construction of excellent reeds blanks, beginning with shaped cane and the subsequent scraping to a finished reed.
You need a computer, laptop or a mobile device with a camera, microphone and speakers as well as a stable internet connection. After you register, you will receive an email with instructions (access to Zoom and the private, online community) and a checklist of materials and tools that you will need for the workshop. Basic equipment is sufficient: knife, plaque, cutting block, mandrel, yarn, ruler or calipers, old reeds. You may purchase get shaped cane and staple in in advance, but only if you already know exactly what you need. *
At the beginning of “How to Train your Oboe Reed”, you will visualize your ideal oboe reed and set goals and strategies with which you can carry out your individual and daily tasks clearly and easily.
You will work at your own pace. Every week we will analyze new facets of reed construction, advancing your knowledge and skill. You will continuously make reeds at the pace and in the number of your choice.
You will commit to your own goals and receive reminders and support so that you are inspired and motivated to achieve them.
You will advance your reed Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge
- Your ideal concept of sound
- Your ideal feeling while playing
- Reed anatomy
- Cane characteristics
- Skills
- Get organized
- Increase your rate of success
- Knives, sharpening and knife skills
- Super-sealed reeds. NO MORE LEAKS
- Making reeds in batches
- Fine adjustments and basic corrections
What you get
- After you have enrolled, you’ll get an email with instructions and a checklist of materials and tools that you need for the workshop. * (Basic equipment: knife, plaque, cutting block, mandrel, thread, ruler or slide gauge, old reeds)
- Access to a closed and private learning group
- 4 modules with 3-5 lessons / tasks each. The modules will be opened live via Zoom Conferencing (Zoom Reed Room) on Mondays.
- additional resources (PDFs, videos, drawings, checklists)
- A live Zoom Reed Room Q&A with Jeanine every Thursday
- Recordings of all live sessions are available to be viewed as replays at your leisure
- Certificate upon completion of the course
Overview of the modules
Reed Taming Week 1: Fundamentals of great reeds Part I
In this week you’ll get organized and find or order all necessary tools and materials.* You’ll set up your reed book (journal or notebook) with collections so that you always have all measurements and notes ready. You’ll set your own personal reed making goals, including the individual steps that will take you there. You’ll learn and/or practice the necessary skills and build a first series of reed blanks.
Lessons / tasks:
- Preparations: Finding or ordering the necessary tools and materials.
- Organisation: create or continue a notebook or journal with “collections” to keep track of your goals and your progress
- Reed Anatomy Part 1: Establishing a working basis of if/then (if I scrape here, then this happens, etc)
- Create one series (batch) of reed blanks
* If you do not know what you need, I will help you with the search and even with your order.
Reed Taming Week 2: Fundamentals of great reeds Part 2
The second session is mainly about practicing skills by repeating the motions over and over again. You will become more and more nuanced both in your handiwork and in your understanding of the cane and how to use it.
Lessons / tasks
- Arundo donax (reed cane) from the field to the concert hall
- Reed Anatomy Part 2: cane diameter, staples, shapes, “blade slipping” etc.
- Progression of reed making (day 1 reeds, day 2 reeds, etc)
- Staying organized: Logging and tracking your reeds and batches
Reed Taming Week 3: KNIVES!
The third week is dedicated to KNIVES! You will understand your knife and its properties, you will sharpen it and learn different scraping techniques. The goal here is NOT to build a reed, but that will be the result! (You will continue to work on your reed batches.)
Lessons / tasks
- Knives and sharpening utensils
- Knife sharpening
- Scraping techniques and knife skills
Reed Taming Week 4: Building Reeds in Batches
Now you’ll really get down to business of batch building. You’ll deepen the following skills: scraping techniques, understanding of reed anatomy and cane characteristics. This is the week for bravery, intense interaction and bold problem solving.
- Reed construction process: day 1, day 2, day 3
- Reed diagnostic process: opening, response, structure, symmetry, balance
- Fine tuning, adjustments and corrections
“Definitely do it. It’s great to work with others and you learn a lot by exchanging tips and experiences. Online contacts can also be a good addition to in-person lessons in the future.”
Wolfram Schweickhardt
Bach enthusiast and oboist
JK Reed Making
Jeanine Krause
For nearly 30 years, I have been performing solo, orchestral and chamber music on modern and historical oboes all over the world, teaching oboe and reed making and producing professional quality, hand-finished reeds. I studied modern oboe and the American long scrape in the United States, working mostly with students of John Mack and with Tabuteau student, Rhadamas Angelucci. After moving to Germany, I spent over 10 years making reeds for Kreedo Shop. There I learned the European short scrape from oboe reed master, Jürgen Krebs. Stephen Hammer, Gonzalo X. Ruiz and Jennifer Harris mentored me further in the art of reed making for historical oboes.
