Disclaimer and statement.

You have noticed by now... I have changed my blog name. I have been Fairy Oboemother for over 4 years, since moving from San Francisco to Las Vegas upon my masters degree completion and marriage. I chose the name "Fairy Oboemother" solely based on the concept of the "Fairy Godmother". We all know the story of Cinderella... her fairy godmother was a benevolent figure who helped her and acted in a motherly way toward her when no one else would.
I never assumed myself to be this figure for anyone else, but rather, I have had multiple oboe teachers in my life who have been that person for me. "Fairy Oboemother" was a title that I aspired toward. I think it only fair that I try to give back and share the knowledge and skills that have been bestowed upon me by others... I think my teachers would want that.
I was recently asked to change my blog name. The person (and their lawyer) that asked me to do this cite a trademark on the name "The Oboe Fairy". While I can give you countless bullet points as to why these two names are not interchangeable, that rather, they only share a single word... I refuse to do so. I would like to state the following, and this is the only time that I will do so.
I am not in any way affiliated with Hannah Selznick. I was asked to either change my blog name or name a statement saying that I am not in any way, shape, or form connected to this person. So I have done both.
My name is Caitlin Kramer, I am a freelance oboist in Las Vegas, NV. I do not have a brand, or a business. My brand is ME. As I would think that most of you realize, this blog is not selling anything. I consider it to be a database of information designed to help people. If you you have further questions about my credentials or want to purchase the only thing I sell; reeds and lessons... then please visit my personal website.
This is the last time that I will discuss this, and my future posts promise to return their their regularly scheduled programming :)

Back to Oboe (School)

It is time for back to school and all of the nostalgia that comes along with it. Different stages of education always meant different things. When we were younger, my Mom would pack us all up and attempt to do everyone's shopping at once. Usually clothing on one trip and supplies on another outing. Later, as we got older and into middle and high school we would split up boys and girls shopping trips.
It was always so fun to get excited about fresh pens, notebooks, and always something a little bit fun and funky like whether it was a pink jansport backpack or a cute new hairstyle.
I was ALWAYS excited to see friends that I'd missed for the past several months, and see how people had changed- because let's face it, kids are always changing.
In my life, this typically also always meant coming back to the oboe after some type of break whether it was a break in lessons, or as I got older, a break in the intensity of practice sessions and routine.
This back to school season for me means a lot of shifts, changes, and flexibility. Since my baby boy was born, I obviously have not been playing as much as usual. The demands of caring for a newborn don't leave much room for practicing oboe, and often when I find that he is down for a nap and I have time to practice I am either too tired or can't find a muffled enough area to honk away where I won't affect his sleep. Fun new challenges.
I also had a c-section. I realize that some people actually plan to have these... I didn't. I did not expect that I would have to recover not only from the stress of laboring for 12+ hours, but also from MAJOR surgery involving all of the muscles that I use to play. To give you an idea, my ab muscles feel so weak that I feel as though I have no control over them... I am trying to do some simple exercises  and stretches now that my six week recovery window has passed- but I can tell that this is just going to take some time.
In the meantime, I have scraped plenty of easier reeds. Interestingly enough, I have found that my English horn playing hardly feels different- it is oboe that feels funky when I try to use my regular amount of air support.
So, advice for not only all of you back to schoolers, but to myself as well! :
After taking any type of break from playing, and re-immersing yourself into oboe land, you should consider the following...

