Oboe TIP of the day...

Playing the oboe is A LOT like singing...

I know, I know... everyone likes to think of their instrument as being closest to the human voice, but in so many ways playing the oboe really IS singing.

That being said, just as singers do, we can experiment with Vowel Sounds.

Just like witches, there are good ones and bad ones for us to play around with.

Good

Soft A (Ahhh or Awww) You know, what we say at the Dr.'s with the popsicle stick.

O (Ohh) and also Oooo

These sounds open up the inside of our mouths, creating more resonance and a fuller, rounder sound

Bad

Hard A (Ehhh)

Hard E (Eeee)

These sounds spread our mouth horizontally, closing down the area in which resonance is created

Turn on the tuner, and experiment on a B-Flat with each sound to find one that you like best out of the GOOD examples.

Oboe Tip of The Day

My TIP of the Day!

High Schoolers:
When preparing a piece for solo and ensemble, college auditions, or honor band auditions, decipher what key it is in, for example D major. Next, fix your tuner to produce a D.
You can do this by holding down the calibration button (on a Korg) for a second until it produces the tone, then press it up until you get to D.

Play your etude, or piece through with the tonic pitch, D playing the entire time, try to stay within the pitch guidelines of the key signature, this will really open your ears!


Middle Schoolers:
Peg-A-Pitch!

Turn your tuner on, and try to land a trusty B-flat head on (you'll know this has happened when you hit the middle of the tuner and the light is only GREEN (again on a Korg tuner).

Don't be discouraged if this takes some work! That is the point of the exercise, realizing exactly how you need to adjust your air support and embouchure support in order to play in tune.

If you are sharp, first check the opening of your reed... if it is too closed, gently open it by squeezing it gently apart toward the bottom of the reed by the string.

If you are flat, push more air from your diaphragm, really SUPPORT!

Try for 3 B-flats in a row at A=440.

Oboe-To-Go

In order to reach a broader range of students (is that even possible, given the fact that I technically have a couple hundred oboe students?)

I should say, in order to cater to a broader range of student needs, I have decided to start something new. What could be better than a private instructor willing to travel to your home, or meet your child after school- at their school for lessons on a weekly basis- without additional FEES.

My job with the school district takes me all over the four corners of the Vegas Valley as it is, so I figure- Why not throw a few more stops in along my merry way?

I have to get things all set up and ready, but I'm thinking something like special Oboe-To-Go packages including things like a free reed for a months worth (4) lessons when purchased as a package on the first of each month. Contests for students, entering them to win a free mini reedmaking lesson and studio masterclasses... all sounds like fun!

The most attractive thing about all of this... Vegas is a difficult city to navigate, especially for parents, and even more so for working parents, limiting the accessibility of private music lessons for some families.

Don't worry, you order and I'll be there!

2010... year of the OBOE!

After a pause during the holiday season... I'm back.

Tons going on, and tons HAS gone on since my last post.

On December 5, I judged the CCSD High School Honor Band auditions, which was among other things, an eye opening experience. It really gave me an idea of the capabilities of some of the studies in the district, but more importantly it showed me that my services are desperately needed here... which really got me going with all kinds of ideas on ways to help.
The strangest thing about all of this is that no one is asking for help. I get requests from the same schools, on a rotating basis... I even have two regulars that I go to on an almost weekly basis. The majority of these are middle schools, I have only been in contact with a small hand full of high school directors.

One of the most consistent issues on the December 5 Honor Band audition:

• Students not knowing Fingerings past high C
• Students not knowing Scales, or not being conscious of Key Signatures
• Sight Reading, Sight Reading, Sight Reading!!!! ( I chose the opening of Mvt.2 from Brahms Symphony No.2 for it's simple, yet varied rhythms including a triplet and the challenge of a grace note )
• Most students had problems with Intonation, the majority being Flat in pitch

These deficiencies all center around basics:

Embouchure formation
Tonguing
Breath Support
Reed Selection
Instruments in need of service ( I came across my first absolutely-will-not-play-a-single-note oboe this week at a middle school )

I feel as though many directors themselves shy away from the oboe, because of its many "complications" and "specific needs"... perhaps not even putting students on the instrument because of their own insecurities. I have had countless directors admit this to me, which I can understand, but cannot be sympathetic. To these directors I say... forge ahead and face these oboistic challenges head on!

Or let me do it!!!

I think what will clarify a lot of oboe related topics, and provide some consistency within the district would be for me to give a presentation at some gathering of all of these teachers... I am practically BEGGING them to let me give a presentation on how to start an oboe student, how to choose GOOD reeds for your students, and how to taking care of instruments and reeds, saving you time and $$$.

At one middle school this week, a director asked me if his beginning oboes would be able to develop a good sound over time, and if would start to come along soon after my visit.
I explained to him that it would come quite quickly if they would not be allowed to play on reeds cracked down the middle, because this problem was causing them to play nearly a half step FLAT.

Of course it is my job to solve these types of problems for students and directors, however, if I would be allowed to make a presentation with some of the documents I have written made available to directors... it would help everyone SO much!