Why a Reed Portfolio Is Essential for Double Reed Players

For oboists and bassoonists, reed making is a continuous process of experimentation and refinement. Each reed you craft represents a unique combination of cane, shaping, scraping, and finishing—a miniature laboratory test of your skills. Without a systematic way to record and revisit these experiments, valuable insights can be lost. A personal reeds portfolio solves this problem by serving as a structured repository for your observations, allowing you to track progress, identify patterns, and refine your technique over time.

Whether you are a student just beginning to make reeds or a seasoned professional seeking greater consistency, a portfolio helps you move from guesswork to deliberate practice. It transforms reed making from an art into a manageable craft where each step can be analyzed and improved.

What to Include in Your Reed Portfolio

A well-kept reed portfolio should capture every variable that influences a reed’s performance. Consider including the following categories:

Basic Identification

  • Date of creation and, if applicable, date of last adjustment.
  • Unique reed ID or batch number to easily refer to specific reeds.

Cane Information

  • Source of the cane (e.g., supplier, region, year of harvest).
  • Tube diameter and wall thickness before processing.
  • Cane treatment (soaking time, whether water or other solutions were used).

Shape and Gouge Details

  • Shape template name or dimensions (for oboe: long-scrape, short-scrape, etc.; for bassoon: different shapes like Herzberg, Rieger, etc.).
  • Gouge thickness at the center and edges.
  • Profile measurements (including tip thickness, heart thickness, and back thickness).

Scraping and Adjustment Notes

  • Scraping sequence and techniques used (e.g., initial tip thinning, heart definition, blending of channels).
  • Tools used (knife type, reed rush, sandpaper grits).
  • Specific adjustments made to correct problems (e.g., adding scrape to the back for improved response, clipping the tip for stability).

Binding and Finishing

  • Number of wraps and type of thread (nylon, silk, etc.).
  • Sealing method (wax, shellac, or none).
  • Final dimensions (length after crowning, tip opening measurement, if measurable).

Playing Evaluation

  • Overall impression (good days reeds, fair, poor).
  • Dynamic range (piano to forte capability).
  • Response characteristics (staccato, legato, high register ease).
  • Tone quality (bright, dark, warm, focused, spread).
  • Endurance (how long the reed plays well in a session).
  • Stability (pitch stability across registers and dynamics).

Environmental Conditions

Humidity, temperature, and altitude at the time of creation and during evaluation. Reeds respond dramatically to climate changes, and recording these helps explain performance differences.

Choosing a Portfolio Format: Paper vs. Digital

Your portfolio can take many forms. The best choice is one that you will use consistently. Here are the most common approaches:

Paper Notebook or Journal

A physical notebook is favored by many reed makers for its simplicity and zero dependency on technology. You can sketch reed shapes, tape in photos, and write notes without distractions. A leather-bound journal or a simple composition notebook both work well. The key is to create a template on the first page or use a sticky note system to ensure you record the same data each time.

Pros: No battery required, easy to bring to lessons or rehearsals, allows freehand drawing.
Cons: Difficult to search, no automatic trend analysis, prone to loss or damage.

Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers)

Spreadsheets are excellent for quantitative data. Create columns for each variable and rows for each reed. Use conditional formatting to highlight reeds that meet your criteria. Filters and pivot tables let you analyze which cane sources or shapes produce the best results.

Pros: Powerful data analysis, easy to search and sort, can be shared digitally.
Cons: Less visual, requires discipline to type data, no sketching.

Digital Note Apps (Evernote, OneNote, Notion)

These apps offer the best of both worlds. You can create a template for each reed, include photos, audio recordings, and even video clips of your playing test. Tags enable easy retrieval, and many apps sync across devices.

Pros: Multimedia support, cross-platform, searchable, can include hyperlinks to reference materials.
Cons: Requires subscription for some features, potential distractions from other apps.

Dedicated Reed-Making Software

Specialized tools like ReedMakerApp (for iOS) or ReedNotebook are designed specifically for double reed players. They offer pre-built templates, graphing, and analysis tailored to reed measurements.

Pros: Purpose-built, includes oboe and bassoon specifics, often has community features.
Cons: Limited platform support, cost, may not allow full customization.

Whichever format you choose, consistency is critical. Enter data immediately after making and testing each reed, while your impressions are fresh. Over time, you will build a resource that pays dividends in time saved and skill improvement.

How to Analyze Your Portfolio Data

The real power of a portfolio emerges when you review it periodically. Here are techniques for extracting insights from your recorded data:

Track Success Rates by Cane Source

Sort or filter reeds by supplier or region. Compare the percentage of reeds rated “good” or higher. For example, you might discover that Italian cane gives you more consistent results for your long-scrape oboe reeds, while domestic cane works better in humid conditions.

Correlate Gouge Thickness with Tone

If you record gouge measurements, look for a pattern between thickness and tonal brightness. You may find that a particular range produces the warm tone you prefer for ensemble playing, while a thicker gouge gives the projection needed for solo work.

Evaluate Scraping Techniques

Compare performance notes for reeds where you used a heavier heart scrape versus a more even scrape. Note which techniques lead to faster response or better stability. Over a season, you can refine your method to reduce the number of failed reeds.

