The reed is made from a piece of bamboo cane which has been grown in France or Spain – there are various bamboo cane reed plantations around and in China. And the bamboo cane is then cut up, then gouged with a machine, which we all do ourselves. I also buy them as well, but it is nice to make them, cheaper. But you need to gouge the cane, then you shape it so it is the right shape, cut off the tip. And then you tie in onto a brass staple at the bottom to a certain length. Then there is a long process of scraping it, scraping the top bit so that it vibrates and you have already cut the tip off so there is a hole going right the way through, a tiny hole. And basically the same principle I think is when you have a blade of grass and you blow (demonstrates) though your fingers so that it vibrates. And um that is what the 2 blades of reed are doing. 

(demonstrates putting the reed in the oboe) So I’ve put the reed in the oboe and straightened it up. And then it is a very different sound when you actually play it, hopefully (plays).