Have a good trip tp France Alex..(the home of all decent well bred Oboes.. )..

I think I am not alone in admiring the fact that you play such a huge amount of woodwind..Doubling is more common I think in the USA, I know several people who like you are highly adept at it..

I also hope you have a good week at Dartington, I know it very well as I grew up there in the Village, its a wonderful magical place, I do reccomend you pop into Totnes, its a lovely town full of artists and hippies (yes there are still some Hippies floating around) the whiff of Patchouli and Joss sticks is thick in the air.. I love it..

Flobi, glad you like the D major, yes thats the one..The second movement does need some editing..especially on the tied notes, you have got to cut the tied crotchet short and breathe or you will expire..

Well today for me its studies and scales..I am working on the Bleuzet and may dip my toe into my Gillet a bit later..I have a cheap copy of the Ferling which has so many misprints its astounding, one is marked 3/4 when it is plainly 4/4, yes its that bad so I need to get a decent copy of that sometime soon..

Have a good day one and all,

Andrew

Son has now got the date for his Grade 7 and it is Monday 19th!

Reeds - got loads of Tipples in the end as I knew that this was his favourite at the moment and luckily the 3 that were sent seem similar.

Accompanist - His piano teacher will accompany this time as he knows her but she is making him work very, very hard to get them just right!

Scales/Arps - Any tips on getting scalesarps up to speed other than just notching up the metronome? He knows them and can play them all at a reasonable speed but as he knows that they need to be faster he is getting notes tangled. They are so fast at this level!

I'm re-reading through this thread to see what is about his level that he can play next. He's desperate to change his pieces!!

One of my favourite methods for speeding up scales, and improving articulation is to practise in fives ie. CDEFGFEDCDEFG, DEFGAGFEDEFGA, EFGABAGBEFGAB etc., using slurring initially then moving on to tonguing.

All the best for your sons exam!

And a variation on this:
C,D,E,F,E,D (slurred twice), C,D,E,F (once tongued), G,A,B,C,B,A (twice slurred), G,F,E,D,C (once tongued)

Oi Vay my brain hurts.. Just reading those note combinations made my brain turn to fudge...A few spaces would have made it easier reading ladies. .


Oh and good luck to Fantasia in P's son with his exam..Best advise for scales and arpeggios seeing as the exam date is so near is to play them at a sensible speed and get them right..far better than going at break neck speed and fluffing them..so long as they are at a reasonable speed and not a snails pace and the tuning is spot on all will be well..


Andrew

Good going!!!!

Should've faked that in my exam.. After fluffing Ab perhaps I should have pretended to hear Db major instead of D major (I presume they were downgrading the difficulty after my sorry first performance) so I could convince the jury I wasn't entirely incompetent





Right... going in my practice notes for tonight!!!



No way, Andrew. Bet they just trip of your experienced fingers!

Anyway if you can read that ghastly Bleuzet print (if you have the ancient edition that I have, that is) you'd breeze through these. Squashed up looks faster, doesn't it? Like how they should sound, I suppose...

Sorry! I think over familiarity with said exercise is the problem! Hey, but it's a fairly straightforward concept! Groups of threes is another good one - C, D, E, D, E, F, E, F, G etc. In fact, any exercise where you play with the notes in order using ascending and descending patterns is good!

Having said that, I definitely agree with Andrew, that this close to the exam, more heed needs to be paid to steadiness, evenness, tone, intonation, and even musical expression (rising through the ascending, dropping gently through the descending) than tempo!

Dear Music Margaret, Kerioboe, Katica and A.U.K.

Thanks for all the valuable replies.

All will help to vary the scale work which is required.

Almost there now ...

I hope all goes well with your sons exam..I am sure if he sticks to a good tempo and plays lyrically any problems (if there are any) will simply fade away..

Best of luck keep us posted..



