About Lindabeth

I love reed making! I have made reeds all over the world, from below sea level to 10,000 ft. above sea level, and currently live in one of the most fickle climates of the U.S. (Mount Pleasant, MI), where I am Professor of Oboe at Central Michigan University and Principal Oboe of the Flint Symphony Orchestra (Flint, MI).  My approach to reed making is crow-based and focuses on understanding how to use the scrape to manipulate the reed's vibrations, no matter what type of cane, shape, gouge, climate, or altitude. 

I am also passionate about helping others become successful reed makers.   I have hosted a summer Oboe Reed Making Camp for high school students at Central Michigan University since 2011, taught reed making for the International Double Reed Society Conference Teen Camps in Columbus, GA (2016) and Appleton, WI (2017), and have been teaching the oboe reed making classes at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Double Reed Camp since 2017. During the pandemic, I taught over a dozen reed making classes to oboe studios across the United States via Zoom.  I am so enthusiastic about reed making that I even started an entire Instagram account devoted to it (@thinthetip) in 2018, which has now inspired the creation of this website.

I hope you enjoy the information on this website and its resources.  Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in a private or group reed making lesson (in-person or virtual),  or would like to schedule a Thin the Tip Reed Making Residency at your school. Questions and content suggestions are always welcome, too.

Happy reed making!

Crow-fully yours,

Lindabeth Binkley (aka. Dr. B.)

PS:  If you would like to learn more about my background, the CMU Oboe Studio, or other professional activity, please visit lindabeth.com.