Making it Happen...

Well, I am currently delving into my third week working as the oboe parapro for the school district. So far I have to say- it has been great!
Teaching is something that I really love doing. I had such great oboe teachings all my life, I just feel like it is natural to want to help others by sharing with them what my teachers have taught me. It feels great to be out in the world actually using everything that I spent all those years in school learning- especially because I'm helping people.
And boy do a lot of these schools really need help. It is really evident that the oboe just must be the bain of many band directors' existence, because all of them have admitted to feeling incompetent on it and all of their students are really REALLY struggling.
I think one of the biggest problems I have encountered so far would have to be reeds. Oh Reeds, Reeds, REEDS. What I want people to understand about reeds... is that just like any good investment, you get what you give.

If you buy a $5 machine made oboe reed, it is going to sound and act just like a $5 machine made oboe reed. If you buy a $13 handmade reed, and really learn how to take care of your reeds, you are going to have a longer lasting, better sounding and playing reed that is going to help you get a lot more out of your time with the oboe.
Simple Reed Savers ($$ Savers in the end) include:

1. Soaking the reed in water, not spit. Our saliva contains food particles and digestive enzymes that will break down the cane used to make an oboe reed faster than you can say Loree. Not to mention, it is just gross. A simple water container such as a well cleaned pill bottle or film canister is sufficient.

2. Invest a few dollars in a good reed case. This can be as cheap as the $3 reedgard or expensive as a french ribbon-style case like this. These types of cases keep the reeds safe and secure, and most importantly protect the tip of the reed, the most delicate part.

Most student reeds come in plastic tubes or coffins which are fine for retail purposes (short term) but can really REALLY damage reeds, usually ruining them.

3. If possible, buy your reeds from a oboist. Hopefully your private oboe instructor. Oboists are trained to make handcrafted reeds from beginning to end. That is; starting with a piece of tube cane, splitting and gouging, shaping, tying the reed onto a staple and finally, hand scraping it to perfection. The end result being a playing, flexible, responsive, and STABLE oboe reed that will last far longer than one made my a machine.

These are just a few tips, but basically what I want young oboists, their parents, and their ensemble directors to understand is that the oboe is more of an investment than other instruments. Not simply because of the cash you have to dole out for the reeds and the expensive horn, but a time investment as well.

Often times, there are not many oboes in a middle school program, and maybe there isn't an oboe instructor in your area. If this is the case, find music to listen to for the oboe. It is everywhere, chances are if you have watched a movie these days, you have heard an oboe and maybe not even have known it!!!

The oboe is so special because it so closely resembles singing, therefore, it is possible to have a personal sound just like an individual voice. Because of this, it is imperative to have a model as a student. So go out and start listening to some music, you may be suprised to find how present the oboe is out there!

Private instruction may be more affordable than you realize, so talk to local music stores or your band director about where to find a teacher. Playing a musical instrument is truly something that you can do for a lifetime, unlike athletics it is something that your body (hopefully!!) will always be capable of.