Where to Order Handmade Reeds

Note:  Reeds are made to order and can take 2+ weeks to arrive, so always order before you actually need them!  Many places have a reed subscription or auto-ship service (I order 2-3 reeds per month for myself to avoid reed emergencies).  Though I am able to make reeds, making them for all of my students is too time-consuming!  I suggest ordering from the places below.
Oboe Reeds
For 5th-6th Grade Beginners:
  • Edmund Nielsen - 6th and 7th graders should get "medium hard" in purple or black thread colors.  Edmund Nielsen reeds are color-coded by maker, so the thread color on their site does matter!
  • Stellar "Student" Reeds - Use their monthly subscription to avoid long wait times
  • Pam Holloway Reeds (available in lessons)
"Step-Up" Reeds for Middle Schoolers:  Once they get past the reed-breaking stage!
  • Oxford Reeds - Made in Georgia by Rebecca Testerman
  • Bocal Majority - "Professional E" Reed, very fast shipping
  • Shalita "Mimosa 2" intermediate reeds
  • Reed Pros Superior Intermediate Oboe Reeds - Use their monthly subscription to avoid long wait times
  • Stellar "Advanced Student" Reeds - Use their monthly subscription to avoid long wait times
  • Pam Holloway Reeds (available in lessons)
For All-State Auditions, High School/College Students and Professionals:
  • Bjorklund Reedworks (in Chicago) - One of my favorites.  Very warm/dark sound, easy response, stable, and consistent.  Arrived almost 1 month after ordering, but worth the wait!  They offer a monthly subscription.
  • ​James Sullivan Oboe Reeds (in Alabama)
  • Wildflower Reeds (in Texas) - made by Elise Belk (former student of John Mack).  I use the "medium professional" reeds.  These are great for students with strong embouchures.  Arrived 1 week after ordering.
  • Samantha Marie Reeds  - Easy to play, dark sound - good for relaxed embouchures
  • Shalita Black Label Pro Reed - Dark sound, easy response, opening is more closed and good for students with relaxed embouchures, arrived almost 2 weeks after ordering. They offer a monthly subscription.
  • Moreno Reeds - Dark sound, easy response, medium opening, arrived 5 weeks after ordering
  • Jennet Ingle Reeds - next on my trying list
  • LTK Reeds - next on my trying list

English Horn Reeds
  • Oxford Reeds - Made in Georgia by Rebecca Testerman
  • Wildflower Reeds
  • Double or Nothing Reeds
  • MKL Reeds
  • Erica Howard - ask me for her contact info!

Bassoon Reeds
  • Forrests Music
    • For 6th/7th grade beginners:  "Forrests Gold Label" or "Albion Blue Label" (medium soft or medium)
    • For auditioning middle schoolers and high schoolers:  the "Forrests Black Label" (I use medium soft)
  • CB Reeds & Tools by Cullen Blain - Beginners can get the student reed.  I use the professional "medium soft" reed. 
  • Tom Hardy Reeds - from London, and excellent audition reeds!
  • Bocal Majority "Medium" Reeds - these also come in fun themes...Star Wars, Zelda, holidays, etc.
  • ​Raffe Reeds by Eryn Oft
  • Double or Nothing Reeds
  • Bel Canto Reeds
  • Tiger Reeds​