1. Take it easy. Just like an athlete, your muscles have been conditioned to perform a certain way. If you hop back into a practice regimen with the same intensity that you were used to before a break, you can injure yourself. Try some simple stretches before you play, shoulder rolls, reaching your arms above your head, and gently rotating your wrists are all good things to do. 
2. Break up your playing into small, super-manageable chunks. This is something that I have always done anyway. It helps me to maintain better focus, and I find that for me it puts less stress on my right hand and arm muscles to give myself frequent breaks. If you have an hour's worth of work to do, try splitting it in half or even into thirds!
3. Don't try to be a reed hero. The great thing about our reeds is that they are open to customization. If you need a softer reed to help you re-transition back to playing, it is not a mark on you. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to lighten your reed, and pros... nobody has to even know if you don't want them to :)
4. Use some support. I have a plethora of oboe support devices in my music room. I sometimes pull out a neck strap for oboe and a handy dandy peg for English horn. No biggie. I don't like to perform with them, but for a practice sesh or teaching, they are awesome.
5. Check out your embouchure. It is easy for lips to get a little lackadaisical after a break from the oboe. Use an easily accessible mirror and just check out your embouchure situation with the reed alone. Remember, these are a very specific set of muscles and they may need some TLC.
6. Find your joy. It is easy to become frustrated with playing if it feels uncomfortable or more difficult than before a break. Don't sweat it. Think about what made you pick up your oboe in the first place. Pretty soon, you will be back in great playing shape!!!

Remembering Bill

Thinking of Bill today. I knew Bill Bennett for several years while living and working toward my master's degree in oboe performance in San Francisco. There are several things that stick out in my mind about him; the main one being that though he must have faced great amounts of stress and adversity in his day to day professional life, he was never ill natured. Bill was always in a likeable way. I think that this simple trait is something that sometimes people take for granted in the music profession. How much one's attitude can affect circumstances. If there is one thing I take away from having known Bill, I think this would have to be it.
He was always striving forward, trying to be creative and think of new ways to interpret music. Even if it was a piece he had known for years and interpreted a number of times already in performance. I remember him bringing to studio class once a big pile of opera arias, all of the most famous ones. When he asked us each to choose a different one and interpret it as if we were a singer, we all thought he was crazy. As the next week arrived and we played his arrangements, I think it taught us all something about musicality, interpretation and the capability of the oboe as a supremely vocal instrument.
I can't imagine how he will be missed by the orchestra, his oboe section, and his family. I am sure the orchestra will eventually find his successor, though I don't envy the person who will have to fill Bill's shoes simply because it will be an impossible feat.
You can read the San Francisco Symphony's statement if you so choose.

I actually just went online to Forrests and purchased this. I have never owned one, but will now proudly have it in my oboe studio to remind me of Bill and his legacy, and so that I can tell my students about him when they look at it :)

I AM BACK!

After not blogging for what has seemed like an eternity, here I am... I am alive, and back to writing about oboe. I have to admit that it is due to you, the reader that I am here writing again. I have received quite a few comments this week asking for help, tips, and tricks from past posts, so here I am! One of the hot topics: Oboe cracking. Yea, there is such a horrible thing as "cracking season" and we are right in the middle of it. Winter brings colder temps and DRY air, the biggest enemies of oboists worldwide. I have owned a total of 4 oboes in my 17+ years of playing the oboe. Three lorees, and my current oboe, a Kingwood Yamaha 841 oboe. All of my loree oboes cracked, a couple of them quite badly, and multiple times.
My current oboe has a plastic liner in the topjoint and I have had it for just over a year, no cracks yet. It is still a little early to do an oboe happy dance about it, but I DO live in Las Vegas where I have performed outside in 100+ degrees with it. So, I think it is at least a little safe to say: this oboe is a TANK!
 So that all being said, here are some tips on oboe maintenance specifically geared toward cracking from the QUEEN oboe-cracker:

 1. Swab, swab, SWAB! Not just at the end of a playing session but any time you have a break in playing. Cotton swabs are the best because unlike silk ones, they really absorb moisture and get it all out of the instrument.

 2. Warm your oboe up with your hands before playing. If it is even a little bit cooler than body temperature, it is going to be a shock to the oboe when you start blowing hot air into it, causing the wood to expand very quickly.

 3. Wood oboes need to have their bore oiled with sweet almond oil between 2-4 times per year. I am a professional oboist and I live in Las Vegas, so in this dry climate I actually got into the habit of oiling once a month. An oboe professional or the double reed dealer that your purchased the oboe from will be able to do this for you.

