Oboe reeds - a couple of questions

[MrsMuddle]

DS2 has just started playing the oboe at school. He needed a new reed, but none of the music shops seem to sell them - some mutterings about there being a shortage.

His music teacher gave me details of where to buy them online, so I got a couple in the post today.

How long should the reeds last, approximately? I was shocked at the price! What with clarinet and bagpipe (sorry!) reeds to buy too, I feel like I'm single-handedly keeping the reed industry afloat!

I think a lot depends on

a) what quality reeds they were to start with

b) how often they are played (or total time used)

c) how long it takes your DS to break one accidently

ime having playd the oboe for a short time, and clarinet for much longer c) was the most common reason for my reeds being replace

Mine used to last a few months unless I was careless with them.

It was such a long time ago I can't really remember.

DD says that hers last her a couple of months each! Her teacher scrapes them so they are not so hard.

Agree they are not cheap though. We buy through Britannia Reeds (mail order and possibly on net too)

Thanks, everyone. Lotsoflovelyshoes, that's where the music teacher recommended. I don't mind paying £6.50 every couple of months, but if it was every week, I'd need to start sending DS up chimneys to earn money!

I'll tell him he has to take very good care of his reeds.

My favourite I made last months on end, though you can be unlucky and break a couple in a day. Chipped ones can sometimes be redeemed - save them to show to the teacher unless they're completely destroyed. Even then, it's worth keeping the bits to experiment on if your DS is ever likely to learn to make his own (probably a very long way off yet though if he's only just started)

My current reed has lasted nearly 2 years, but that is because I haven't been playing. [too lazy an oboist to be allowed on this thread]

Good luck!

Britannia Music - online are really good. They have regular offers when you get get one free or get a discount. The oboe is not a cheap instrument.

DD is at a level where we are now contemplating buying an oboe and we are talking about a lot of money. What happens if she goes off the oboe?