Bring Thin the Tip to Your Studio!

Dr. Binkley enjoys teaching reed making and is eager to share her hands-on, simplified teaching methods with reed makers of all levels.  She is comfortable teaching five to as many as twenty reed makers at a time and has the creativity, experience, and patience necessary to create an extraordinary reed making event specifically for you. 

Dr. B.'s concepts and methods may also be easily incorporated into any reed making style.  If in residency with your oboe studio, she will work with you to ensure there is no conflict of ideology.

Thin the Tip Residency

A Thin the Tip Residency will bring Dr. B. to your school or studio for 2-3 days of reed making classes and one-on-one reed lessons with your students. Residencies can be held in person or virtually via Zoom.

Contact Dr. Binkley for scheduling and rates.

Thin the Tip Workshop

Perfect for a Double Reed Day or Oboe Day event, Dr. B. will provide a reed making experience for the participants at your event.

Contact Dr. Binkley for scheduling and rates.

Thin the Tip Classes & Workshop Topics

  • “Making Reeds with Dr. B.”: Learn Dr. B.’s process from blank to finished reed
  • “Crow it Out”: This class will focus on crowing technique and how to understand the connection between what is heard in the crow and how this sound is reflected in the reed’s play-ability (response, intonation, stability, articulation, etc.) and tone.  We will focus on reading the crow as a way to inform where to scrape.
  • “Scrape Smart”:  This session focuses on knife sharpening, scraping technique, and tips for the reed holding hand that will help reed makers scrape with more precision and accuracy.
  • “Let There Be Light”:  Explore multiple ways to use lighting (and a smartphone) to problem solve balance, symmetry, and structural issues when making the reed.
  • “Building a Reed Making Habit”:  Ideas and suggestions that will help students  incorporate reed making regularly into their schedules.
  • "Getting Started with Reed Making":  An introductory session that covers the structure of the reed, crowing, and basic cause & effect using simple household tools and their own reeds. (This session is designed for students without reed making tools.)