Next on my wishlist....

As much as I don't like to admit it, I have playing related pain issues. I used to consider this a huge weakness, and hated the idea of any type of neckstrap, or instrument support. I convinced myself that they "tied me down" and that they weren't really necessary anyway. I was so stupid back then!
The damage began when I was in my final year of college, preparing for my final recital and grad school auditions had me practicing up to 4 hours a day, and in some cases, definitely over-practicing (I tended to do that A LOT!). A lot of the damage, however, was done while I was in San Francisco at grad school. It was my first time living totally alone, and as I spent most of my time alone- I felt guilty if I wasn't doing something oboe related. So I would go on oboe "binges" that would last an entire, full day of scraping, playing oboe, playing English horn, repeat. So not good for my right hand and arm. It got to the point where my thumb would go totally numb and tingle kind of like when you foot falls asleep. Again... NOT GOOD!
I received a lot of benefit from weekly acupuncture sessions, which just got me thinking about my body more in general which sometimes (ok a lot of the time) I take for granted.
Since those days, I have taken to playing for much shorter periods at a time, and reminding myself not to "hold" my oboe and put that strain on myself if I am not playing, this is mostly for teaching. I have an awesome English horn peg that kind of works like a cello peg, from Forrests that is a lifesaver. Still remaining, has been what to do with the oboe??? I hate neckstraps, but that is just me, I feel unrelaxed and uncomfortable whenever I have used one (yea I am difficult!).
Stephen Caplan first introduced me to this amazing contraption and I am been coveting it ever since. The thumbrest redistributes the weight of the oboe so that it feels like you wouldn't believe it could feel to play the oboe. If you have any type of pain issues due to playing this thingy is a MUST. I plan on purchasing it and having it installed(!) on my oboe before the end of the summer. The "installation" is the main thing that has kept me from doing it sooner, a repair technician must drill into the back of the oboe in order to attach it. As an uppity little oboist, I worried about doing something so permanent to my instrument, however, after consideration... this is sooo worth it.
In other news, all is pretty quiet on the Western front. I am really proud of the majority of my students as they continue to work this summer. I am so so very excited to be back at Phantom for a string of shows this week starting Friday. SO FUN! And when I come back from vacation (an Alaskan cruise with my Mom and Sister) I get to be the oboe instructor at the Las Vegas Academy Band Camp. Yay Oboe auditions, sectionals, and clinics!

This Summer... so far

This summer is going great so far, I have had time to really relax and enjoy teaching my students (all of whom are taking lessons throughout the summer). I have been teaching for an entire day on Tuesdays this summer to save on mileage and energy that the drive into Vegas consumes during the regular school year. Sure, it is tiring to teach from 10am to 6pm, but I really have been looking forward to it every week and it is always a day that ends with zero energy but a rewarding feeling of satisfaction with all of my kiddos.

I have been really working to streamline my lesson curriculum to help not only myself by staying more organized but by becoming more efficient for the kids as well. I don't like the idea of an oboe lesson "formula" because every kid is really different and I want them playing different music and focusing on their different strengths and weaknesses, especially the kids that attend LVA together. I want them to all feel like they have their own individual music and are on their own path (it gets competitive enough at a performing arts high school!).

Lately, it seems like I have taken a group of my upper middle schoolers into the highest range of the instrument, as it becomes necessary and I have noticed that I have been drawing WAY too many messy and perhaps unclear "drawings" of the oboe fingerings. Oboe fingering charts are crazy, I have been unable to find any two that are alike in my recent search, and there are many variances on the high E and F fingerings. I came to a great solution: This stamp from Midwest Musical Imports. Now I can just fill in the blanks without having to draw my sketchy gross version every single time (it takes awhile!).

I was recently asked how I feel when I am playing music, if it was "motivational"? It was an interesting question and got me thinking about how I feel when I am "working". I can only describe it very simply; my heart feels full when I play music on oboe and English horn. I don't know how many different jobs that can be said about, although come to think about it, isn't that how you would want to feel if you were spending so much of your time doing something? I love playing, it is that simple- it just fills me up to the brim with happiness. I consider myself very lucky to spend so much of my time doing something that I love so much.