Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[Roseau]

I found with my piano pieces that I could play quite a lot by memory towards the end by this method, and in the past I've been able to play some piano pieces by this method but I've always found it quite unreliable as if I make the slightest slip or start to think about it then it all falls apart and I haev to go back to the beginning to pick it up again.

One of the many strange things about this experiment in memorising was that I could pick up anywhere (including in the middle of a phrase), as long as I concentrated on "hearing" the music in my head and didn't think about the notes themselves. When I was younger and was consciously trying to memorise, I could only pick up from key points (and even then not always).

[flobiano]

I found with my piano pieces that I could play quite a lot by memory towards the end by this method, and in the past I've been able to play some piano pieces by this method but I've always found it quite unreliable as if I make the slightest slip or start to think about it then it all falls apart and I haev to go back to the beginning to pick it up again.

One of the many strange things about this experiment in memorising was that I could pick up anywhere (including in the middle of a phrase), as long as I concentrated on "hearing" the music in my head and didn't think about the notes themselves. When I was younger and was consciously trying to memorise, I could only pick up from key points (and even then not always).

Sounds intriguing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Definitely a skill worth developing.

I'm playing at a garden party tomorrow. Feeling a bit stressed about the whole thing. Pieces I could play reasonably well a couple of weeks ago seem to have just fallen apart. Hoping it will be Ok on the day.

[katica]

Off to the UK on leave on Saturday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)

I will have to work at least a couple of days long-distance, unfortunately.

I have had a mad couple of months during which I have been more time away travelling (work) than at home. Now both I and my oboe are reunited from our travels (oboe away to be repaired) and I have to work out how to re-start practice schedule amidst intensive family get-togethers.

I haven't had a single oboe lesson since mid-May and won't get one until September. This is depressing but I keep reminding myself it has an upside: stress levels are at max, burn-out red flags waving about, and I'm just not up to dealing with my teacher's high-pressure approach right now. But I've been missing him (contact reduced to quick beer about three weeks ago), along with wind band friends and my oboe. Even though I've never been as consistent and concentrated at practising as I would like, I now know for certain that sustained oboe abstinence is bad for mental and emotional health! I really need to play even if only 5 mins a day just to reconnect with myself. What an addiction! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) More or less healthy, though, don't you think?

I'm really desperate for a new reed. Extremely unlikely I will be able to see my teacher to extract one from him for the trip. I think I am going to have to resort to an emergency order when I arrive from Howarth, which means taking whatever they've got in stock and not being able to try it out (London not on the itinerary). Bright ideas anyone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

By the way, HUGE CONGRATS flobiano on your G8 piano result! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (Not the place to post this but no time right now to Forum trawl...)

Must find some time tonight to sort out music for the trip. *happy sigh*

[flobiano]

..I'm really desperate for a new reed. Extremely unlikely I will be able to see my teacher to extract one from him for the trip. I think I am going to have to resort to an emergency order when I arrive from Howarth, which means taking whatever they've got in stock and not being able to try it out (London not on the itinerary). Bright ideas anyone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

By the way, HUGE CONGRATS flobiano on your G8 piano result! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (Not the place to post this but no time right now to Forum trawl...)

Must find some time tonight to sort out music for the trip. *happy sigh*

Thank you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely to have you posting again, Katica. Hope you have a great trip to the UK and manage to get some oboe playing back into your life. Sounds like life has been very hectic.

I don't know what to suggest about reeds...can you order a couple and send back the ones that you don't like? You used to be able to do that with Britannia reeds. Hope you manage to find one that works. Are you off to Dartington again?

[katica]

..I'm really desperate for a new reed. Extremely unlikely I will be able to see my teacher to extract one from him for the trip. I think I am going to have to resort to an emergency order when I arrive from Howarth, which means taking whatever they've got in stock and not being able to try it out (London not on the itinerary). Bright ideas anyone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

By the way, HUGE CONGRATS flobiano on your G8 piano result! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (Not the place to post this but no time right now to Forum trawl...)

Must find some time tonight to sort out music for the trip. *happy sigh*

Thank you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely to have you posting again, Katica. Hope you have a great trip to the UK and manage to get some oboe playing back into your life. Sounds like life has been very hectic.

I don't know what to suggest about reeds...can you order a couple and send back the ones that you don't like? You used to be able to do that with Britannia reeds. Hope you manage to find one that works. Are you off to Dartington again?

I've ordered a couple of reeds from Howarths. But thanks for the excellent suggestion - I see that Britannia reeds do a couple of American scrape models, so I'll try them too.