I had a very enjoyable day yesterday..I played a one dayer in Basingstoke, sort of an Orchestral Masterclass..Very enjoyable..we played New World and Finlandia..Sat next to the most incredible flautist who was beyond talented crikey she was good, it transpired she is a teacher and is doing her Diploma in the next couple of weeks, believe me if she doesnt tear the roof off and get a astounding mark then there is no hope for the rest of us she was amazing....Also there was a very capable lady French Horn player in the brass who did splendid work, sensational tone and dexterity..Sadly the 2nd Oboe failed to turn up..so I had to jump between Oboe and Cor in the Dvorak which got a bit complex working from two parts..I relied more on ear than counting the score in the 2nd movment (Dvorak) as lets face it counting one part takes some doing but counting two on seperate stands is a stretch to far.. Wonderful conducting and sectionals from the two guys who ran the event under the banner of "Making Music" they did sterling work, the woodwind sectional was led by Chris Swann a clarinet player of quite some considerable repute and the string sectionals and conducting came under Nic Fallowfield again very good..it could have been a train wreck given the different standards of the musicians but they worked their socks off and got a really good sound out of the musicians present..A lovely way to spend a sweltering sunday..good crowd, good company and good music making..

Andrew

With all the exam angst on the Forums recently it's lovely to hear someone who's just had a really good time! Felicitaciones, as they say here!

Sounds like you had a great day! Lovely to play under such tutelage. I'm sure that the other students thought you were amazing swapping between instruments.

Actually on a completely different level to yours son went to an "endangered species" (yes, that was the acutal title) day course yesterday. 5 Bassoons, 4 oboes, 4 french horns, 10 trombones, 10 double basses and a euphonium (spelling?)

Pieces were Mambo Jambo, Blues for Sam, MoonDance, March for the Ark and the Bear Necessities. Son asked me on way home where the "Bear Necessities" came from and I can't believe that there is such a gaping hole in his education - he's not read nor seen The Jungle Book! Ah ...

Sounds like the perfect Sunday! Glad you had a good day- enjoying making music is what it's all about in the end!

I'm sure I posted a reply last night, but it's nowhere to be seen, so let's try again.



I'm back from France, I was playing bassoon for a band at the Coups de Vents. They were awarded best in their category, so well done them . And we all had a good time while not playing too

I'm sure I'll enjoy Dartington, it's a fun week. I was there for the first time last year and looking forward to returning.


I got my result email last night, and logged in to see how I did. Cor blimey guvnor I've only gone and a distinction (132)!! After near misses with merits for my clarinet and bassoon exams, and a creditable pass for my flute exam, it finally turns out I should have been playing the oboe all along!!!

Excellent! Congratulations!

Well done, Alex, that's fantastic! Think the bassoon playing must have helped?!

Brava Alex, well done. six months playing to get distinction is quite an achievment you should be rightly chuffed with yourself..I am very pleased for you.


Have a great time at Dartington..

Andrew

Congratulations Alex, that is amazing! Well done.



Wonder if my teacher reads this, she now has me doing a similar thing with C major - all possible incarnations of the scale and arpeggio while tackling the the Ferling studies in C major!

Bravo!!!


Amazing to have done so well without a single lesson. Oboists tend to get rather obsessed about all sorts of things but it seems that there is something to be said for just enjoying it and letting fly...

And fantastic that you have realised that you are really an Oboist !
Maybe more oboists who are masquerading as clarinettists and flautists will be inspired to come out of the closet.

Hi guys

I've finished my uni course now so no official motivation to practice any more... I don't want to get too lazy though so I thought I'd ask for repertoire suggestions! What would people recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Hello Des,

well done on finishing your university studies, your recital was great..Loved it..

I would suggest for repetoire you should try Finzi's interlude..nice lot to get your teeth into there..Maybe pull apart some of your erly rep from the Baroque period and really ornament it..The Ponchelli Capriccio is a nice showey work and not at all for the faint hearted.

Or how about working on technique with the Gillet, I know you have finished studying but the Gillet are such a huge commitment that they are essential study in my opinion.

Really the choice is yours but I would see finishing Uni as a launching pad to take the studying and playing to the next level..and dont stop having lessons..Maybe do one or two a month with a real big hitter..

Andrew

Mmmm... new repertoire for a "crazy avant garde oboist" needs a bit of time with the thinking cap!

Well I've been having a minor struggle recently culminating in a rubbish lesson earlier this week. Lousy tone, no dynamics, blowing myself inside out, stupidly sharp all the time.

