I have often told my students that our instrument begins … and then I point into the mouth. It’s not just the oboe. It’s not just the reed. It’s us, too. And now I read this:

Professional saxophonists can play very high notes that amateurs simply can’t reach. A new study has now revealed how they do it – they tune their own vocal tracts to help the instrument play well above its normal range.

The article ends with this:

Although the effect was shown in the saxophone, similar effects are likely to be important in other single and double reed instruments, whose players also report the importance of the tract for special effects, including high register playing. The study appears in the journal Science.

Gee, maybe I know what I’m taking about? 🙂