Hiring An Oboe As A Total Beginner Options

[flobiano]

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Another point to mention, especially as it is a difference from the flute, it is really important to breathe out first before you take a breath in.

You don't expel all your air through the oboe so, if you don't breath out, you can end up with lots of stale air in your lungs which will soon lead to you feeling rather dizzy and uncomfortable. So it is good to get into the habit of always breathing out the excess before you take in any fresh.

I also think that you don't need to take in as much air as you do for the flute. You still need to breath from your diaphragm, but need to give far more support to the air stream.

My teacher also recommends dipping the reed in water at the end and blowing through the "wrong" end sharply to clear out any bits of debris. You can also use the corner of a thin piece of card to very carefully make sure that it's clear of gunk. This will extend the life of the reed provided you are careful not to damage it.

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[katica]

I am a flautist but have always harboured a longing to play the oboe.

I'm EXACTLY the same!!! I would be really interested to hear your experiences.

oooh, how exciting - more flautists fantasising about oboes! Go for it!

A few years ago I was out shopping for a sofa for my new home. I also needed a new digital piano stand so I went into the music shop for one and they had a big flute sale. I got inveigled into trying a beginner one and it sounded wonderful ... so I came away with a flute instead of a sofa! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I hadn't been playing around with it for very long when a flautist friend told me I would develop bad habits if I didn't get a teacher but I was very busy with after work postgraduate courses so I put the flute away...

In the meantime (and to cut a long and curious story short) I realised that what I really wanted to play was the oboe - and I haven't looked back since...

...

Have you done any reed exercises without the oboe? You need to get a reed ready to play. Soak the tip of the reed in water for about a minute before you use it. Blow out the surplus water. Now stick it in your mouth up to the binding and close your lips loosely around it. Blow hard. It should "crow" (make a sort of squeaky 2 tone sound). Repeat until it does. Then put it in your mouth as if to play (do you know how to make an oboe embouchure?) and blow hard. It should now give a fairly monotone squeak around C.

...

This is excellent advice. In fact for my first oboe classes all I did was play on the reed. That was partly because I got bitten by the oboe bug so hard and fast I didn't even have an oboe but signed up anyway... also because I wasn't convinced I'd be able to get a sound out and I might have to give up, so I decided to give my self three tries on the reed to start with. Actually, that's how my teacher starts beginners out anyhow. As pushpull says you can only manage about 10 minutes a day at first. So, I spent the first couple of weeks just playing about with the reed, trying to blow steady notes at the three basic positions that you use on the oboe: out near the tip (about A flat on the reed alone - used for the lower ntoes on the oboe), nearer to the tube (should sound about B flat) and with more reed in our mouth (about C). It helps to get used to the reed before you start adding in the complications of the oboe itself.

Do you think I would notice a difference using a different reed?

You will probably notice a difference using a different reed but I think the best thing to do is to find a teacher. Until you have some experience of playing you won't know what is down to the reed and what is down to your playing. Nor will you know what you want the reed to do or be able to explain what you find unsatisfactory about your current reed.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) , so getting a specialist teacher and solving reed issues boils down to the same thing. I do hope you find someone who can help you make the most of your new enthusiasm.

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Roseau]

So, I spent the first couple of weeks just playing about with the reed, trying to blow steady notes at the three basic positions that you use on the oboe: out near the tip (about A flat on the reed alone - used for the lower ntoes on the oboe), nearer to the tube (should sound about B flat) and with more reed in our mouth (about C). It helps to get used to the reed before you start adding in the complications of the oboe itself.

Moving the reed in or out for different notes is not standard practice in all countries. I think Americans always do this because their reeds are scraped differently to European reeds. (My teacher describes playing American reeds as like playing the recorder). Certainly on the French reeds I use the only notes which require slightly more reed in the mouth are 3rd octave G and above. For all the other notes having more or less reed in the mouth is a part of more advanced technique which enables you to change the tone colour of notes.

If you are using a European short scrape reed then the most common fault for beginners is having too much reed in your mouth and not resting the reed firmly enough against your bottom lip.

[Isi]

Wow, all this fantastic advice, thanks everyone!!