Yesterday those lovely people at Fortay sent me a nice little package. I popped on a new reed and all was sweetness and light. Ah, that's better.

I wouldn't worry too much about that to be honest! I'm more interested in getting to know the oboe repertoire at the moment, having spend three years playing multiphonics...

Well, while we're on the subject of interesting repertoire...

Has anyone got hold of Night Windows by Thea Musgrave yet?

It was premiered last year at the IDRS conference and I thought it was great. Of course, Nicholas Daniels performing contributed a lot to the pleasure...

If anyone's interested you can see the first page of the score (not much for a 13 minute piece) here.

http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0703404/details.html

I might buy it.. shame there's no recording as far as I can tell.

Thanks Des. I was thinking about getting a copy for folks here (not me... yet).

The concert at which Nick Daniels premiered this piece was recorded at IDRS 2009. When I asked that week for a copy (you could get CDs of all the various recitals) they hadn't released it because of copyright issues. However, I see it was on the list of recordings that they published afterwards. But more than a year later it might be difficult to get a copy, I suppose.

Oh I so nearly went to that!!! But as I am signed off stressed to the gills I thought it would be asking for trouble to take another busy day on.

Our orchestra is engaging the same people next spring to do a workshop with us in Alton.

Dear Oboists,

Well yesterday son had his Grade 7 oboe exam and after an awful morning with the scales, chromatic and Bb melodic minor being the most uncooperative, decided it was better to watch Top Gear and just chill.

Son came out of the 25 minute exam totally exhausted and just curled up on a chair in the exam waiting room and needed a helping hand to pack oboe away!

From what I could hear, pieces sounded good although the last line of the Dring went pear-shaped and he said he had to tell the examiner he had finished his Bach solo piece!

Sight-reading - seemed really long and had ornaments!

Scales - he said that he had some of the "easier" ones which he played at his comfortable speed shaped (we'll see!)

Aural - sight-singing seemed to be challenging.

So now it is a question of wait 'n' see.

It's the school show tonight and he is playing Dodger, singing "Consider Yourself" and playing piano part for Oom pah pah so its another exciting day!

[quote name='Dulcet' date='Jul 20 2010, 09:33 AM' post='971000']

Oh I so nearly went to that!!! But as I am signed off stressed to the gills I thought it would be asking for trouble to take another busy day on.

Our orchestra is engaging the same people next spring to do a workshop with us in Alton.


Oh you would have enjoyed it it was a lovely day and the two guys running it were superb..

I am sorry to say that there was a distinct lack of plaudits for my devastating and lyrical playing which stung a little but that aside I had a great and instructive day with lovely people

Andrew




Well he's done it now so await the results and see how he faired..I am sure all will be well..Stress in exams is a bind and I dont wonder he came out exhausted and being a teenager they are prone to flopping given the chance into the nearest armchair..I am not saying your son is an ideal teenager but using model of most teens to express and point..I am sure he did well enough at the end of the day..The Dring isnt easy but one foul up isnt the end of the world..

Keep us posted and wish your son best of for the results...Break a leg for tonights performance..

Andrew

Keep us posted and wish your son best of for the results...Break a leg for tonights performance..

Andrew
[/quote]

Show was fantastic and son played Oom Pah Pah in a roudy bar scene style! He even stopped in the middle, turned around to face the audience which made everyone laugh and then they realised he was actually playing piano and wasn't miming to a CD!

Any repertoire recommendations for the school holidays greatfully received? Already tinkering with "Phaeton" from Britten's 6 Metamorphoses.

Glad your son's exam and show went well. Hopefully results won't take too long.

I'm sure people more qualified than me will be along with repertoire suggestions soon.

has he tried the Mozart quartet (K370)? My teacher recommended that to me, though we haven't got round to looking at it yet. I have heard it performed though, and it is a lovely piece.

If he wants something a bit more fun to play, I really like this Piazzolla piece too :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk95pLgtCB0...eos=zDYqW32wUb0

If he likes Britten, have a look at Temporal Variations.

How about Gordon Jacobs 7 Bagatelles and the Derek Bourgeois Fantasy Pieces?

Dear Flobiano and Pushpull,

Thanks for the recommendations, off to check them out now.

