It was good. It's probably going to be ages till I can say my playing is better but I think it will improve.



It's 1 1/2 hour of oboe lesson, 30 min piano lesson, 1 hour reed making class, 1 hour of technique class and 1 hour of performance class so that's 5 hour of lessons plus 1 hour or so of chamber group. Some of it is in normal lesson time so I have to chatch up but it isn't as buisy as it seems.





It's Stephane Rancourt from the Halle.

Will you have Val Taylor/ Lockwood at any point? She's my teacher, and wonderful...

Not for proper lessons but I have her for technique class and performance class.

Excellent news! I hope you find her as good as I did. She totally changed my technique for the better; I didn't think so at the time, but then I guess no one does!

It turns out Rahael is doing the technique class so I only have Ms.Taylor for performance class.



Technique class is great. Did tonguing yerterday. 'Get the Rossini silken ladder solo as fast as you can' game

Is this a group class?
Out of curiosity how many oboists are there at Chet's?

I had my first lesson back today after our 11 week summer break
My teacher commented that my embouchure had changed for the better but that my playing was still too introverted

Its for all the 6th form oboists
there's about 10 oboists at chets.







11 weeks is long . It's good that your teacher noticed the improvement.

"Looking forward" to my first taste of orchestral playing this evening.

Hope it goes really well! Good luck.

Hope you enjoy it as much as Emsoboe enjoyed her step up playing yesterday.

Well that wasn't so bad. No-one said "never darken our door again".

I'm sure you will be fine! Glad you seem to have had a good time.

Glad you had a good time.

I am waiting to hear if I can join a local orchestra. I emailed the conductor a couple of weeks ago and she wrote back saying they didn't have any oboe vacancies but I was welcome to go and listen to a rehearsal. I went last night and it was really fab. The second oboe couldn't make it so I was able to sit next to the 1st oboe and follow the music which really helped. It seems to be about the level I would want - think I could make a stab at most of it, though some would be a bit challenging. They all seemed very friendly and welcoming.

Despite what she said, last night suggests that a back up oboe could be useful as the second oboe can usually only make every other rehearsal, that can make it a bit difficult for the first oboe player (who is 80, so further proof of oboists longevity! ). On one piece she was playing a solo on the Cor which meant they had to skip the bit with the oboe solo as she couldn't easily swap between the 2 instruments. There seems to be a bit of politics involved - probably not wanting to step on someone's toes, they maybe they wanted to meet me before they said yes!

The conductor said at the end that she would need to pass it by the committee and get their agreement before I could join. So fingers crossed!

Second lesson tonight so hoping that the practise will have paid off....I feel like I am just more aware of all the things I want to improve though.

Ta. They have a really good 1st oboe and it's always nice to have someone competent to latch onto. Sounds like your orchestra DEFINITELY need another oboe. Good Luck.

I've somehow managed to hurt my RH little finger playing D-Eb trills (or possibly Eb-F). Clearly I'm doing something wrong. I stopped practising for a couple of days, but does anyone have any suggestions - it's making typing awkward as I use that finger for the Enter key.

Erm, type with one finger each hand? But then if you are an oboe newbie how come you are spending so much time doing trills that you have hurt your finger? Shouldn't you be doing "easy" stuff like me?

I don't know what advice I can offer since you don't say how you hurt your finger. (ie Are the joints stiff (and if so which)? I'm also slightly confused about why you possibly suspect Eb-F since if you're trilling Eb-F you should be using the middle finger to trill with.

I find it quite hard to keep the D-Eb trill perfectly regular (but still prefer it to a C#-D trill, and let's not get started on the Ab-Bb one...) I practise them by playing the two notes slowly in crotchets, then quavers, then triplets, then semi-quavers, then quintuplets etc. When you've got as fast as possible slow down by doing the same process in reverse. I do this with a metronome set at 60 and do 4 beats for each rhythm.

It's like I've overstretched it or something - it's just the inner side of my finger, towards the middle joint.

I have small hands and fingers, which means that I can't curve them round properly,which I think has caused the problem. It might also be because I'm concentrating hard, and gripping the oboe too tightly?

I'm adapting my typing at the moment to ensure that I don't exacerbate the problem. I guess there isn't anything I can do - perhaps I'll get used to it with time.



It's particularly galling that I haven't really practised it at all yet - it's just from playing a new piece in my lesson. Outside of a couple of trills in the first line, it doesn't seem like a difficult piece - fits under the fingers and there are lots of nice places to breathe. Who knows, I can always come back to it later if it's beyond me.



Thanks for this suggestion. I will try the trills more slowly, I think that's probably a good idea regardless. (Ab-Bb doesn't sound like something I want to look at yet.)