 4. Never let the oboe go through drastic changes in temperature. I carry my instruments with me all types of places as opposed to leaving them in a hot car. I would rather drag my oboe with me through whole foods than have it crack and be ruined later!!!!! Also watch out not to keep it close to air vents in the house that are cranking hot or cold air.

 5. If your oboe cracks, don't freak (this is the toughest part!) Put it away immediately. DO NOT PLAY IT. Consider this an oboe emergency, and your first priority is getting it into the shop whether that is down the street or across the country. I know, believe me, this is easier said than done... but it has to be. No matter how many rehearsals, concerts, etc. you have lined up, you need to put your horn down to save it from further damage!

 Since it has been forever since I last blogged, I will give you some updates on ME without taking up too much time and boring you.

 1. I am pregnant! Our baby boy Noah is due July 2. This is our first baby, and we are super excited. He kicks me a lot, and has already been to many concerts (gigs that I have played :)

 2. I got a new oboe in January 2012. It is a Yamaha 841 Kingwood oboe with the lined topjoint. It is hands down my favorite oboe that I have every owned. I love to play it, and I think it sounds (and looks) beautiful.

 3. I am teaching 20 oboe students right now in ages ranging from 11-adult and skill from beginning through college. I love all of you guys, and am so happy to be the one to guide you through your "oboe journey", you make me proud every week!

 4. I am playing A TON! Ever since the opening of The Smith Center, I have been a busy lady playing everything from Mary Poppins, to Nutcracker, to Opera, to backing superstars! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

 5. I never planned this one: I sell a TON of oboe and English horn reeds every week. I even have customers in California and Michigan! Most of my customers are locals here in Las Vegas and my students, but it is great to be able to use this most unusual and highly specific set of skills to help people and supplement my income!
 That's pretty much it for now, Hi to everyone out there, and I will be posting again soon! :) Caitlin

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.

More Deals!

So the pickings on EBAY are good right now-- really good! Could be that other musicians out there are strapped for summer cash (I usually am). Not as many gigs during the summer + oboe students traveling out of town = less $.

Anyway, their trash can be your treasure. Here is a great BAM case (same one I rely on) for a steal.

EBAY!

If anyone is looking to snap up some English horn bocals at a possibly great price, go to ebay and search "English horn bocal".

There are four on there for sale, here is only one of them.

Or this is you have an extra $8000 and feel like taking a gamble!

Come Down In Time - Elton John (Tumbleweed Connection 2 of 10)

A few days ago I was talking to my Mom on the phone, telling her about my idea to start a group of some type this year. I was trying to describe to her the style of music I had in mind, and she right away said "OOooo I remember a song of Elton John's with oboe or English horn in it" (it is oboe :) ).

Here it is, the song has a a good feel and I like the use of oboe in it!

Summer time and the living is... oboe.

I am getting back into my "usual" routine here in the desert after last week's IDRS excitement. I can't begin to say how truly amazing it is for so many double reeders to converge on a common locale. It is something that I would recommend to everyone, a great place to meet up with friend you may not have seen in awhile (mine couldn't make it this year :( ) and also to meet new ones. I was so happy to get to meet my friend Cooper Wright after a lot of talking on the web and even a phone conversation it was great to have an oboe hang!

The first day of the conference was great, one of the very first performances I saw was from Madera Vox, and I loved it. The musicians were so relaxed and obviously really enjoying themselves. I will be the first to admit that when I chose the oboe I didn't exactly have designs of being a classical musician at age 11. I gravitated more toward something like Madera Vox, or the idea of being a studio musician- just unconventional stuff.

One of my other favorites that first day, and a real crowd pleaser and standout over the course of the entire conference seemed to be THREEDS. They are an unconventional oboe trio, and they aren't playing your typical Beethoven Trio! They played arrangements of pop tunes by Kathy Halvorsen their lead oboist. It was so fun to hear a lively, non-classical performance. To see that oboe CAN break out of it's baroque based history into other realms like rock and jazz was so inspiring.

