Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[flobiano]

I was hoping to get a good few hours practice in today and tomorrow but have a horrible cold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) hope you feel better soon. My practice plans were scuppered today as well. I was planing to take advantage of having the house to myself and have a nice long session this afternoon. Instead I ended up spending all afternoon/ early evening in bed with a migraine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Sounds like your making a good start Louise, I would definitely echo the need to get a good oboe specialist teacher. I started with a general woodwinder and it was not a good idea. You need someone to help you with reeds, it really does make all the difference - they need a lot more adjustment/ playing around with than clarinet ones. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

I was hoping to get a good few hours practice in today and tomorrow but have a horrible cold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) hope you feel better soon. My practice plans were scuppered today as well. I was planing to take advantage of having the house to myself and have a nice long session this afternoon. Instead I ended up spending all afternoon/ early evening in bed with a migraine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh no. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I hope it subsides soon. Migraines are the worst thing for disrupting oboe playing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

I took a break Thursday-Friday. Long oboe sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday left my lower abdomen so sore that I was very pathetic in pilates class on Thursday (taking it very gently) and decided it needed a rest. I don't know how on earth I survived that week in January. Roseau must be right and it was pure adrenalin that got me through. I suspect it will still be a few months before I get back to normal stamina.

[louise1712]

I was hoping to get a good few hours practice in today and tomorrow but have a horrible cold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) hope you feel better soon. My practice plans were scuppered today as well. I was planing to take advantage of having the house to myself and have a nice long session this afternoon. Instead I ended up spending all afternoon/ early evening in bed with a migraine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Sounds like your making a good start Louise, I would definitely echo the need to get a good oboe specialist teacher. I started with a general woodwinder and it was not a good idea. You need someone to help you with reeds, it really does make all the difference - they need a lot more adjustment/ playing around with than clarinet ones. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You have my sympathies flobiano, migraines are awful things (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I will see a teacher as often as I can, there's just no way I can commit to regular lessons unfortunately.

Thanks for the book suggestions katica (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I can see a trip to the music shop coming on to have a look (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Roseau]

Katica and Flobiano: hope your health improves soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

For Katica (and anyone else who's interested), links to two articles about French articulation and recorders:
http://ranumspanat.com/html%20pages/tu_and_ru.html
http://ranumspanat.com/html%20pages/laurin.html
These are the two open access ones that I found the most interesting.

Louise, I too second what everyone else has said, an oboe teacher is vital at the beginning for reeds. Having a reed that works for you makes an unbelievable difference. When you first start you won't know if it is you or the reed that is causing problems but an oboe teacher will. They will also know what sort of reed will suit you as it is all very personal and someone else's favourite reed may not suit you at all.

As Katica said, because you can read music and play another wind instrument, you will probably get through Learn as You Play quite fast but (from having done this myself) I think there is a danger of going too fast. There are some oboe specific fingering problems (like the half hole for D) which you need to spend some time learning to do correctly. The Raina East book (called something like Technical Exercises) has short scale and arpeggio studies in each key as well as a couple of other studies on more general "problems" (ie low notes / high notes / bringing out a melody line etc.) which I found useful for consolidating things in the early stages.

One of the most useful things you can do (which doesn't need any books) is lots of long tones and also a slow scale (chromatic or major) making sure each note sounds like the preceeding note tonewise.

[louise1712]

Thanks for all the advice, it's greatly appreciated. Need to find a teacher who is willing to give occasional lessons now.

[Hardying]

Apologies for absence in recent weeks.
My 92 yr old Mother has been in hospital since Dec 30th in Sussex, so haven't had too much time or energy to devote to discussion board. Anyhow, did manage to play in the Egham concert yesterday, which was great fun & I was fortunate to be accompanied by Benjy, who did a grand job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Best of luck louise1712 with the oboe - it's a great instrument, & allows release of emotions as it is so expressive. A few people commented yesterday on the soulfulness of my playing!

