Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[Roseau]

I'm feeling quite excited (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

My music school had a pre-start of year meeting this evening and the head said that this year they have decided that they will be focussing on playing with other people. They have created a symphony orchestra which I am to be part of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And they are also going to be setting up chamber music sessions specifically for their adult learners (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

I'm feeling quite excited (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

My music school had a pre-start of year meeting this evening and the head said that this year they have decided that they will be focussing on playing with other people. They have created a symphony orchestra which I am to be part of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And they are also going to be setting up chamber music sessions specifically for their adult learners (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Sounds like good things are ahead!!!??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)


Hey, and did you folks notice that we have a whole slew of oboists in competition for "Most Sensible Poster" this year. Topped by our very own (oboist ad honorem) notmusicmum, who was almost in the medals at the last count... Who'd have thought, sensible oboists???!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[A.U.K]

Sensible...Perish the thought..

Well I had my first lesson since the xummer break which thanfully went ok..the break had done me good and my fingers pretty much went where they were supposed to..Its always a bit tricky, the first lesson back after the hols but overall it wasnt too bad. My lip was a bit suspect but managed to keep itself together flor the most part so a huge sigh of relief there..

Well its back to the practice now, studies and scales and pieces..Orchestra work starts again next week so we shall see what thay brings, hopefully nothing too demanding, I could do with a light season after the summer one which was a very tall order and let somone else have all the worry..

Glad to see everyone is around and doing well..

Andrew

[Isi]

When I was a non-oboist I always thought oboists were extremely sensible!
And a bit weird...! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I had my first lesson in a while last night as my teacher has been playing abroad for a few weeks. I was really worried that it was going to be awful because I haven't done nearly enough practise and didn't think my lip/embouchure would last more than a few minutes.
I fessed up at the start of the lesson so that my teacher was ready for what awfulness might follow but I think we were both pleasantly surprised! We concentrated on the Nielson Romanze ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) ) and managed to have a fairly decent stab.

Keri: I am extremely envious of your orchestra opportunity! What I wouldn't give to be able to play in a group... (Two more rejections from concert bands in the last week who are too full to accommodate any flutes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) )

Andrew: I have been employing your 'yawn' technique for opening the throat and finding it really effective, thank you very much for the tip! I can hear the difference in the higher register when I do it, so I just need to try and build it in to my technique so that I do it automatically whenever I take a breath during a piece.

Notmusimum: I hope Emsoboe enjoys her G8 journey. I also hope she finds some time to sleep in what always sounds like an incredibly busy (but very enjoyable) schedule!

[notmusimum]

Notmusimum: I hope Emsoboe enjoys her G8 journey. I also hope she finds some time to sleep in what always sounds like an incredibly busy (but very enjoyable) schedule!

She can managed to get out of bed early, but is useless at staying up late (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Nothing comes before sleep (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[flobiano]

Thought I'd rescue the thread before it dropped off the bottom of the page. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

How are we all getting on after the summer break?

I have just had my second lesson of the term, and fortunately it went a bit better than last weeks. I felt a bit despondant after my first one as I didn't seem to have made as much progress as I'd hoped and didn't play very well in my lesson.

But apparentely the Albinoni is now so much improved that teacher suggested that I put it to one side for a couple of weeks so I don't get sick of it. We went back to Italian Dance and picked up a bit of polishing to work on, and we had a discussion about potential C list piece. She's suggested I had a look a Jacob's Galop from the 7 Bagatelles. So will be giving that a go this week.

Scales are also coming along nicely, but I need to practice them all tongued this week as my tone is apparently much better when they are slurred...So I am hopeful that I will be able to do grade 7 this session though she hasn't made any mention yet of putting the application in.

In other news - orchestra started again last night! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) Looks like we are playing some nice things this term:
Grieg - Norwegian Dances
Rimsky-Korsakow - Capriccio Espagnol
Shumann - Symphony no 3
Weber - Euryanthy overture.

I'm also very excited as the local semi-professional orchestra that my teacher plays with are doing Handel's music for the Royal Fireworks with the original scoring i.e. with 24 oboes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) My teacher has roped me in as one of the extra oboes...I am expecting that to be a lot of fun, and a great experience as they are a really excellent orchestra.

