to the Oboemobile!

I got a new car on Monday. Yea, I probably should have mentioned that I guess. I try to stick to oboe stuff and not get too "personal"on here, but the more that I think about it- the car thing has pretty much everything to do with the oboe.

See, I am one of those "freeway philharmonic" types that (like most musicians in this economy!) have to do a number of different commutes to get to the places that I "work". The main one being the approx. 80 miles that I drive (one way) to get to Las Vegas where I teach and play.

My car is as essential as my oboe. When it finally broke all the way down shortly before Christmas (after many previous attempts), I realized just how CRUCIAL my car is to my life.

My new ride is a 2011 Kia Soul, and so far- so good. My husband said that it isn't totally mine though until I brand it with some type of sticker, I am thinking something oboe related.

To all of my fellow musical freeway warriors out there, safe travels and see you on the road! :)

Everyday lifesaver...

I use so many different "gadgets" on a daily basis that I definitely have begun to take them for granted. One thing I thought I'd share which is a great little tool is this multi-tool.

I don't usually shop at Forrests, I used to when I was younger and didn't know of many other options, however, I have found that their prices are generally a little higher among some other issues. However, they have been in business a long time and do have a wide selection of necessary items.

If you use the search engine at the top of their site and type in "multi tool" this little doodad should pop up!

At any rate, the multi tool is awesome and way cheaper than the two separate components; screwdriver and spring hook.

I of course got a pink one.

A warm up...

This is my favorite oboe warm up.

It is a great thing to play right away, allowing you to focus on tone, and air support. All the credit goes to my undergraduate oboe teacher for showing me this great exercise.

Its the little things...

Day to day, I really find delight in the little things that liven up my routine. I know it might seem a little childish that I have a Hello Kitty reed case, or pink variegated oboe thread, but they really make me happy.

THIS is one of those little things that just might brighten up your routine a little bit!

Solo and Ensemble Time!

Yes, I know. The holidays have only just ended, and already it is back to the grind both ME and my oboe students. In only about 5 weeks it will be time for High School Solo and Ensemble here in the Las Vegas area, so it is time to get ready!

This is a great piece of music. I love the Handel authentic sonatas for oboe, they seem so simple on the surface but are truly complex, dynamic little capsules of wonderful music that lend themselves to a creatively minded performer.

This is one of my first picks for my high school oboists as far as solos are concerned. I think that the first and second movements are a good choice to display both lyrical and technical abilities of teenage oboists and it is a great little baroque starter piece.

The music can be found HERE... enjoy and good luck to all as you prepare for these types of performances!

Unusual Christmas oboist treasures

This is an oboe angel. Yep. Special, huh? I found her here.

Apparently this angel orchestra is a German tradition, and they handcraft these little cuties with all of the instruments-- there is even an English horn.

My parents got me one of these at the Christkindlmarket in Chicago, fashioned to look like me when I was a lot younger-- it has since been misplaced, and is surely somewhere in the depths of their basement. It is kind of my mission to find it this Christmas... We'll see if I am lucky!

Home for the Holidays and more ebay goodies...

I am home today! I taught my last students, sold my last reeds yesterday and then headed home for "White Christmas" on TV and a Pawl family Christmas celebration with my husband before we head off to Michigan to see our families.

I am getting our doggies ready to head to the vet for their own little "vacation", trying to pack (mostly procrastinating) and have ended up here on the computer browsing some blogs, sending a last few email correspondences and of course-- sifting through a little oboe ebay.

Today I came across THIS! Isn't it great? I never recommend buying instruments on ebay, for soooo many good reasons-- but a little window shopping and daydreaming never hurt, right?

The only other horn that I have seen like this one belongs to Marilyn Coyne of the San Francisco opera who plays a rosewood, Loree EH with gold plated keys--- it is beyond gorgeous.

I love these beautiful instruments (rosewood, kingwood) with the extra bells and whistles (gold plated keys, or rose gold plated keys), however, I am too scared to own one because I have always thought that with them comes a certain sort of expectation...

I mean you have to be 1st chair in the Chicago Symphony to justify playing an oboe that outwardly awesome right??!!

I am pretty sure that I am just severely insecure, but ehhh maybe one day I will get around to owning a truly remarkable instrument like THIS...

One of the most interesting instruments like this, (to me personally) is the Yamaha 841 Kingwood oboe with the lined topjoint. I have several friends who use this horn and really love it. I have played them quite a bit, my former teacher Pamela Smith, of the San Francisco Symphony had two a regular 841 "ninja oboe" as she called it, and a "chocolate ninja" made of Kingwood.

Still thinking on this....... the price is right that is for sure! :)