Agility, Eloquence, Delight
Praised as “delightful and so refreshing” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Jeanine Krause performs on oboes and recorders with orchestras and as a soloist in Germany, the USA and worldwide. Jeanine holds degrees from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Peter-Cornelius-Konservatorium in Mainz and pursued doctoral work in historical performance practice at Boston University. Born in the USA, Jeanine lives in Germany.
The Art of
Oboe Reed Making
Most teachers teach reed making skills. Skills are easy to teach. But they are hard to learn. I take a holistic approach to reed making as a craft. Balancing skill development with mindset while cultivating awareness of valuable experience leads more directly to miracle reeds and the freedom to achieve intense musical expression.
Pricing
How to Train your Oboe Reed
$ 499.99 *
* You are eligible for discounts if you are an IDRS member, if you have received a coupon code and you may take an additional 20 % off if you recommend a colleague or friend who enrolls.
4-week program (6-week access)
- Begins in Fall of 2020 (access until Winter)
- Live group coaching and individual goal / strategy / task (Mondays 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m ) **
- Live, weekly Q & A sessions (Thursdays 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.) **
- Private learning community with a positive learning culture
- Recordings of all live sessions
- additional resources, such as videos, PDFs, checklists, drawings, network contacts, etc.
- Discounted registration fee to 7-Day Reed Making Retreat in the French Var Region (July 2021)
- Certificate upon completion
** Central European Time (Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw, Rome). These times are subject to change and will be adjusted to accommodate the enrolled applicants.
Are you a member of the International Double Reed Society? JK Reed Making refunds $60 to all IDRS members.
Is “How to Train your Oboe Reed” right for me?
Frequently asked questions
How much time will I spend taming my oboe reeds in this workshop?
Please plan to spend one to two hours for each of the four modules that will come available each Monday. I’m also available every Thursday for a live Q&A session. In addition to these sessions, which are all available as replays, I recommend that you spend 30-60 minutes at your reed desk 3-5 days per week.
What if I can’t be available for a live session?
I recommend that you take part in the live sessions. Of course it is more fun and nice to have you there. Don’t worry if that doesn’t (always) work. All sessions are available in replay. You can watch and repeat them at any time. You can even post your questions in advance for the weekly Q&A session.
What if I don’t make my own reeds?
You’ll have an advantage if you have already gained some first experiences with tying on oboe reeds. You know you are ready to learn to make reeds and sign up for this course when you have a clear sound concept and you know how you want to feel while playing the oboe. It does not matter how long you have played the oboe as long as you have this concept of sound and feel.
I am a professional oboist. Is this workshop right for me?
Professional oboists in particular understand the importance of a solid foundation of reed making. In surveying professionals, you’d be surprised how often I heard from the pros how much they would hope to review their basics. During this workshop you will have the opportunity to question your steps for making oboe reeds, to broaden your understanding and to develop your skills.
Do you always feel certain in your reed making? Do you have at least three concert-ready reeds at any given time? Are you clear about your reed making goals for this week, this month or half a year? Are you completely satisfied with your cane, your shape, your staple, your scraping technique, your knives? Don’t you see a need to develop your skills?
If you answered all of these with yes, I congratulate you! (Oh man! I’m jealous!) And no, this workshop is not for you.
I have only just started playing the oboe. Is this workshop right for me?
If you are new to playing the oboe, this is a legitimate question. Welcome to this world! If you’re like most of us, you had no idea what you were getting into when you decided to play the oboe. When is the right time to start making reeds yourself?
I have a simple answer to that. When you get to a point where you have a clear concept of SOUND and a clear sense of how you want to FEEL when you play the oboe, and once you find that the reeds you got elsewhere no longer meet your requirements, then you are ready to learn reed making. This has little to do with how long you have been playing the oboe. I have students who have come to the oboe as very mature musicians. They quickly made demands on their equipment that reeds made by someone else could not meet satisfactorily. Your art and your expression will let you know when it is time for you to learn to make reeds.
I buy finished reeds or get them from my teacher. Should I learn to make oboe reeds?
If you’ve found a source for finished reeds that meets your needs, lucky you! and no, this workshop is not for you. If at some point you notice the need and desire for more control over your intense musical expression, you will find it is time to learn reed making.
What materials and tools do I need to participate in the workshop?
