Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[A.U.K]

Oh I am just running through the Hinke studies, nothing fancy, nice and straightforward and not overly taxing, but they cover all keys and make the fingers move so it's all positive. Might dig out the Ferling next, I like them.

Flower clock inching ahead.. best taken slowly and in small bites, agonising over every detail. The Tango section is tricky, very tricky and as for the slow movement, well it's lovely but takes a lot of puff and control as it plays way down and PPP..(not my strong point) Had to take reed knives out and seriously soften off a reed, thankfully it gave it a new lease of life and makes the most gorgeous sound and it's as old as the hills.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) and it's still in tune

Honestly I don't want to play Saint Saens or anything too regular. I have some Gliere pieces which are lovely and not overly simple or there is the Sarabande and Allegro which I really like..it maybe time to revisit that.

So tonight scales, arpeggios, scales in thirds and then some twiddling about..I do love a twiddle, you know the thing, party tricks, runs, triplet runs, cascading arpegios always sound lovely and can prove handy in cadenzas. No real technique required just slow practice until they fall from the fingers without thinking.

Happy Blowing people.

[louise1712]

Glad you're feeling better A.U.K (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Haven't managed any oboe playing (or any playing) tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) embouchure improving, usually start with five mins or so on the soft reed then am able to progress onto the harder reed for another fifteen mins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) notes are sounding much better, still a little on the sharp side at times but am working on it. Lesson on Friday, hope to be able to get some practice in before then....

[A.U.K]

Glad you're feeling better A.U.K (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Haven't managed any oboe playing (or any playing) tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) embouchure improving, usually start with five mins or so on the soft reed then am able to progress onto the harder reed for another fifteen mins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) notes are sounding much better, still a little on the sharp side at times but am working on it. Lesson on Friday, hope to be able to get some practice in before then....

Hello Loiuse yes I am feeling much better thank you. I had a nasty bout of glandular fever. I have had it before but get these secondary infections from time to time. I don't reccomend it.

How long have you been playing Louise ? If you are sounding sharp it sounds like tension in the embouchure and or the reed may need to be pulled out a little. Which reeds are you using and what Oboe are you playing. Each Oboe has it's on foibles and quirks but equally each make can be quite distinctive in how they play. Loree can be flat towards the lower end so you may have to try different reeds until you find what suits your Oboe.

Oh and I see you are going to Benslow in April, are you doing Andrew Knights weekend?

[louise1712]

Glad you're feeling better A.U.K (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Haven't managed any oboe playing (or any playing) tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) embouchure improving, usually start with five mins or so on the soft reed then am able to progress onto the harder reed for another fifteen mins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) notes are sounding much better, still a little on the sharp side at times but am working on it. Lesson on Friday, hope to be able to get some practice in before then....

Hello Loiuse yes I am feeling much better thank you. I had a nasty bout of glandular fever. I have had it before but get these secondary infections from time to time. I don't reccomend it.

How long have you been playing Louise ? If you are sounding sharp it sounds like tension in the embouchure and or the reed may need to be pulled out a little. Which reeds are you using and what Oboe are you playing. Each Oboe has it's on foibles and quirks but equally each make can be quite distinctive in how they play. Loree can be flat towards the lower end so you may have to try different reeds until you find what suits your Oboe.

Oh and I see you are going to Benslow in April, are you doing Andrew Knights weekend?

Am playing a borrowed oboe - Buisson open-holed, and started a couple of weeks ago. My teacher supplied the reeds, one soft and one medium, don't know the make, she may actually make her own looking at them.

I'm playing clari at Benslow, Intro to Wind Chamber music.

[A.U.K]

Am playing a borrowed oboe - Buisson open-holed, and started a couple of weeks ago. My teacher supplied the reeds, one soft and one medium, don't know the make, she may actually make her own looking at them.

I'm playing clari at Benslow, Intro to Wind Chamber music.

Ah ok so your teacher is making your reeds, thats very fortunate. I am sure that seeing as its just a couple of weeks that you will soon get to grips with it and find what suits your Buisson Oboe. Oh and playing opne hole will make your fingers much tidier than someone who plays a Gillet key system from the outset, thats a huge bonus for you, keep at it.

Have fun at Benslow.

[katica]

So tonight scales, arpeggios, scales in thirds and then some twiddling about..I do love a twiddle, you know the thing, party tricks, runs, triplet runs, cascading arpegios always sound lovely and can prove handy in cadenzas. No real technique required just slow practice until they fall from the fingers without thinking.

You don't call that technique? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Sounds impressive enough to me. What are your party tricks then?

Am playing a borrowed oboe - Buisson open-holed, and started a couple of weeks ago. My teacher supplied the reeds, one soft and one medium, don't know the make, she may actually make her own looking at them.

I'm playing clari at Benslow, Intro to Wind Chamber music.

Ah ok so your teacher is making your reeds, thats very fortunate. I am sure that seeing as its just a couple of weeks that you will soon get to grips with it and find what suits your Buisson Oboe. Oh and playing opne hole will make your fingers much tidier than someone who plays a Gillet key system from the outset, thats a huge bonus for you, keep at it.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
On both counts.