I too have small hands and fingers but I trill with the little finger more or less flat (not bent at the middle joint). My teacher told me to straighten my finger and to stop trying to trill like a pianist And it is true that it has made it easier.

I went on a woodwind chamber music course this summer and something the oboe tutor said/demonstrated on that has made a huge difference to tension in my right hand. The only thing is, I am not too sure if I can explain properly in writing. He said to imagine that your lips are pushing the reed out while your right thumb is pushing the reed in and you need to find a balance between these two opposing forces.

My teacher taught me the fingering for 3rd octave G# today and suggested I should incorporate it into my daily routine of scales and warm-ups and that once this note is secure we can look into the "more interesting" higher notes

My daughter had her second oboe lesson today and is loving it. She has practised every day, twice a day since her last lesson. She has complained that I should have told her earlier what a brilliant instrument it is

Get the earplugs out Have fun making those high sounds.

Glad it's working out for your daughter on Oboe.

Emsoboe had a lesson with a new teacher on Saturday and I can hear a huge difference in her sound. It's much louder and more confident now,

That's good

Actually, I think I need the ear-plugs when my daughter is playing. She is very loud (and duck like)

It'll pass!

I've not met the teacher but she seems to have identified Emsoboes technical problems. It's not her actual long term teacher so she'll have another change in a couple of months.

Glad everyone's lessons are going well. I had my second lesson last night. I am still amazed by how much difference having a proper oboe teacher makes. I feel like my tone has improved immensely, even my boyfriend commented on how much better it sounds - quite nice as opposed to a cat being strangled apparently! My teacher has been really good at pinpointing technical problems so I have to do lots of long note and scale practise while looking in a mirror to check my embouchure.

Couple of other exciting things:
We talked in my lesson last night about getting a new oboe. My teacher knows a local oboe dealer so she is going to see if he has any good second hand ones in, if so, I can pick up them up and take them to my lesson next week to try!

And I finally heard back from my local orchestra and they have said I can go and play the second oboe for them! Though they added they couldn't guarantee I could play at a concert as they have a list of other oboists who help them out! They haven't heard me play yet so I guess they are just covering themselves in case I am absolutely terrible!! I'll go to my first rehearsal next week, though apparently neither of the other oboists can make it - so I'll be really thrown in at the deep end!

Eek. I'm in a similar situation but a few notes lower. I was looking at Christopher Redgate's website. Interesting comment - "I have had works written for me that ascend to the D7 - to write these pitches you need to know the performer". Yes, presumably so you don't get a smack in the mouth.

It's lovely to hear she has taken to it so well.



I would have thought if they find they have someone from "within the ranks" who is good enough and prepared to come to practices they won't feel the need to bring in subs.

Guess what, now I play the oboe!!! ...sort of

My flutey self and flutey friend are now honorary oboeists (because in the two orchestras we play in, there are two oboes, compared to 8 flutes, so we have been transformed, and the oboes don't play very loudly). So now we are going to either switch between oboe and flute parts, or just play the oboe part

That's what I'm hoping. Seems a bit strange otherwise.

nyo second round on the 14th

So that presumably means you got through the first round

So Good luck for the second !

By the way, there was a discussion about suitable beginner instruments before your daughter started. What has she ended up with?

For the time being she has got the very simplified Initiation oboe that someone posted a picture of. Actually it can play a few more notes than I originally thought but uses baroque fingering (so for example C is left-hand middle finger only).

She will be getting a "small hands" oboe (I'm not sure which brand) in a couple of weeks when it comes back from being serviced.

Ah interesting. I had once mused about a "recorder with a double reed stuffed in it" as a transitional instrument. But I guess that's a baroque oboe?

If it's anything ike oe of the local orchetras here, who I dep regularly for, it's rarely that simple. Where are you based flobiano? Sounds very like the premise of a phonecall I recieved this evening!

That was all I was hoping for too, but it's OK they've said I can come back!

I had my first rehearsal last night. I played a few notes, some of them were right (and in the right place), some of them weren't and when it went into 5 flats I mimed! Fortunately the other oboist did turn up after all, so miming was hopefully not too obvious!

Thoroughly enjoyed it though. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming!

Phew, I'm not the only miming oboist then?

I can assure you you're not as Emsoboe is becoming inceasingly angry with one who sits next to her. She thinks pretending to play when the other Oboes and Flutes are struggling is very unfair. She wouldn't mind if they weren't all in the same position.

Oops. Remind me not to sit next to Emsoboe any more I suppose it is a bit more honest to put down the oboe and sit there open-mouthed.