By storing environmental data, you can see how performance changes with weather. If you notice that reeds made in winter consistently feel harder, you might adjust your soaking time or scraping depth during colder months.

Sample Portfolio Entries for Oboe and Bassoon

Below are two detailed examples that illustrate how to document reeds for different instruments.

Oboe Reed Entry Example

Reed ID: O-2024-0412
Date Created: April 12, 2024
Cane: Allaud, French, tube diameter 10.8mm, wall thickness 3.2mm
Shape: Pisoni long-scrape, 72mm length before scraping
Gouge: 0.60mm center, 0.65mm edges
Profile: Tip 0.12mm, heart 0.25mm, back 0.35mm
Scraping Notes: Started with tip from center to sides, then defined heart with “V” shape, blended channels with #3 knife. Final pass with fine sandpaper on tip edge for smoothness.
Binding: 3-turn nylon thread, sealed with beeswax.
Final Length: 73mm after crowning, tip opening 1.2mm.
Playing Test (May 1, 2024): Bright tone, excellent projection in hall. High register from D6 to A6 speaks cleanly. Articulation is crisp. Low register B4 slightly fuzzy. Endurance about 45 minutes before tone becomes thin.
Adjustment Plan: Next time, try a slightly longer heart to improve low register stability. Reduce tip width by 0.2mm for better control at fortissimo.
Environmental Notes: Created at 22°C, 45% RH. Tested at 24°C, 60% RH – reed felt slightly softer but still responsive.

Bassoon Reed Entry Example

Reed ID: B-2024-0315
Date Created: March 15, 2024
Cane: Rieger 14mm diameter, 5.0mm wall thickness, soaked 12 hours
Shape: Herzberg 15mm wide at the tip, 13mm at the first wire
Gouge: 0.55mm center, 0.52mm edges (reverse taper)
Scraping: Four passes on the tip, blended into the heart. Very little scrape on the back. Used a Dutch knife for initial shaping, then a dull knife for burnishing.
Binding: 4-turn polyester thread, no sealant.
Wires: First wire at 67mm from tip (tight), second wire at 82mm (loose).
Playing Test (March 20, 2024): Warm, focused sound. Good response in the low register; high register above C5 requires more air support. Endurance is strong for 1 hour, then wire adjustments needed. Dynamic range is wide – can play comfortably from pp to ff.
Adjustment Plan: Try a lighter scrape on the heart to make high register more flexible. Consider moving first wire 1mm closer to tip.
Environmental Notes: Created at 20°C, 50% RH. Tested in same conditions.

Advanced Portfolio Techniques

Include Audio and Video Recordings

Recording a short sample of each reed (e.g., chromatic scale, articulation exercise, lyrical phrase) provides an objective reference. Digital portfolios can store these files; for paper, you can keep a companion audio journal or use QR codes linking to cloud storage.

Use a Rating System

Develop a consistent scoring rubric, such as 1–5 for tone, response, stability, and endurance. This allows you to compute an overall score and quickly compare reeds.

Track Long-Term Aging

Reeds change over days and weeks. Record impressions at multiple points: after initial making, after 24 hours of play, after one week, and after one month if the reed remains playable. This data reveals how your reeds evolve and when they peak.

Correlate with Instruments or Reeds

If you play multiple instruments (e.g., oboe and English horn), include instrument identification. You may find that reeds that work well on one oboe fail on another, guiding your adjustments when switching.

Integrating Your Portfolio into Your Practice Routine

A portfolio is only valuable if you use it. Set aside 10 minutes after each reed-making session to update your records. Similarly, after a practice session or rehearsal, add performance notes. Some players keep their portfolio next to their reed-making station and fill it in as they work.

Review your portfolio weekly during the first few months, then monthly once patterns emerge. Ask yourself: What adjustments have consistently led to success? Which cane types are worth reordering? Is my technique improving overall? The answers will guide your future efforts.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

  • Too much detail too soon: Start with the most essential fields (date, cane, scraping notes, and playing feedback) and add optional fields later. Overwhelming yourself early can lead to abandonment.
  • Inconsistent terminology: Define terms like “heart” and “channels” consistently. If possible, use diagrams or standard references from books like The Oboe Reed Book by Jay Light or Bassoon Reed Making by Charles McGivney.
  • Neglecting failures: Some of the most valuable data comes from reeds that played poorly. Record why they failed – brittle tip, unstable pitch, etc. – to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
  • Not backing up digital data: Spreadsheets and note apps are vulnerable to loss. Export or sync regularly. For paper portfolios, consider photographing pages as a backup.

External Resources for Deeper Learning

To enhance your reed-making knowledge, explore these authoritative sources:

Getting Started Today

Do not delay starting your reed portfolio. You do not need a perfect system from day one. Begin with a simple index card or a digital note: record the date, cane source, and three things you liked or disliked about the reed. After a week, add more fields. After a month, review and adjust your template. Over the course of a year, you will build a personalized reference that no manual can replace.

Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Every reed you make and record brings you one step closer to mastering your craft. A portfolio turns random attempts into a deliberate, data-driven journey toward consistent, excellent reeds.