That day I also heard an interesting lecture by Anne Lemke about nurturing "Very Young Oboists". Of course I went because I have a ton of "very young oboists" pretty much all of my students are "very young", little did I know that she was talking VERY young... like 4-6 year olds playing oboe. This is a concept that while it was very interesting to hear about, is not something that I would be very quick to take up. While she addressed many of the aspects that can be tamed through child sized instruments and specifications, the main issue I have in teaching kids that small are- they are LITTLE KIDS. They don't have the attention span, not to mention the nervous system development to really be going into this stuff. I don't know... thats just me. Still, an interesting lecture and some good information on instruments in case I have some 5 year old come in for oboe lessons one day. :)

One of the great aspects of the conference were the nightly recitals which were mainly reserved for the double reed superstars. Big names like Gordon Hunt (he was a-mazing) Richard Woodhams, Katherine Needleman, Nick Daniel, Peter Cooper, etc etc. I just think that it is an amazing thing in this modern time to be able to walk into a concert hall and see these treasured performers. With the digital music scene being IT for the younger generation, heck even MY generation partially, some people will never experience the art of live performance just like I did in ONE single evening of hearing these artists. It is really a shame, and I pretty much try not to think about it. The price of the conference is well paying for itself in the incredible experience of seeing live music mastered by true artists like these. So great!

I won't go on and on, but my most favorite conference experience was on my last day there (Thursday) seeing my oboe grandpa Nick Daniel put on a masterclass. He focused on British works, Benjamin Britten Temporal Variations, Goosens Concerto, and Benjamin Britten Six Metamorphoses After Ovid. The energy and passion for MUSIC alone that he brought to the class was so exceptional. He cared so much about not just the individual playing but the audience and how they were about to receive what was being presented to them. He nurtured each performer rather than presiding over them, and within minutes had them playing more confidently and more expressively. One of the things he really focused on was the body, and how it affects everything we are doing as musicians. This is something that I am constantly thinking about, as I have had some real issues with pain in my right shoulder and arm over the years. It was great to watch him work on someone's body for only a moment and have their sound totally change, and watch their "instrument" really work to it's fullest ability. I loved watching him teach!

Of course I can't talk about the conference without talking about the SHOPPING! I LOVE going into the vendor area of the conference, while it is always initially a little stressful because there is SO much, it is so cool to see what new things the oboe "diagon alley" has to offer. One of the great things I will tell you to watch out for is a new English horn staple designed by the one and only Mark Chudnow. It has a tiny rubber O-ring embedded in the end of the staple so it won't come off of the bocal- buh bye old stinky shrink tubing!

I was really interested in trying out some oboes while there, because lets face it- these days people are playing what THEY like, not just Lorees anymore and I really want to be able to tell my students ages 10-21 with good working knowledge what is WHAT out there in the world of oboes.

Several friends have made the switch from Loree to Yamaha, I have posted about this a lot- so again I had to try some. While the ones that I tried were so responsive and easy to play especially in the low register- the thing that bothered me sooo much was a weird buzzy brightness to the sound starting on our favorite middle C and going upward. That is just me, and that was just those oboes on the Yamaha dealer table.

I tried out some new Loree AKs and a Buffet Greenline which was really a nice oboe. I had tried it in April at a gig when Steve Caplan let me play his, and liked it. I am definitely recommending it to my upper level students. One of the nicest oboes I played was the cocobolo Howarth XL oboe. I loved it, it played so velvety and smooth with a very consistent dark sound AND it is 10% lighter than grenadilla. AND ..... it is $9200 hahaha. Just like purse shopping, I magically pick up the MOST expensive oboe in the room. Of course it is awesome it is $9200 it had BETTER be! Still, it will be at the top of my list when I have the $ and the need to be oboe shopping.

My little old Loree is still chugging along, I am going to have the old girl repadded and adjusted this summer so that should help things a ton.