Sadly I have't made any progress in finding a teacher yet. I tried to ring someone yesterday but I got an international ring tone so I hung up as I don't want to disturb anyone on their holidays.

I am waiting to hear back to an email I sent to someone else - fingers crossed!

There aren't that many teachers in my part of London (especially as I'm a bit picky and want someone more experienced than your typical final year music student) so I'm a little bit worried I won't find a specialist who has capacity to take me on. Especially as I can only make evening or weekend lessons due to work...

In the meantime I will definitely take the advice about practising just using the reed for a while and then maybe progressing to long notes.

I have read lots of wesbites re embouchure and think I have an idea of what to do, although you do read a lot of conflicting advice which is a bit confusing!

I guess I will carry on muddling through by myself and just hope I find a teacher quickly so I don't waste too much time. Does anyone recommend any good books on basic teachniques that would help in the meantime?

Thanks again, it's great to hear everyone's advice and experience.

[Roseau]

There aren't that many teachers in my part of London (especially as I'm a bit picky and want someone more experienced than your typical final year music student) so I'm a little bit worried I won't find a specialist who has capacity to take me on. Especially as I can only make evening or weekend lessons due to work...

At least a final year oboe specialist music student would have a very thorough knowledge of the instrument and in that respect might be better than a more experienced teacher for whom oboe is not their first instrument. Even just a few lessons (while looking for the teacher you really want) would point you in the right direction of how to form your embouchure correctly and could scrape a reed (or two) for you.

I have read lots of wesbites re embouchure and think I have an idea of what to do, although you do read a lot of conflicting advice which is a bit confusing!

A lot of the websites are American and they do play differently to Europeans because they use different reeds (this includes the way they hold the instrument).

I guess I will carry on muddling through by myself and just hope I find a teacher quickly so I don't waste too much time. Does anyone recommend any good books on basic teachniques that would help in the meantime?

Evelyn Rothwell wrote two volumes on oboe technique which are now out of print. They are meant to be for adults teaching themselves and include photos of what you should and shouldn't do but really the best solution is to find a teacher who can show you.

[violoboist]

There aren't that many teachers in my part of London (especially as I'm a bit picky and want someone more experienced than your typical final year music student) so I'm a little bit worried I won't find a specialist who has capacity to take me on. Especially as I can only make evening or weekend lessons due to work...

At least a final year oboe specialist music student would have a very thorough knowledge of the instrument and in that respect might be better than a more experienced teacher for whom oboe is not their first instrument. Even just a few lessons (while looking for the teacher you really want) would point you in the right direction of how to form your embouchure correctly and could scrape a reed (or two) for you.

I have read lots of wesbites re embouchure and think I have an idea of what to do, although you do read a lot of conflicting advice which is a bit confusing!

A lot of the websites are American and they do play differently to Europeans because they use different reeds (this includes the way they hold the instrument).

I guess I will carry on muddling through by myself and just hope I find a teacher quickly so I don't waste too much time. Does anyone recommend any good books on basic teachniques that would help in the meantime?

Evelyn Rothwell wrote two volumes on oboe technique which are now out of print. They are meant to be for adults teaching themselves and include photos of what you should and shouldn't do but really the best solution is to find a teacher who can show you.

You'll find the Rothwell on EBay, I'm sure. It's where I got mine...

[Isi]

Thanks, Kerioboe. I did mean to say that I want an oboe specialist teacher, which is partly why it's a bit more difficult.

I only realised last year how many bad habits and techniques I have when playing the flute which is largely down, I think, to having been taught by a woodwind generalist whose first instrument was sax when I was at school.

If I don't have any luck in the next few days locating someone I will consider widening the net. Although saying that I don't think there are actually that many other alternatives...

Anyway, I will no doubt update you all with my progress!


Thanks also for the book recommendation - I saw this in Howarth's when I went in the other day so I might stop by on my way home and pick it up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

There aren't that many teachers in my part of London (especially as I'm a bit picky and want someone more experienced than your typical final year music student) so I'm a little bit worried I won't find a specialist who has capacity to take me on. Especially as I can only make evening or weekend lessons due to work...