Nothing like a custom-made reed by a teacher who knows what she's doing to work on your particular oboe.

And I almost wish I had been put through the same ordeal as my teacher's other students - starting on "El Abuelito" (Grandad - an ancient open-holed oboe of anonymous make). I started on an intermediate-student Patricola with completely closed holes - not even the little ones you get on Howarths. As a consequence I could get away with a very slightly off-position LH middle finger which is causing me no end of problems now.

Maybe I should buy your Buisson off you as a back-up when you graduate to bigger and better oboistic things, Louise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Still trying to figure out how to play 3rd octave D#-E#-F# and back down quickly and easily. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)



PS. Caught a bit of ND playing Britten's Temporal Variations - here on radio in Costa Rica! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) On the University Radio station, which is the only one these days that plays any classical music. Quite decent too. More oboe than I usually hear in the UK. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) First time I've heard them play Nicholas Daniel, though.

[MrsB]

still a little on the sharp side at times but am working on it.

Since going back to my soft reed I am having this problem too! i was flat before so it's a bit frustrating. Will have to see what my tutor says next lesson - am building up quite a list of things to discuss/ work on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) How are you working on it?

[louise1712]

Thanks A.U.K, I've been told that playing an open-holed instrument from the start will benefit my fingers long term, try telling them that now though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Will stick at it, I'm having so much fun with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Maybe I should buy your Buisson off you as a back-up when you graduate to bigger and better oboistic things, Louise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Still trying to figure out how to play 3rd octave D#-E#-F# and back down quickly and easily. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)



PS. Caught a bit of ND playing Britten's Temporal Variations - here on radio in Costa Rica! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) On the University Radio station, which is the only one these days that plays any classical music. Quite decent too. More oboe than I usually hear in the UK. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) First time I've heard them play Nicholas Daniel, though.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It's teacher's oboe, she's renting it to me for now.

still a little on the sharp side at times but am working on it.

Since going back to my soft reed I am having this problem too! i was flat before so it's a bit frustrating. Will have to see what my tutor says next lesson - am building up quite a list of things to discuss/ work on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) How are you working on it?

Trying to relax my embouchure, not gripping the reed as though it's in a vice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[MrsB]

How are you working on it?

Trying to relax my embouchure, not gripping the reed as though it's in a vice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

Ahh, so it probably is because I was struggling with the harder reed. Will try to work on that this week. Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[A.U.K]

How are you working on it?

Trying to relax my embouchure, not gripping the reed as though it's in a vice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

Ahh, so it probably is because I was struggling with the harder reed. Will try to work on that this week. Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

@mrsB.

The issue that Louise is having is slightly different to yours and your firmer reed issue. Louise is experiencing pitch problems i.e being sharp. This may well be because she is gripping the reed too tightly. You on the other hand seem to have a reed that is Too Open and which is proving very hard, this reed needs to be tweaked by your teacher and closed down a bit. The thing you musn't do is bite down on your reed to close it, this will cause problems with your embouchure..equally relaxing the embouchure on a reed that is too open will have no effect as the reed may fail to speak at all..Hope that makes sense.

[MrsB]

The issue that Louise is having is slightly different to yours and your firmer reed issue. Louise is experiencing pitch problems i.e being sharp. This may well be because she is gripping the reed too tightly. You on the other hand seem to have a reed that is Too Open and which is proving very hard

But it is only since I've gone back to my soft reed that I've found I'm playing sharp so I do think that playing on the harder reed may have caused me to tense and grip the reed too tightly (in an effort to control the sound). Hopefully I can unlearn that!

Thanks for the advice though; and I will definitely stay away from the harder reed until I've seen my tutor again.

[A.U.K]

The issue that Louise is having is slightly different to yours and your firmer reed issue. Louise is experiencing pitch problems i.e being sharp. This may well be because she is gripping the reed too tightly. You on the other hand seem to have a reed that is Too Open and which is proving very hard

But it is only since I've gone back to my soft reed that I've found I'm playing sharp so I do think that playing on the harder reed may have caused me to tense and grip the reed too tightly (in an effort to control the sound). Hopefully I can unlearn that!

Thanks for the advice though; and I will definitely stay away from the harder reed until I've seen my tutor again.

Ah ok yes that make sense now, yes the softer reed has been playing sharp would suggest that you maybe gripping it a bit. The new reed hereonin known as (reed B) does need as you know a tweak to help you play it.

Talking of which I must go and so some tweaking myself..

I love a tweak ...

Happy playing.

[louise1712]

What a great, friendly thread this is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Thanks for all the advice everyone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Haven't managed any playing again today, clari had to come first, tomorrow though should be able to play both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

What a great, friendly thread this is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Thanks for all the advice everyone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Haven't managed any playing again today, clari had to come first, tomorrow though should be able to play both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You're very welcome, Louise! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You'll certainly want that lip to be a bit better before you plough on with the oboe...

[louise1712]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) got some practice done today, very happy with how it went (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) notes sounding much better, embouchure held up well, can't wait for lesson on Friday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)