Yes, I'm off to Dartington on 18 August. I'm not going to play solo in any master class this year. I'll be lucky if I'm in reasonable shape to play in Orchestra (mostly Percy Grainger stuff), wind chamber and.... salsa band!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Barry Toner]

I had plenty of time to do lots of practice this afternoon, but - GRRR!!! - all my reeds seemed to be misbehaving. The weather here today has been most peculiar, very warm and close, with occasional dampness in the air rather than real rain, but very humid and I think this had played havoc with the cane. I have a lesson tomorrow and have been doing a lot of work on the Cimarosa concerto which has been sounding quite good. Today, I was having to concentrate on getting a decent sound from the reed so much that co-ordination of the fingers was all over the place, so GRRR!!

[katica]

Britannia reeds arrived the next day! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

They're much better than I expected. A bit on the soft side, though supposedly medium strength. But then they're also plugged as free-blowing, which they are. Given that I'm a bit out of shape it's probably a good thing so I don't burn the chops up too quickly. I'd like to improve the sound but don't really dare adjust them.

I moved beyond slow notes and slow scales today for the first time: a couple of technical exercises and some Albinoni. Sounded dreadful. I'll be back on the long notes tomorrow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[flobiano]

Hope everyone's reeds are behaving better now!

I am in a bit of a summer slump - looking forward to lessons starting again in September.

I did have a lovely evening tonight, though, playing chamber music with some friends from orchestra. We sight read 2 Handel trio Sonatas and a Bach one too. With tea and chat in between. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) A very civilised evening! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[flobiano]

Gosh it's very quiet here. Hope you all doing well!

I am feeling rather excited as I've just booked on two Benslow courses for next year - the oboe reed making day and one of the Camden Wind Emsemble weekends.

It's also now only 1 week till lessons and orchestra start again. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)

I really can't wait!

[pianophrase]

Yes I'm looking forward to seeing my teacher again. I am only using 2 of my reeds at the moment (not at the same time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) and have about 4 that probably need a little scrap. One day I hope to go on some reed making/maintenance courses, will be interested to hear how you get on with yours.

[floboe]

I just booked a final lesson with my college teacher before I go off to university, I cannot wait!!

Last week I also bought a Gresgon knife, I just need to get used to it now- im not used to such a big, sharp knife (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I now just need to finally decide which pieces I should carry on preparing for my first oboe lessons at music college. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) - I have brought it down to 1st Schumann Romance, Hindemith Sonata-1st mvt or Marcello Concerto in C minor-2nd mvt. any suggestions?

[Barry Toner]

My next lesson is on Thursday evening after a four week gap (I was off singing for 10 days, but that is another story), so I have only got back to picking up the oboe after a couple of weeks without a blow. The fingers and the memory of the pieces for my teacher aren't bad, but lip stamina - oh dear (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) . Still, I have quite a bit of free time in the next couple of days, so I should be able to improve a bit.

What is really encouraging is that I had a look through some of the pieces in the pile of music that I could just about hack through with some practice six months ago. This evening (when the lip had recovered slightly), I found I could play them quite respectably at sight, even finding time to note and include the dynamics and articulation which I never got close to before, so something in the lessons is sinking in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Roseau]

My next lesson is on Thursday evening after a four week gap (I was off singing for 10 days, but that is another story), so I have only got back to picking up the oboe after a couple of weeks without a blow.

Enjoy your lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
The music school had a meeting tonight but lessons don't actually start until the week beginning the 17th and my lesson is going to be on a Friday so I still have a long time to wait (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

What is really encouraging is that I had a look through some of the pieces in the pile of music that I could just about hack through with some practice six months ago. This evening (when the lip had recovered slightly), I found I could play them quite respectably at sight, even finding time to note and include the dynamics and articulation which I never got close to before, so something in the lessons is sinking in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Isn't it a nice feeling when you realise you've progressed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I saw my teacher at the meeting tonight and he asked how my summer had been. I told him I'd just come back from a brilliant chamber music course where everything had seemed so much easier than previous years and he said of course it would have been easier since my playing was on a completely different level this year to the way it was a year ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . I must have looked a bit dubious because he then said, "I did tell you you had made spectacular progress at the end of the year in June, didn't you believe me?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[flobiano]

Great to have you back Roseau. Hope you had a good break over the summer and look forward to hearing more about your course and the Alexander Technique bits too! Glad to hear you felt you'd progressed last year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Barry - hope you have a great lesson on Thursday.

My first lesson of the term is tomorrow, I had first Orchestra rehearsal tonight. It was very good to be back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


floboe - when do you start music college? Have they given you any guidance on what you should prepare for the first lesson. How many pieces do you want to have ready? Is there any reason why you couldn't keep all 3 going?

[floboe]

I had a lesson today and I decided on the Hindemith and the Marcello for sure. The Schumann would be fine if I needed it. I think that I will focus on these 2 though because they are a huge contrast.
I haven't really had any information on what will happen when I get there. Some people will probably come totally unprepared, I dont want to be worrying about that when I get there. I may need them for an audition aswell, but Im not too sure.

I start a week on Monday but I can move in from a week on Saturday.