Hi everyone,

I have my grade 2 oboe exam on Friday and have never done a music exam before in my life so am quite nervous!! Please, are there any other oboists here who might be able to give me some tips on what to expect? Will I need to soak my reed before I go into the exam room? Will there be somewhere where I would be able to warm up by playing scales and things beforehand, or will I have to sit quietly and wait my turn? All advice greatly appreciated

Thanks!

There'll be a place where you can warm up and have a run through of your pieces if you want. I dunno about soaking an oboe reed, but an oboist person will be able to that!

Then you'll get taken through to your exam room play your pieces, and you'll probably get a choice as to whether you want to do your aural or scales next (don't worry if you don't, they sometimes give you the option) and then he'll take you through the rest of the exam.

If you don't understand him (or her) then ask, they're mostly quite nice!

Good luck!

Oboebunny

I hope your own teacher will be able to answer some of these questions for you but, as an oboe teacher who enters candidates all the time, here's some thoughts from me:

You may, or may not, be able to warm up actually making any noise. It depends on where your exam is being held and whether a sound-proof warm-up environment is offered or not (ABRSM doesn't guarantee one). However, you certainly can and must warm the oboe up by breathing down it (without the reed in) to get it warm, even on a hot day.

When you get to the Centre you will be shown where to wait and told the drill for warming up. Whatever, get your oboe out and warm it up (see above). If you normally soak the reed in water, take a small container with you to do this. If you use saliva, you'll have the goods! Do quietly squeak the reed (and presumably your spare reed too) to make sure you've got a noise from each.

Having done this, check you have the music ready, check your accompanist has the music ready so when you're called, you're not flapping about searching for same. Then try and sit as calmly as possible waiting your turn, just occasionally keeping oboe and reed warm. Having warmed the oboe, you may find it a good idea just to clean it out a few minutes before the exam in case you've accumulated unwanted water in it with all this warming up!

Even if you can warm up with sound, don't play for too long. Too many "novice" wind players make that mistake and then, come the exam, they're so tired they cannot perform properly when it counts. I seem to recall you posting before concerned about your asthma? If so, subject to your medication routine, you may find it helpful to have an inhaler with you - perhaps even use it just before going into the room?

Once you're called, gather up your music, oboe and reeds (reeds in their case to avoid potential damage as you go to the exam room) and go with your accompanist to the exam room - a steward will show you the way. Smile as you go in - you'll feel better and the examiner should welcome you warmly.

Make sure the stand is at the correct height for you and do tune up (A) to the piano. You may have to pull the reed out a little if it's a hot day as oboes can be really sharp on such occasions. If you're not sure whether you're in tune you can ask the accompanist what he/she thinks. If your teacher is playing for you then, of course, they'll help you with this.

During the exam it's normal to start with the accompanied pieces and then the accompanist leaves. At that point you will probably be offered the chance to do the aural tests - see how you feel whether you want to do that or keep playing and do the aural at the end. The examiner will then proceed with the study, scales, sight-reading. Don't expect to be asked all the scales - but you need to know them all in case! You will be given 30 seconds to look at the sight-reading before you have to play it and you can try it out in that time.

At any time you can ask to do the aural if you want in between these. Remember, if you put the oboe down to do the aural midway, check it's all working for you before you start playing "for real" again (just test a few notes) and be careful how and where you lie it down. I always tell my pupils to take the reed out and put it away, even for the short time of aural tests - much damage can be done to reeds in a very short space of time......

The exam will whizz by - it's only 12 minutes and, in reality, my experience is that it usually only lasts about 10.

I am sure your teacher will be able to help you too about how best to prepare for this but these are just a few tips gained over many years.

Very best of luck - I'll have my fingers crossed for you!

Do let us know how you get on - fantastic news that you're playing the oboe and trying this exam.