I am so looking forward to the rest of the summer with all of my students taking lessons and a syllabus to write for Dixie State College in the fall along with reed making and composing exercises for studio materials- I should have plenty to keep me busy for a little bit!

Oboemania!

May has been so crazy! Not only have I had performances every week but also I have been in the Phantom pit way more than usual-- which I absolutely love. Some people might think that it would be tiring to play the same music night after night, but I just love it there (probably because I am not the one actually doing it ALL the time ;)), in all serious though-- I would love to do it full time. It is a fabulous group of musicians who get to hang out night after night and make the show sound amazing. Then there is just the atmosphere of a show-- so fun.

Students, gigs, shows, it has definitely been a really fun, and really busy month. I am so looking forward to regrouping a little bit this summer and getting ready for my college oboe kids at Dixie.

On Monday the 30th I am taking off on my solo road trip extraordinaire to Tempe, AZ for IDRS 2011. I haven't been to a conference since I graduated from college, so I am really looking forward to it. As my husband teased me earlier in the week- going as a "real professional" now. I am ready to soak up some inspiration and new ideas!

May hasn't been totally sunshine and rainbows: on Saturday I received word about my resume as it was being reviewed for the Utah Symphony English horn audition. I should have probably known by the size of the envelope (normal sized business envelope) that kind of like college applications, if you get the little one- it is bad news. The big one probably would have had a cover letter telling me that they were pleased to accept me as a candidate, blah blah etc and then the rep list and more audition details.

Not so. They decided that my resume when considered against the stature of the orchestra was not stacking up. I imagine that they want someone who has had a job before, or someone who isn't 26 (could it be??). For whatever reason, I got rejected and told that I couldn't even try. That is kind of a sucky thing. To be told that you can't even try, which is what an audition is; a tryout.

It just goes to show, you never know what an orchestra is looking for and whatever it is, that is their prerogative. This biz is pretty subjective that way, but the payoffs always far outweigh the times like this. I'll just keep going :)

Rite of Spring for Wind Quintet (Part 1, 1/2)

Yay! This would be so fun to do-- now I just need to round up 4 friends :)

St. Oboe's Passion...

After some weeks away, AGAIN... I am back. I am always thinking of these great ideas and topics that I am going to blog about, especially as I am driving because I have sooo much time in the car. However, when it comes down to getting home and actually blogging, it is pretty darn difficult when I have the choice between dinner and my bed and the computer screen.

This past weekend I had the great pleasure of playing St. Matthew's Passion with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society. I was really looking forward to this project as it is a pretty huge piece for the two obbligato oboe\oboe d'amore\oboe da caccia parts. I was assigned to play the second obbligato part with Stephen Caplan playing first, a great chance to play with a talented and seasoned oboe professional and a great learning experience indeed.

This project reminded me how athletic it can be to be a professional musician. We have to take such good care of our bodies and minds in order to pull off a 3 hour long performance like this one. I struggled at times with the endurance needed not only physically, but the concentration that I needed mentally. It was a great experience that I feel thankful to have and although it was stressful, there were aspects of the performance that I did manage to enjoy.

One big accomplishment that I will own up to is that I did this performance totally naturally. By this, I mean that I didn't take beta blockers or any type of medication to prepare for this concert. Performance anxiety has always been a monster on my back, and especially while at grad school in San Francisco when the pressure was high and the competition extremely fierce. It burned me out a little bit. A lot bit.

Since the beginning of graduate school, fear was my constant companion. I had never been scared to play the oboe like I was when I was a masters student- I had never felt anything but enjoyment and pure happiness while playing. To cope with things I did use beta blockers for many performances and auditions, and in the process I lost a lot of myself as an oboe player.

In the past months I have been working to overcome my anxiety, realizing that it is present in my daily life- not just my musical life. It is definitely becoming more manageable and as I learn how to overcome it, I have moved away from the use of any type of prescription aides. So this performance was a milestone for me. It was great to be totally present in the performance, it was great to look forward to and to love playing again.