It's all very exciting again! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hope everyone else is doing well. What are we all playing?

What are Emsoboe's plans for grade 8? Is she going for it this year? Which pieces is she thinking of doing?

Andrew are you still thinking of doing Grade 8?

Kerioboe - the chamber music sessions and symphony orchestra sound exciting. Any more details yet?

[Roseau]

I have just had my second lesson of the term

Lucky you! I still have a week to wait for my first lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

One of my wind bands did however have their first rehearsal last night so that was fun.

I'm also very excited as the local semi-professional orchestra that my teacher plays with are doing Handel's music for the Royal Fireworks with the original scoring i.e. with 24 oboes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) My teacher has roped me in as one of the extra oboes...I am expecting that to be a lot of fun, and a great experience as they are a really excellent orchestra.

That sounds very exciting - I would love to take part in something like that.
Last year my other wind band (not the one I went to last night) played an arrangement of this. Quite a lot of it had oboes and trumpets playing in unison. The conductor took out the oboes saying that trumpets only made it sound more like "Versailles." I remember thinking at the time "hang on a minute, Handel was in London not Paris and it's the trumpets who are the interlopers not the oboes!"

Kerioboe - the chamber music sessions and symphony orchestra sound exciting. Any more details yet?

No further news on that front yet - I'll find out about that next Wednesday too.

[notmusimum]

What are Emsoboe's plans for grade 8? Is she going for it this year? Which pieces is she thinking of doing?

Yes! Not sure if it will be Autumn or Spring until her lessons resume on 25th of month.

She's playing Vivaldi, Rubbra and Bourgeois number 2. The Bourgeois probably needs the most work.

She auditioned for an Orchestra last Saturday but it didn't go as well as it might, the room was very hot. We will hear this week sometime if she has got a place.

Gallop is a really fun piece. Emsoboe wasn't keen on the Dring, she's a bit fussy over modern pieces.

[katica]

Thought I'd rescue the thread before it dropped off the bottom of the page. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Good for you. Can't have that, can we?

It sounds as though you've pretty well got your act together for the new term! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

How are we all getting on after the summer break?

Our summer break is December to early Feb but we also have about a month off in July. With one thing and another the music school is only now just getting back into rhythm again.

I am supposed to be continuing with the Schumann Romances but as it looks like my only option for accompaniment for an oboe student recital on 25 Sep is going to run out on me I have to find alternative repertoire with less than three weeks to go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

This means duet(s) with my flatmate and something unaccompanied. Any suggestions?

I was wondering whether it would be at all possible to whip any of the Bagatelles into shape in that time. How difficult are they? Which would you suggest? Or something pleasant and a bit easier?

We haven't decided on any duets either yet. Unfortunately my flatmate doesn't like any of the Salviani duet studies that stevensfo kindly recommended a while back and the only ones in the Ferling books that looked manageable leave me heaving for breath. My teacher ruled out duets from Rothwell's Bach Difficult Passages book (because difficult and/or just passages... obviously! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) ). I have a Vanhal Sonata for 2 flutes (oboes) or bassoons but have no idea whether it would be feasible as I haven't tried it yet. Need to find something today, though, so we can get going. Suggestions welcome!

My scales, along with the Vivaldi C major concerto, are NOT coming along nicely at all! Me old brain and fingers have a distinct muscle memory problem (I'm sure you need more time practicing in proportion to the one's years but teacher insists this is just a mental block I have invented for myself). Whatever, I've had quite a telling off for the last two classes. While whittling away at a much-needed new reed, my teacher asked for a B major scale (oh good, nearly manageable...) and then asked for the dreaded A flat again. How does he just so exactly know where my worst traumas lie? If I can't get all major scales in chromatic succesion finger-perfect real quicko I am really going to be in for it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) The main problem at the moment seems to be connecting right and left brains so they can work together. Either fingers are OK but sound is ghastly or vice versa. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Orchestra is still bogged down by Peer Gynt Suite No.1 and another challenge for me is learning a more difficult oboe part now I've been bumped back up to Oboe I. I need one of those timeturner things that Hermione has in one of the Harry Potter books so I can double the time I have for practice!