Hope you're soon fully fit again Katica & that everyone else manages to shake off/keep at bay all the nasty bugs doing the rounds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

[louise1712]

Apologies for absence in recent weeks.
My 92 yr old Mother has been in hospital since Dec 30th in Sussex, so haven't had too much time or energy to devote to discussion board. Anyhow, did manage to play in the Egham concert yesterday, which was great fun & I was fortunate to be accompanied by Benjy, who did a grand job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Best of luck louise1712 with the oboe - it's a great instrument, & allows release of emotions as it is so expressive. A few people commented yesterday on the soulfulness of my playing!

Hope you're soon fully fit again Katica & that everyone else manages to shake off/keep at bay all the nasty bugs doing the rounds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

Thanks Hardying, glad you managed to get to Egham yesterday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[louise1712]

I've got my first oboe lesson on Friday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

I've got my first oboe lesson on Friday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Excellent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[flobiano]

Apologies for absence in recent weeks.
My 92 yr old Mother has been in hospital since Dec 30th in Sussex, so haven't had too much time or energy to devote to discussion board. Anyhow, did manage to play in the Egham concert yesterday, which was great fun & I was fortunate to be accompanied by Benjy, who did a grand job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sorry to hear about your Mother. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

Glad you were able to get to, and enjoy, Egham. What did you play?

I've got my first oboe lesson on Friday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Hope you enjoy it!

[louise1712]

I've got my first oboe lesson on Friday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks, lots of talk about reeds on the telephone when we arranged the time...... Am borrowing a Buisson student oboe, anyone know anything about these, there doesn't seem to much info when I googled them????

[Hardying]

[quote name='flobiano' date='Feb 21 2012, 06:15 PM' post='1130337']
[Sorry to hear about your Mother. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

Glad you were able to get to, and enjoy, Egham. What did you play?

Thanks Flobiano

I played Andantino by Cherubini & Andante Cantabile from Solo de Concert no 4 by Verroust.

Both lovely pieces & the 2nd one is great for concerts.

Afraid I've not hear of a Buisson student oboe, Louise 1712, but hope you enjoy learning the oboe.

Take Care everyone XX

[Barry Toner]

Thanks, lots of talk about reeds on the telephone when we arranged the time...... Am borrowing a Buisson student oboe, anyone know anything about these, there doesn't seem to much info when I googled them????

You'll get used to lots of talk about reeds amongst oboe players - some seem to talk about nothing else (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) . They are, however, extremely important and vary between responsive and easy to play to tough as old boots and a nightmare to play. This is where experienced teachers are so important.

Google doesn't produce much about Buisson oboes, but I hope your teacher finds you a better condition one than this!

[louise1712]

Thanks, lots of talk about reeds on the telephone when we arranged the time...... Am borrowing a Buisson student oboe, anyone know anything about these, there doesn't seem to much info when I googled them????

You'll get used to lots of talk about reeds amongst oboe players - some seem to talk about nothing else (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) . They are, however, extremely important and vary between responsive and easy to play to tough as old boots and a nightmare to play. This is where experienced teachers are so important.

Google doesn't produce much about Buisson oboes, but I hope your teacher finds you a better condition one than this!

Well, the photo I've seen of it, it does look to be in better condition than that one! It's rather a concern though not to be able to find much info on them.

As for reeds, well, I thought finding good clari reeds was tricky, it sounds even trickier for oboes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Ah well, that's teachers worry, at least to start with (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[pianophrase]

Apologies for absence in recent weeks.
My 92 yr old Mother has been in hospital since Dec 30th in Sussex, so haven't had too much time or energy to devote to discussion board. Anyhow, did manage to play in the Egham concert yesterday, which was great fun & I was fortunate to be accompanied by Benjy, who did a grand job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Best of luck louise1712 with the oboe - it's a great instrument, & allows release of emotions as it is so expressive. A few people commented yesterday on the soulfulness of my playing!

Hope you're soon fully fit again Katica & that everyone else manages to shake off/keep at bay all the nasty bugs doing the rounds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

It was great to meet you at Egham Hardying and I thought your playing was lovely. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Sorry to hear about your Mother. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)