I definitely don't look down on anyone who use propanalol or any other drugs to aide them in their work, it isn't a sign of weakness -we lead stressful lives. However, it has been very liberating for me to realize that my best oboe self works better and is more happy without them.

The big picture...

I have been thinking a lot lately about "the big picture" of my musical life, past-present-future. It is absolutely necessary to sit back and do this from time to time, I think- it will help me to grow and move forward.

I love to read, and I like to gain perspective through a lot of different mediums but reading, especially in the music psychology category is great.

An amazing book for really anyone that I am going to reread- The Art of Possibility by Ben Zander. It is really great, and I can't recommend it enough.

I need to read this book again in order to remind myself that I can tackle my goals (like being part of a professional orchestra)... the book is based on the concept that when you open yourself to all possibilities- especially positive, there is no limit to what you can accomplish. What an amazing concept!

New, Cool, Oboe Stuff!!!

I am a huge fan of Mark Chudnow, he is such a sweet guy and he is my supplier for my go-to staples that I have found really work for me- the Sierras. I just visited his website to purchase more of my beloved staples and found that he has created yet another innovative, new staple design.

Though I have never been able to make his corkless staples work for me, I know many people that swear by them and I am sure that this one will be no exception. If anyone tries it out, let me know how it goes!

Anuncio (commercial) Volkswagen Polo: Fagot (Bassoon)

Courtesy of my great friend, Ben Opie. This is some double reed fun to start the week off right!

J. Haydn - Oboe Concerto C-Dur 1st Movement

This is a post for my high school freshman student, A. We are testing out some solo pieces for her and this is one of the possibilities. Listen and enjoy the Haydn Oboe Concerto in C major...

I'm here... kind of!

Sorry for being a MIA oboe blogger for these first couple of weeks of February! I have been in and out of the Phantom pit, felt kind of funky health-wise (nothing serious), and of course have just been the usual level of busy.

I am brought back to you by a fun email that I received this morning from a friend (also a contractor of fun gigs of the not-typical-oboe-music kind)!

I have heard this story before... but that doesn't make it any less funny, and also a great reminder that nobody's perfect!

This is what I received...

Okay, the Toscanini story. Absolutely true. He was rehearsing the NBC
Symphony for the weekly Sunday morning radio concert . Halfway through a
movement of something or other, he stopped, frowned and said, "Will the
second oboe please play softer at measure seventy-two." They began again.
And again, Toscanini pulled up short, slammed his baton down on the stand,
and, pissed off, growled, "Will the second oboe please play softer starting
at measure seventy-two!" With that, the first oboist stood up, raised his
hand and said, "Maestro, forgive me, but the second oboe is not here yet,
he's late." Toscanini's face inverted as he growled, "Well, godammit, when
he gets here, tell him to play softer at seventy-two!"

Oboe Taxes

We are getting all of our tax documents lined up and going over them, as I am sure most all of you are as well. My husband is very diligent about this process, which is good because I am not. The best I can do is save all of my receipts and try to keep a log of where I travel to for work.

Over lunch, I racked up the countless odds and ends that I purchased in order to maintain my oboe studio, and perform-- things like music, staples, thread, turkey feathers, and of course cane all popped up as I tabulated away. I was expecting to see a scary number at the end, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting which surprised me! I think that I have always been the kind of person to make a "big deal" out of not-so-big-deal things, and then playing the oboe came along which lends itself to that dramatic tendency anyway :)

In total as I looked back over my mileage, all of the places I drove to, concerts and shows I played, students I taught, it seemed very worthwhile indeed. On paper, I would say 2010 looked pretty good!

This week I am kind of enjoying a taste of the good life- playing Phantom in the PM and relaxing a bit in the AM, twist my arm, go on :)

Phantom Overture Las Vegas

I am playing Phantom this week... can't wait! Here is a little clip that simulates the opening, I love seeing the chandelier fly right over our conductor's head every time :)