Oboe reeds are one of the most tempramental and difficult parts of oboe playing. It is a "catch-22" -- to be a good oboist, you must be a good reed maker, but to be a good reedmaker, you must be a good oboist! Reedmaking takes many years. In fact, some really never learn to make reeds well! I have been making oboe reeds for OVER 35 YEARS. Reed making is something that is very natural for me. I have had to make so many reeds in SO many places in the United States and the world as Principal Oboist with The United States Army Field Band. Different altitudes, different climates...all these contribute to difficulties in reed making, and I have had experience in all of these factors over the years.