Before the workshop begins, you will receive a checklist. On it are the materials and tools that you would expect to need for reed making: knife, plaque, cutting block, ruler, notebook, etc. If you are not sure which staples, shapes and dimensions you want, don’t worry. These are important decisions, and you have time in the first week to find out what you need and to place an order with your preferred oboe reed shop. Do you also need a shop recommendation? I will help. If you already know the right combination of staple and shape, I recommend that you provide yourself with enough materials for 1-3 reed batches. How many reeds are in a batch? This varies from person to person. I suggest at least four. If you are an experienced reed maker, you can certainly make larger batches.
I prefer the "long scrape" method of reed making. Is this workshop right for me?
The short answer is: No matter what type of scraping you prefer, in this workshop you will get what you need. In How to Train Your Oboe Reed, you will learn basic principles that are universal and applicable to all scraping styles, regardless of whether you use the so-called American Long Scrape method, the European Short Scrape, historical styles or others. The same material is the same and we all have the same basic requirements for our reeds, including opening, response, vibration, tension, balance and great intonation. The list is the same for everyone.
Since we prioritize them differently, the proportions and fine adjustments vary depending on your character and your individual requirements. In How to Train Your Oboe Reed, you build a solid foundation for knowledge and skills. You will be better equipped to make decisions about where, how and when to make the optimal adjustments for your personal scraping style.
As a young oboist, I learned the American long scrape method. In my mid-20s I moved to Germany, specialized in historical performance practice and worked for over 10 years in the production of short scrape reeds for Kreedo Shop under the guidance of Jürgen Krebs. This means that I am personally familiar with the long, short and historical scraping styles.
I play historical oboes. Is this workshop right for me?
The short answer is: No matter what type of scraping you prefer, in this workshop you will get what you need. In How to Train Your Oboe Reed, you will learn basic principles that are universal and applicable to all scraping styles, regardless of whether you use the so-called American Long Scrape method, the European Short Scrape, historical styles or others. The same material is the same and we all have the same basic requirements for our reeds, including opening, response, vibration, tension, balance and great intonation. The list is the same for everyone.
Since we prioritize them differently, the proportions and fine adjustments vary depending on your character and your individual requirements. In How to Train Your Oboe Reed, you build a solid foundation for knowledge and skills. You will be better equipped to make decisions about where, how and when to make the optimal adjustments for your personal scraping style.
As a young oboist, I learned the American long scrape method. In my mid-20s I moved to Germany, specialized in historical performance practice and worked for over 10 years in the production of short scrape reeds for Kreedo Shop under the guidance of Jürgen Krebs. This means that I am personally familiar with the long, short and historical scraping styles.
Am I eligible for discounts?
If you are already an IDRS member or if you join now, you receive a € 60 refund once you have sent a confirmation of your membership to jk@jeaninekrause.com. In addition, if you recommend this course to a friend or colleague and this oboist registers, you will receive an additional 20% refund. If you participated in some of my other offers, you may have received a discount coupon code which you can apply on the order form immediately.
I am a freelance musician myself and like all musicians, I am affected by the unusual situation we are currently in. If this workshop is important to you, but you are temporarily limited by circumstances, contact me. I will work with you to find a solution that will allow you to participate. I also have scholarships available and welcome your recommendations for deserving oboists.
Still not sure?
Click the button and schedule a discovery call. Tell me who you are and where you are in your oboe reed making journey. We will find out together whether this workshop is right for you.
How to Train your Oboe Reed
$ 499.99 *
* You are eligible for discounts if you are an IDRS member, if you have received a coupon code and you may take an additional 20 % off if you recommend a colleague or friend who enrolls.
4-week program (6-week access)
- Begins Fall of 2020 (access until Winter 2020)
- Live group coaching and individual goal / strategy / task (Mondays 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m ) **
- Live, weekly Q & A sessions (Thursdays 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.) **
- Private learning community with a positive learning culture
- Recordings of all live sessions
- additional resources, such as videos, PDFs, checklists, drawings, network contacts, etc.
- Discounted registration fee to 7-Day Reed Making Retreat in the French Var Region (July 2021)
- Certificate upon completion
** Central European Time (Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw, Rome)
“Some Men, I must confess, endeavour to Decry the Hautboy, pretending the Learners must blow so hard, that it is apt to bloat their Faces, and prejudice their Lungs: But this is a meer Mistake, as will be found on Experience: For all that play upon this Instrument, to a reasonable perfection, know, That with a good Reed it goes as easie and as soft as the Flute.”
— The Sprightly Companion, London 1695
