Does your woodwind instrument need maintenance or repair?
Call Noelle at
Lee Lachman's Woodwind Services to set up an appointment. Tues-Fri, 10-4.
ALL CLIENTS ARE SEEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Phone: 301-345-3389
Noelle specializes in providing maintenance and repair for double reed instruments: oboes, English horns,
and bassoons. The shop performs everything from adjustments, padwork, and cork replacement, to balancing
spring tension, cleaning, and custom key modifications, as well as crack pinning and tone hole
replacements for all families of woodwind instruments.
Noelle began her training as a repair technician assistant to Lee Lachman in 2012. She has continured to
work at Lee Lachman's Woodwind Services since, and currently serves as the double reed repair specialist
at the shop. Her clients include members of the National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera
Orchestra, and the DC premier military bands, as well as prominent freelance classical and jazz artists,
show players, and countless schools, students and hobbyists throughout the region. She has additionally
appeared as a guest repair specialist at double reed events at the University of Maryland and Shenandoah
Conservatory.
Oboe Maintenance Information
It is important to swab out your oboe after every playing session. I recommend a long silk swab with tail.
To use it, turn the oboe upside down and drop the weight through the bell and pull it out through the reed
socket. Always check for knots in the swab before use to prevent it from getting stuck in the bore. If it
ever does get stuck, simply pull the tail back out the bell. And if it is ever really stuck, do not keep
pulling! Instead, take it in to a repair shop where it can easily be extracted. Also, it is important to
periodically clean your swab or replace it with a new swab.
Oboes have many adjustment screws that need to be precisely set, and periodically checked. If your oboe
suddenly feels stuffy, or certain notes are harder to play, have your teacher or repair specailist check the
adjustment of your instrument. You should not have to squeeze to get the low notes to speak.
To keep your instrument in good condition, it is recommended to have a yearly check-up. Annual upkeep should
help you avoid emergencies as well as a costly overhaul down the road.
Wooden instruments require special care. New instruments can be prone to cracking. It is ideal to brake them
in slowly and gradually, and to swab out frequently. It will take at least a month of diligent conditioning
before your new oboe is truly ready to go. It is very important that you follow certain guidelines to
prevent cracks and keep your oboe in good working condition:
- Keep a small humidifier in your case, especially during the winter
- If your oboe is cold, before playing gradually warm it up (especially the top joint) with your hands
before blowing hot air through it
- Swab your oboe about every half hour, and always once you are done playing
- When not in use, always store your instrument safely in it's case and always store it in a room with
a moderate temperature