Also, have you heard about the Big Double Reed Day at the Guildhall School of Music scheduled for 10th October 2010 (what a great date 10.10.10!!) for oboes and bassoons? Infomation on www.bigdoublereed.com

Perhaps he can start working on pieces from the Grade 8 syllabus? I am not sure if he likes lyrical or technical pieces, but these are on my shortlist:

List A
1. CPE Bach Sonata in G minor: technically not difficult, but with lots of sudden key and mood changes. An interesting piece that's not as well-known as it should be;

3. Handel Sonata in C minor: a well-known piece that should be learned;

4. Haydn Concerto in C major: a nice piece that wasn't actually by Haydn. Structurally weak but has lots of good tunes in it;

6. Marcello Concerto in D minor: a beautiful piece. The 2nd mov should present a big challenge in breath support and endurance;

List B
4. Hindemith Sonata (1st mov): technically the easiest from the entire list, but very difficult rhythmically, particularly when playing with a pianist. Need a good pianist to pull it off in an exam! My personal favourite, I used it for my Grade 8 as well as my FRSM

6. Martinu Concerto (1st mov): technically the hardest of all from the list, if your son is looking for a technical challenge

7 & 9 Sonatas by Poulenc and Saint Saens: standard pieces from the repetoire, and widely played, maybe too much so. Good to know them in case future auditions ask for them

I haven't included any English pieces from List B because I am not too familiar with them.

Dear Wai Kit Leung,

Thanks for your recomendations for the next step. I think I'll have to buy the CD so he can listen to them
although he's not quite ready to dive into Grade 8 pieces yet. Might think about another exam maybe next Summer 2011!

P.S. He says he likes fast pieces! Any recommendations from Ferling 48? Might try No. 6 to start with?

That looks very interesting. Hopefully it might be a Saturday during half term. Pity Birmingham Conservatoire didn't build on the Junior Day they held last year during the IDRS Convention.

I am not a big fan of studies. If he likes fast pieces, he can look at the Krommer Concerto, the last movement of the Marcello Concerto, or the last movement of the Saint Saens Sonata. These are all on the Grade 8 exam lists, and musically much more interesting than the Ferling studies.

That would be fun if I could be on the right side of the pond then.

Just for the fun of advertising it though I expect (sadly) that there's zero chance of any of you fellow oboists making it, doublereeders in Central America will be gathering at the Double Reed Festival in Panama 31 August to 3 Sep.

Well I for one wont be going to either, the Guildhall one sounds like its aimed at much younger people and the Central American one is a tad too far for me..hey ho

Andrew

Today is my birthday, 48 can you believe it, I can't I still feel 25 apart from the odd ache in my elbow or knees..Going to have a nice day, all the usual practice and a nice supper..perfect for BBQ here so supper will be outside in the garden..

Happy Birthday to MEEEEEEEE

Andrew

Andrew

Happy Birthday!!

Have a Happy Birthday and enjoy your BBQ!

Have a great day Andrew!! You kno what they say about you being as young as you feel

Happy Birthday Andrew. I can assure you that at 56 you will still feel 25.

Have you all seen the leader-board Poll for the Most Supportive Forum member 2010?

Seems like this is a very supportive and friendly thread by the number of those nominated from it -
A.U.K., kerioboe, oboe d'amore and notmusimum!!

Agree with Barry-Clari as leader as he even popped into this thread and kindly contributed helpful ideas for speeding up some scales!!

Voting still open until 21.30 !!!

Missed this : hope you had a good birthday, Andrew!

Thank you all, I had a lovely day, a nice supper and in all a very relaxing time..

Sadly today is back to the grindstone..another year before I can bunk off again..

Thanks again for all your good wishes..

Andrew

Happy Birthday for yesterday. Hope you had a lovely day!

I am very sorry not to have checked in over the weekend... I hope you had a really enjoyable day.
Very belatedly:
to you
to you
dear Andrew
to you!




And well-earned they were too!

To tell the truth there would have been three more from here if I had paid attention properly when I inadvertently copy-pasted an incomplete list into the PM to Car Expert. Sorry folks but I hope you know you are appreciated anyway! There's a few more categories left so I hope to make up for the part ommission soon...