Klarinet Archive - Posting 001108.txt from 1998/12

From: Clarguy3@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] To Oboe or Not to Oboe....
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 12:36:54 -0500

In a message dated 12/29/98 11:22:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
dmcclune@-----.edu writes:

<<
I have doubled on Oboe for 20 years and yes it is both easy and hard.
At first the fingerings will seem easy, but when adding Flats or Sharps,
they become akward. Find yourself a great supplyer of oboe reeds. I
use the first oboe in the local symphony and play her rejects! The
double reed will make or break you for tone and control. Be prepared for
tired lips. Intonation is challenging because each note has a wide
varience, they do not center like on clarinet,,,listen and adjust like
crazy. I do believe that Chuck West in VA is a noted doubler. I play
touring Broadway shows when they are in Memphis TN, and a conductor once
told me that best doubler he had on my particular part was Chuck.

Good luck! >>

Well, I read the above with some surprse--but appreciate the compliment--thank
you.

My own observations are:
(1) the more instruments you learn, the easier it become to learn others.
(2) Don't try to guess how to play the oboe--get a really good teacher and do
it right from the outset. That way you don't have a bunch of bad habits to
break.
(3) The more you double, the more you have to try to keep your first
instrument in good shape. Mr. Voxman always thought that oboe was affecting
my clarinet sound (it was my second instrument on the Masters and Doctoral
levels at Iowa), but we both understood that doubling probably would be my key
to getting into college teaching. He was right on both counts.

So get good instrument, some good reeds, and a good teacher, and it's do-
able. Without any one of those three things, your task will be enormously
difficult.

Happy Holidays.

Chuck West

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