 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amanda
Date: 2002-01-30 21:03
Well I got my oboe today and so far I can play about an octave fulently from memory along with a few assorted notes here and there. I can't get out much 'over the brink' or whatever you'd like to call it - that's what my band director always refers to it as - but I'm doing alright. Just in case anyone, for some weird reason, would care to know.
But for the sake of further junking up the clarinet bulletin board with oboe questions ^_^ does anyone know of any good websites with oboe information, or anything about what reed I should use (as said before I'm using a Jones medium at the request of my band director) or anything in general I should know if I'm going to keep with this?
Thanks =)
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2002-01-31 02:22
There aren't any great bb's like sneezy for oboe; I've been looking.
Some free advice:
1) Be patient. After two months, I finally started sounding good enough to not hate the way I sound. In fact, I have recently had a breakthrough and can see how after a few months, I'll be good enbough to play for local theatre pits.
2) Play with a few diffferent reeds and try some softer ones. Initially, I couldn't figure out how ANYBODY managed to make a decent sound. The I found that it could be (almost) as effortless as clarinet.
3) Find a good exercise book. I have always been a fan of the Rubank Elementary series. They follow a logical progression. By the time you're through with the book, you've covered a lot of ground.
4) DON'T get hung up on tangled fingers; you'll get over it (eventually). The f# that desperately wants to be an f (first finger of right hand) is MADDENING. Take deep breaths and keep doing exercises.
5) Don't push your chops too hard. Double reeds hurt like no clarinet altissimo you've ever played. Play for short time intervals and build up embouchure strength.
6) Find a decent teacher and take a few lessons. A few simple words form somone with experience might keep you from developing habits it will take months to undo.
7) Listen to how cool it sounds when it starts to come together. At age 41, it makes me want to practice again.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-31 05:51
The reed should crow a C when blown separately from the oboe when the lips are on the very tip, when the lips are on the cane next to the thread, and when the lips are on the thread. Playing these crows from soft to loud should not vary the pitch of the crow nor should it sound like a police siren.
The tip opening should be very tiny, about a 32nd of an inch or even less.
Oboes should be played with only the very tip of the reed in the lips. With too much reed in the mouth, it will sound shrill and probably be hard to play in tune.
One strives to get a covered, dark sound on the low C. By lifting the oboe when playing low C, one can find the best sound most likely at an angle where the oboe is somewhat near to perpendicular to the face. The clarinet angle is generally too close to the body for the oboe.
Try to not play too loud and strident as this will drive others crazy. The oboe can be heard easily even at low volumes. Tabuteau said "it is the dolce tone that carries the farthest". Don't expect to compete in volume with the trumpet players. Play soft and beautifully.
The oboe is dependent upon high pressure air support at least as great as the clarinet. The air is what makes it sound good and play in tune. The air pressure comes from the stomach area. Blow through the phrases, even when tonguing. Since very little air goes through the reed into the oboe, oboists learn to breath out to get rid of stale air when needed.
If you have to bite the reed or use too much lip to lip pressure, the reed is probably too stiff and hard. Reeds can be modified by expert oboe players to be less hard to play and still sound good.
The fingers are generally quite curved onto the oboe. Good luck!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-31 05:57
See this page: http://www.public.asu.edu/~schuring/Oboe/practice.html
Just like clarinet, biting might bre the worst habit
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-02-04 23:35
For reeds, good ones can be purchased inexpensively from the Woodwind/Brasswind catalog. On page 100 of the current catalog, find
#04-WWAOB "Woodwind artist model, Handmade, avail MS, M, MH" for $5.75. I just purchased some for students, but they are on backorder. If you order now they have a free shipping special. I was assured that they would ship shortly. Good luck! I'm in the process myself...doubling on clarinet and oboe.
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