In one of my wind band pieces there is a bottom C after several bars rest which is supposed to be pp played by both oboes. The conductor long ago decided it was too loud and that the other oboist could play it because it was quieter than mine. As she pointed out it was only quieter because she was putting so little air into it and pinching the reed that it was coming out an octave higher. This didn't seem to bother the conductor but nor would he let us put it up an octave "officially." Anyway last night she put so little air into it at all that no note came out at all. When the piece was finished he said to her "your bottom C was perfect, play it like that every time " So she has now written "mime" on her score

On an only slightly related note. Every week in this particular wind band the conductor complains we are too loud. Every week in my lesson my teacher complains I am not playing loud enough

you'll be ok sitting next to her so long as you don't mime and then suddenly join in the solis and solos It's infurating because it's a new very difficult piece and NONE of them can play it yet. Most are trying though. Frustrates daughter because she thinks everyone will look at the person who mimes and think what a fantastic player. At least when you do it you're not going to be on TV If this person tried they may be able to play some of the piece where the other two Oboists are struggling.

I suppose it depends on the situation a bit, if other people can't play it either you may as well have a go. Coming into my first ever rehearsal and trying to sight read something that everyone else has been practising for weeks is a bit different especially when some of the time I just didn't know exactly where we were. Also half the time, I was so nervous that I just couldn't get a sound out of my instrument at all, I just hoped that if I just kept trying to go on that eventually a note would come out!

They have all only been playing the piece for a couple of weeks and it is very difficult for everyone.

The important thing is trying. Seriously I don't think anyone minds if you are new or less experienced and give it a go.

I've started looking for a new oboe. I went to see Peter Davies in Huddersfield today and had a play on a few. He didn't have a lot in and the only ones I really liked were the Howarth ones. Unfortunately he doesn't have any second hand ones at the moment.

I have borrowed a new S45, it is lovely - it sounds amazing, and I can manage to play a top F# in tune, (considering that I have never managed any higher than an E on my current oboe this seems absolutely miraculous to me! ). However I am a bit wary of getting a brand new oboe, it seems to be rather fiddly in terms of blowing in, oiling (or not to oil!), and significantly more expensive. I'm not really seeing any benefits to buying new, but there must be some?

He is expecting to get a second hand S40 in next week which could be an option.

If I really, really prefer the S45 and he can't find a second hand one, I don't know what I am going to do. I am expecting this oboe to last me for as long as I keep playing, so don't want to spend the next 20 years wishing I'd bought something else. It feels like a really big decision.

I think I may have to take a trip down to London to visit Howarths.

Any thoughts on the S40 vs S45?

I know several of us here play S40s and I think we all like them. The S45 is a thicker walled model so should be darker sounding. I can't confirm that as I've never played one and I doubt I would be good enough to tell the difference anyway. If I were you I would wait for the S40 and see what you think. I'm sure it's just a matter of taste after all.

If you are planning on buying for 20 years I wouldn't worry too much about playing in - that's going to be a fairly short period. But if after playing the S40 you decide you like it, well I would go for it.

Are you going to the RNCM woodwind weekend (this weekend)? You can try my S40 if you like though I believe Howarth will be there anyway, so there will be loads of lovely stuff to try.

Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely going to wait to try the S40 and see what it's like. The S45 does sound lovely, in the shop the thicker body seemed to fit in my hands quite nicely, having played it at home I'm now not so sure.

My boyfriend is up visiting from Bournemouth this weekend so can't really abandon him to go to the woodwind weekend. From other posts it sounds like it is free - would i need to register to just pop in to have a wonder around any trade stalls? Sounds like too good an opportunity to miss to have a go. And Manchester is a lot closer to me than London. Will see if that's an option.

No you don't need to register to look at the trade counters. RNCM is a public building and the counters are in the public area. Incidently I already asked the same question . It would be a good oppotunity to look at Oboes as I understand Howarths are going to be there.

.....and I'm sure your boyfriend would love a look round the RNCM.

There are plenty of student bars if that's his thing He might enjiy Manchester Museum which is in walking distance.

I'll see if I can sell it to him. Does anyone know what time the stalls will start - will they be there on Friday? And when will they close on Sunday?

We are going to a gig at Manchester Academy on Sunday night which would tie in well as it is literally just up the road - we could get there mid afternoon and pop in before hand maybe. That sounds like a very good plan! We will also be in the Manchester area on Friday evening so if they are around in the afternoon that could be useful.

As an aside, I've just come back from my second orchestra practice - (which was my first full one as they had the AGM for the second half of my last one). I think I did better this time but I feel completely exhausted! I really need to build up to playing for so long. I also now have a copy of some of the music so can practice at home, which will be VERY helpful.

Details at http://www.basbwe.org/rncmww.htm

I would guess the trade stands will be on from early doors Saturday to mid afternoon Sunday

Thanks. I think we will pop in on Sunday afternoon. Though I had my lesson today and one of my teacher's other pupils is selling her 4 year old S45! Will still try out the S40 and see which I prefer. But nice to have second hand options for both models.