Doublereed Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 2005/05

From: Sameer Al-Abdullah <simsim29@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Re: thin oboe sound
Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 04:06:39 -0400

Dear Phil,

Thank you for the sweet and praising note BUT in case I wasnt clear, I
was not discouraged or felt anything negative by your personal feed
back you sent me a while ago. I take criticism very well. I dont
believe in constructive or destructive ones. There are just evil
people trying to get you with their words or good people wanting the
best for you and I"m sure you meant well.

Moreover Im just trying to get some more feedback on this issue coz I
am amazed everytime I hear a different oboe sound. WHY Clarinet's
sound is ALWAYS THE SAME ( i know some of you might say otherwise :)

I remember when I was younger so much younger than today when I heard
the sound of the oboe for the very first time I thought the instrument
was a box!! For many years I thought so til I saw it and was shocked
to see it a HORN!!! Funny how the mind draws pictures!!!

Peace
Sameer

On 5/22/05, PhilFrei@-----.com> wrote:
>=20
> Hi Sameer and everyone -
>=20
> I'm so sorry with the way I worded the feedback to Sameer. I didn't say h=
is
> tone was thin, but did use the word in one of the sentances. Words like t=
hat
> have a way of jumping out and overshadowing the words around them. I shou=
ld have
> taken a more "almost full" approach (in terms of the glass being half-emp=
ty
> or half full). Rookie mistake on my part, as a not very experienced teach=
er!
>=20
> The tone on the samples he sent of his playing sounded quite good, and he=
is
> very musical in the way he shapes his sound, too. I think he's doing quit=
e
> well in that department for the amount of time and the conditions under w=
hich he
> has been playing. Heck, my sound is often thinner than I'd like it to be,=
and
> I've been playing for over a dozen years.
>=20
> So Sameer - I think you can relax about the tone. You've accomplished a l=
ot
> there! In the meantime, I think it will be more beneficial to think about=
ways
> to keep what you have going, through both rising and falling intervals, r=
ising
> and falling dynamics. And don't neglect the fact that fingering problems =
can
> disrupt the sound also. I swear, at this point, a huge amount of my pract=
ice
> is just trying to keep the fingers down and relaxed over the many problem
> points ("black keys," crossing the break, low-notes, cross-fingerings, th=
ird octave
> fingerings). It's a bear. But working on these things greatly expands the
> amount of repertoire to which you can bring your musicality.
>=20
> Best wishes,
>=20
> Phil Freihofner
>=20
>=20
> In a message dated 5/21/2005 12:15:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> doublereed-digest-help@-----.org writes:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 12:23:20 +0300
> To: doublereed@-----.org
> From: Sameer Al-Abdullah <simsim29@-----.com>
> Subject: thin oboe sound
> Message-ID: <5e77141805052102236c0fabed@-----.com>
>=20
> Hello everyone :) is everyone there?? been too quiet lately and I have
> a question that i might have asked before so I thought I ask anyways
> and get some emails going in this list.
>=20
> I was wondering if anyone can talk a little bit about how to improve
> my oboe sound. Phil told me that I sounded a bit thin which I agree.
> I'm interested in hearing what some of you might have to say about
> developing a fuller sound.
>=20
> The style of reeds I use (goodtoneguild.com) reeds, require me to take
> in a little bit more reeds in than most of you do as i'm assuming most
> of you follow the Philidephia style. My reeds are American scrape as
> well but I dont hold the oboe at a very low angle yet not so high as
> the French way plus I take in a tiny bit more reeds in my mouth.
>=20
> I'm wondering if maybe i'm biting a little bit too much?? or is it
> something else?
>=20
> Also, I know that the center of the lips should be a cushion for the
> reeds as they vibrate. But sometimes I do find myself having to bite a
> very tiny bit just to warm up the sound as sometimes (especially when
> it's new reeds) the sound is too bright and loud. Is this OK?? is
> little biting ok? or must the center of the lips be 1000000000% not
> pressing against the reeds at all? in other words, only the corners
> are firm and the center is merely padding the reeds? I played on some
> heavier and darker reeds and found myself keeping the center tension
> free but that was only because that way I could blow on such heavier
> reeds.
>=20
> 2 questions enough for now..... can't wait to get those great responses :=
)
>=20
> PS: Phil if you are reading this I hope you are not offended as I lost
> your email and moreover I am interested in getting more feed back on
> this issue.
>=20
> PSS: Did anyone see those sexy shots of Saddam?? ......kidding.....
> --=3D20
> Sameer Al-Abdullah
>=20
> ------------------------------
>=20
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> For personal help: email doublereed-owner@-----.org
> Doublereed is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>=20
>=20

--=20
Sameer Al-Abdullah

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