The wedding I played at was fun. The pieces went pretty well except we made a complete hash of the Wagner Wedding March. We'd shortened it because the distance the aisle the bride had to walk down was pretty short (the wedding was a civil wedding held in a house) and she hung around so long before coming in we'd finished before she'd got half way down! For a split second we couldn't decide what to do and when we continued we were so out of sync we completely messed up and I virtually ended up improvising an accompaniment to the flute. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) It was completely horrible and ghastly!!! The funniest thing is that some of the unmusical guests seem not to have noticed at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

I'm also very excited as the local semi-professional orchestra that my teacher plays with are doing Handel's music for the Royal Fireworks with the original scoring i.e. with 24 oboes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) My teacher has roped me in as one of the extra oboes...I am expecting that to be a lot of fun, and a great experience as they are a really excellent orchestra.

Oh, I do hope you enjoy it! I am such an idiot I signed up for 3rd oboe at the IDRS conference playalong of that last year, complete with fireworks (which unfortunately I didn't see as we had our backs to them). It was really whacky! It probably sounded truly ghastly but it was huge fun.

[flobiano]

Gallop is a really fun piece. Emsoboe wasn't keen on the Dring, she's a bit fussy over modern pieces.

I think I'm the other way round, really like the Dring but am yet to be convinced by Gallop (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Had a play through this evening, and I have a recording of it too which I've been listening to. I still find myself singing "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date" every time I hear it!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

Hopefully Emsoboe's preparations for grade 8 will go well - i'm sure she'll sail through it.

Katica - glad you enjoyed the wedding, I'm sure most of the guests won't have noticed, you can chalk it up to experience and a good story (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) !! I'm sure you'll get there on the scales, just takes a bit of time, and repetition.

I have no clue on duets I'm afraid. The Bagatelles are mainly around grade 6/7 level I think. Personally I'm not that keen - they are a bit toooo disonant for me....I quite liked the Die Fire Riker pieces - the first one is quite straight forward and could be learned very easily. I'm sure someone will be around soon with some other suggestions. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

I have no clue on duets I'm afraid. The Bagatelles are mainly around grade 6/7 level I think. Personally I'm not that keen - they are a bit toooo disonant for me....I quite liked the Die Fire Riker pieces - the first one is quite straight forward and could be learned very easily. I'm sure someone will be around soon with some other suggestions. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks flobiano. Yes, I suspect the Jacob will be a bit dissonant for the audience too. I wish I had managed to get hold of a copy of the Madsen when I was in the UK in May but unfortunately I didn't and there isn't enough time to order it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Oh well, if I'm very lucky maybe I will get out of this recital and can go and hear the Mozart oboe concerto played by the young woman who sold me my first oboe. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Roseau]

She's playing Vivaldi, Rubbra and Bourgeois number 2. The Bourgeois probably needs the most work.

The Bouregois N° 2 is fun and quite tongue in cheek. I worked on it a little bit last year when my teacher said I should play something with short detached notes on my new oboe and I got bored of playing scales but I never really perfected it.

We haven't decided on any duets either yet. Unfortunately my flatmate doesn't like any of the Salviani duet studies that stevensfo kindly recommended a while back and the only ones in the Ferling books that looked manageable leave me heaving for breath. My teacher ruled out duets from Rothwell's Bach Difficult Passages book (because difficult and/or just passages... obviously! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) ).

Some of the Bach Difficult Passages do "work" as pieces - I know I played one of them with my teacher once in a pupils' concert (although perhaps this was the one he said was "too hard"). There are also some solo passages in there which work as pieces as well. However, if your teacher has already ruled them out, I suppose there is not much point insisting.

Some fairly easy but quite pretty unaccompanied studies can be found in Henri Brod "40 études progressive et 6 sonates"

As for duets, quite a lot of baroque music will work even without the basso continuo line. How about:
- the slow movement of the Vivaldi double oboe G minor sonata
- a slow movement from one of the Handel oboe/violin sonatas
- the first movement of the L'Oeillet sonata for flute/oboe in D minor or F (I am assuming your flat mate is more experienced than you as the flute part does have a couple of top Eb or E (depending on which one you chose) apart from those few notes, however the flute parts are very playable on an oboe)

I'll go and have a look on my shelves later and post again if I think of anything else (for several years I wouldn't play in public anything but duets with my teacher so I do have quite a few progressively more difficult things downstairs).