At least a final year oboe specialist music student would have a very thorough knowledge of the instrument and in that respect might be better than a more experienced teacher for whom oboe is not their first instrument. Even just a few lessons (while looking for the teacher you really want) would point you in the right direction of how to form your embouchure correctly and could scrape a reed (or two) for you.

Indeed. My first teacher had just finished a postgrad diploma. I ummed and ahhed about going to someone young and presumably inexperienced but I needn't have been worried, she was excellent.

Thanks also for the book recommendation - I saw this in Howarth's when I went in the other day so I might stop by on my way home and pick it up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The one in print now is a condensed version of the original 3 volumes. It's worth having but if you have a good music lending library close by, see if you can get hold of the original edition. It's big (so you can read the exercises) and well illustrated.

[Isi]

I have a teacher!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)


I have to wait 3 weeks until I can have a lesson, but it sounds promising and she looks great. Just got to hope she doesn't refuse to take me on after hearing me!

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[Arundodonuts]

I have a teacher!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)


I have to wait 3 weeks until I can have a lesson, but it sounds promising and she looks great. Just got to hope she doesn't refuse to take me on after hearing me!

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Excellent. Until then just keep plugging away at that 10-15 mins a day and I'm sure you'll give a favourable impression.

[katica]

So, I spent the first couple of weeks just playing about with the reed, trying to blow steady notes at the three basic positions that you use on the oboe: out near the tip (about A flat on the reed alone - used for the lower ntoes on the oboe), nearer to the tube (should sound about B flat) and with more reed in our mouth (about C). It helps to get used to the reed before you start adding in the complications of the oboe itself.

Moving the reed in or out for different notes is not standard practice in all countries. I think Americans always do this because their reeds are scraped differently to European reeds. (My teacher describes playing American reeds as like playing the recorder). Certainly on the French reeds I use the only notes which require slightly more reed in the mouth are 3rd octave G and above. For all the other notes having more or less reed in the mouth is a part of more advanced technique which enables you to change the tone colour of notes.

If you are using a European short scrape reed then the most common fault for beginners is having too much reed in your mouth and not resting the reed firmly enough against your bottom lip.

Useful to know!

Yes, I use an American-scrape reed.

[louise1712]

What a useful thread, I'm looking forward to starting my oboey journey, and there's a lot of excellent information in this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[katica]

What a useful thread, I'm looking forward to starting my oboey journey, and there's a lot of excellent information in this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) with your oboe journey, louise1712!

With clari, flute and violin on the go, you'd better think about giving up any idea of a daytime job!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And you know you'll get lots of support and advice (probably in great detail (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ) from the oboe crowd. We're usually to be found over on the "Where Are All the Oboists These Days" thread, so come and join us... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[louise1712]

What a useful thread, I'm looking forward to starting my oboey journey, and there's a lot of excellent information in this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) with your oboe journey, louise1712!

With clari, flute and violin on the go, you'd better think about giving up any idea of a daytime job!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And you know you'll get lots of support and advice (probably in great detail (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ) from the oboe crowd. We're usually to be found over on the "Where Are All the Oboists These Days" thread, so come and join us... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks katica (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) once I get going I know where to come for advice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm really looking forward to having a go. The violin is rarely out of its case these days.... and the cornet isn't getting as much attention as it was so it's possible that these two may go (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) the clari will always be my first love (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Hope things are better with you now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

What a useful thread, I'm looking forward to starting my oboey journey, and there's a lot of excellent information in this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) with your oboe journey, louise1712!

With clari, flute and violin on the go, you'd better think about giving up any idea of a daytime job!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And you know you'll get lots of support and advice (probably in great detail (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ) from the oboe crowd. We're usually to be found over on the "Where Are All the Oboists These Days" thread, so come and join us... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks katica (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) once I get going I know where to come for advice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm really looking forward to having a go. The violin is rarely out of its case these days.... and the cornet isn't getting as much attention as it was so it's possible that these two may go (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) the clari will always be my first love (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Hope things are better with you now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Much better, thank you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'd forgotten you'd started on the cornet too!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)