Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[Arundodonuts]

I think we cultivate the madness thing just to appear "windswept and interesting" as Billy Connolly used to say.

Billy Connolly said that?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Oh I wish bassmadmatt were here to see this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

He didn't actually use it about oboists!! It's how he described himself.

[Stephie]

I think we cultivate the madness thing just to appear "windswept and interesting" as Billy Connolly used to say.

Billy Connolly said that?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Oh I wish bassmadmatt were here to see this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

He didn't actually use it about oboists!! It's how he described himself.

Haha I know! It's just that I've been applying that phrase to bassmadmatt for ages now, and I didn't realise someone else had used the exact same phrase before! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[bassmadmatt]

Haha! My moment of fame!

[Roseau]

Who'd have thought that so much would change by changing your thumb support?! I hope my attempts to correct my wrist are equally successful... Actually, at my lesson this week I commented to my teacher that I "knew someone" who didn't use the thumb rest and whether that was OK. His answer was along the lines of " well, you find all oboists do all sorts of things... but why would you want to? It would probably make your wrist and hand much tenser..." Well, happily you found the answer for yourself! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It is so much more comfortable holding it properly - I can't believe that I have been doing it wrong for so long (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) . Suddenly all these things my teacher has been telling me about balancing the oboe make sense and I can also understand why he couldn't understand why I always had the impression I was going to drop the oboe when I had to play 3rd octave C followed by 3rd octave E which involves moving all my fingers... I'm feeling ridiculously excited about my next lesson, like a child who wants to go and say "look what I can do" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What are you trying to do with your wrists Katica? Nothing quite as drastic as me I hope (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The XL is revealing my bad habits, though. I am having quite a bit of trouble when I have to move from certain notes such as middle C sharp to LH E flat. My wrist/finger position is often slightly off and then I get a fuzzy note.

I have/had (it's getting better) a similar problem. The LH E flat is quite a stretch on the XL (I compared it to my teacher's the other week). My teacher did explain that there are various ways of making the key slightly longer (all of which involve parting with the oboe for several weeks) but I think (hope) I will get used to it eventually. I am doing lots of exercices Db and B majors and also a Gillet exercices which involve alternating Ds with left-hand and right-hand E flats (1st and 2nd octave) and then the same plus D flats and then with right-hand and left-hand G sharps thrown in as well and octave jumps. They are a bit like tongue-twisters for the oboe (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) And I get in a muddle after a while and don't know which hand is which but I'm hoping they will help my finger to know where it's supposed to be going.

Lots of really useful practice tips. I hope they work.

Are there any you can share?

I'm supposed to have the first part of the Vivaldi concerto I am studying committed to memory for next week.

Which one are you playing? (ie what key)

[Stephie]

Haha! My moment of fame!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[itchy1]

Hi there everyone
I've been away for a while...too much life, but I'm really glad to be back.
I got my G5 theory last session, and I'm hoping to do some higher grades...G6 next Easter, and then G8 a bit later!
Over the last few months I've been starting to get to grips with reed making...and playing scales...It's a bit worrying really.
Anyway it's nice to be back on Forums! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Stephie]

Hi there everyone
I've been away for a while...too much life, but I'm really glad to be back.
I got my G5 theory last session, and I'm hoping to do some higher grades...G6 next Easter, and then G8 a bit later!
Over the last few months I've been starting to get to grips with reed making...and playing scales...It's a bit worrying really.
Anyway it's nice to be back on Forums! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Welcome back, itchy1! I was away for a while too, so we're back about the same time [I've been back online a week or so, I think] (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I gave up on making reeds a loooong time ago! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I'd definitely like to start back up again. How are finding it?

[Roseau]

Hi there everyone
I've been away for a while...too much life, but I'm really glad to be back.
I got my G5 theory last session, and I'm hoping to do some higher grades...G6 next Easter, and then G8 a bit later!
Over the last few months I've been starting to get to grips with reed making...and playing scales...It's a bit worrying really.
Anyway it's nice to be back on Forums! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I wondered where you'd got to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Congratulations on the theory.

And what is it that's worrying about reed-making and scales? (I assume you're not trying to do both at once (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

[itchy1]

Thanks for the welcome, it's really good to be back online.
About the scales, I'm just worried that enjoying scales makes me a bit of a nerd (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ...but is that a problem?
The reed making is great, most of the time. I'm just beginning, but I seem to able to make reeds that at least play in tune. I can't make very consistent reeds, but I'm hoping that I'll get better at it.
I started to make my own reeds because I was getting fed of buying expensive ready made reeds that had to be scraped before they would work for me, so I thought I would have a go myself.
Any reed making hints and tips would be welcome!

[Stephie]

Any reed making hints and tips would be welcome!

I'm afraid I can't help on that point - my reeds fail every time! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I'm thinking of trying again though, so I'll let you know if there's any improvement (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

Thanks for the welcome, it's really good to be back online.
About the scales, I'm just worried that enjoying scales makes me a bit of a nerd (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ...but is that a problem?

We ascertained a few days ago that oboists are nerdy geeks. I enjoy scales (in a masochistic sort of way). I'm quite sure they (in their multitudinous forms) are the only way to embed the mental map of the instrument. Plus they are excellent for tuning, tone and timing.

The reed making is great, most of the time. I'm just beginning, but I seem to able to make reeds that at least play in tune. I can't make very consistent reeds, but I'm hoping that I'll get better at it.
I started to make my own reeds because I was getting fed of buying expensive ready made reeds that had to be scraped before they would work for me, so I thought I would have a go myself.
Any reed making hints and tips would be welcome!

Well I've just started myself and the only advice I can offer is don't expect to make good reeds until you've made a few hundred. Which reminds me, I have about a dozen tied on ready to scrape. I must get cracking.

[itchy1]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only nerdy geek out there!

[Roseau]

I've just had another really good lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
But I won't have one for the next two weeks because the music school is shut for half term (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I still can't get over what a difference it makes now that I have the oboe resting correctly on my thumb. It hasn't become automatic yet and concentrating on my thumb led to a few more wrong notes than usual but my teacher said not to worry about them and that they will sort themselves out once the thumb position has become instinctive which he thinks will be the case after the holidays.

[notmusimum]

I've just had another really good lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
But I won't have one for the next two weeks because the music school is shut for half term (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I still can't get over what a difference it makes now that I have the oboe resting correctly on my thumb. It hasn't become automatic yet and concentrating on my thumb led to a few more wrong notes than usual but my teacher said not to worry about them and that they will sort themselves out once the thumb position has become instinctive which he thinks will be the case after the holidays.

It's always the way when sorting something out that another aspect of playing wants some attention too.

On another note has anyone heard from Andrew? I'm starting to worry about him too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Isi]

I've just had another really good lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
But I won't have one for the next two weeks because the music school is shut for half term (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I still can't get over what a difference it makes now that I have the oboe resting correctly on my thumb. It hasn't become automatic yet and concentrating on my thumb led to a few more wrong notes than usual but my teacher said not to worry about them and that they will sort themselves out once the thumb position has become instinctive which he thinks will be the case after the holidays.

Keri, can I ask how you were holding it previously and what the difference is now?

I *think* I use the rest properly, but my right wrist does get quite tense and starts to ache after 15 mins or so. I'm not sure if that's just because I'm a relatively new starter or if it has something to do with hand/finger position. I will bring it up with my teacher tonight, but would be interested to hear exactly what your experience is....

I'm currently struggling a lot with LH Eb - my fingers just don't bend naturally! LH F is OK, but as soon as the little finger slides to the other banana key the rest of my fingers straighten out and slide right off the keys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)