If you want me to scan a page of anything and send it to you so you can see what it's like, PM me with your e-mail address.

My scales, along with the Vivaldi C major concerto, are NOT coming along nicely at all! Me old brain and fingers have a distinct muscle memory problem (I'm sure you need more time practicing in proportion to the one's years but teacher insists this is just a mental block I have invented for myself)

I'm sure your teacher is quite right about inventing the mental block for yourself. You're probably just more demanding of yourself than a child would be. My daughters will both quite happily say things like "What are you fussing about? OK I forgot the Db on the way up and on the way down and the Eb wasn't quite in tune and I put in an extra Gb on the way down but it was still Ab major."

One of the courses I went on this summer suggested playing "expanded scales" to really fix the fingering. I'll explain in C major (so I don't have to bother typing sharps and flats):
C,D,C
C,D,E,D,C
C,D,E,F,E,D,C
C,D,E,F,G,F,E,D,C
etc.
ie you continue adding one note each time until you have covered the full two octaves (or twelfth) depending on the scale and then you do the same starting at the top and coming down:
C,B,C
C,B,A,B,C
C,B,A,G,A,B,C

[A.U.K]

Hello one and all,

apologies for my absence, family stuff and house stuff got in the way..

Glad to see everyone is busy playing and working on repetoire..I am bogged down with studies and Bach, lots and lots of Bach..The Easter Oratorio to be precise, it seems fiendish and is a big stretch..

Also still planning to do Grade 8, have found an accompanist, a very good one and we shall start working with eachother weekly in the next couple of weeks..One huge problem I dont as yet have a Piano but I think I have found one and am going to see it in London in the next couple of weeks..so fingers crossed..its a lovely 9ft grand and will sit perfectly in the studio here..

Lesson went well, and orchestra wasnt too hairy thank goodness..nothing that can't be learnt and perfected..says he with optimism.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Andrew

[Fantasia in P major]

Dear Flobiano,

Son enjoyed the same two pieces as you (Albinoni and the Italian Dance) from the minute he picked them up. He may have the same taste in pieces as you as he didn't play the Gallop for long. Let us know what you are considering for your third.


Dear A.U.K.,

Good idea to get practicing with an accompanist for your Grade 8. Looks like there'll be a few taking Grade 8 during the course of the year along with yourself and Emsoboe!!


Son had his woodwind audition today to find out which school orchestra he will be playing in.

Poor thing - he's only been at new school for a week and he's already got a cold! All those new bugs. I hope the teachers realise he's under par!

[katica]

kerioboe, thank you SOOO much! I'll have to start campaigning for you for the Most Useful Poster Award! Thanks to flobiano too for getting us going.

I'll take along your list to my teacher today and see what we can sort out. I know you gave me some duet recommendations a while back too, though I think we have managed to lumber ourselves with the Vanhal sonata. The first movement sort of came out yesterday. I'm a bit worried about all the triplets in the Minuet movement and am duly ignoring all apoggiaturas for the moment but I think it might be feasible.

Along the way I discovered a really good strategy for dealing with bloopers... a thoroughly good chuckle! Perhaps your daughters would approve, kerioboe. We had a really good time last night practicing and laughing at the mistakes (which didn't of course mean putting up with them)... which consequently disappeared much quicker. I don't think laughing in my lessons would be very well received, though. My teacher is a lovely person and huge fun - outside the classroom. In front of a student orchestra he is positively a dragon.

In the meantime I'm crossing fingers the recital might actually get postponed. The young woman who sold me my Patricola is playing the Mozart concerto, her first solo with the National Youth Orchestra, that very same night. As she is also an ex-student of my teacher and from the town where we'll be playing, so there's quite a group of her friends and colleagues who will be disappointed not to hear her play. They set the date months ago (wish they'd told me!) so I suppose there's not much chance of it getting moved.

Andrew - good luck with the piano! You should post a pic when it's installed!! I'm very envious of the Bach. We don't get nearly enough here.

Fantasia in P Major - good luck to your son. I hope they put him in the right orchestra for him and that he has oodles of fun.