 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sanya
Date: 2005-06-11 21:04
I've been talking about learning the oboe for a while now, and I finally rented one from my music teacher at school for the summer. Holy cow, it is hard! It's only like, my third day playing it, but my embochure for the oboe loosens up so easily. I'm guessing that's because I don't really know how to do it (learning from a DVD isn't that great), and I have my first sort of "lesson" on Tuesday after school with my music teacher, who, luckily is an oboist (clarinet is her second instrument). I'm finding that the oboe requires a lot more air, I guess, than the clarinet, and you know how there are some notes on the clarinet that you would just play, and they automatically sound good? No? Well that's how it is in comparison to the oboe. I sound like a duck being boiled alive. I guess that's my incentive to practice, though... it sounds beautiful when played by a professional. Also, the right hand fingerings are all extremely awkward. Any oboe players here want to lend advice on embochure and fingering adjustment?
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-06-11 21:41
Hey Sanya!!
I dabbled in oboe for awhile so here is my two cents. It's a good thing you have a teacher, it will pay off as their advice to you at this critical stage is and will be invaluable. What books are you working out of right now?? I used the Standard of Excellence books, very good books by the way. Also, VERY IMPORTANT, get a recording of pro oboe players! Your local public library might have recordings of pro players on a variety of instruments (at least mine does). Check out the calenders at local schools or universitys to see if any oboe related events are coming up (range from good community orchestras through performers). Oboe takes a lot of air, you're right. When practicing make sure you give yourself plenty of breaks to catch your breath (friend passed out while first starting to learn to play oboe). Does your teacher know how to adjust oboe reeds/make them?? If so, learn this as it makes oboe playing a lot more enjoyable. You might also want to check out he Edmund Nielson store catalog for Oboe/English Horn/Bassoon related accessories and necessities. Thats all I can think of right now, if you have any questions e-mail me (if I don't know the answer, I'll ask my old oboe teacher). Happy Honking!!!!!
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Author: D
Date: 2005-06-11 22:07
My problem when playing the clarinet is not the amount of air required, but rather, getting rid of the excess carbon dioxide from the air I haven't breathed out. My lungs aren't empty when I stop to take a breath, they are devoid of oxygen.
My friend who plays oboe in our quartet says that oboe is a million times worse because the pressure is much higher as there is less room for the air to go through. Therefore it is dumping the carbon dioxide and releasing the pressure in her head that makes her have to stop and breath, not the fact that her lungs are empty of air she can push through. I've seen how purple she can go, I think I'll stick to the clarinet!
Best of luck with the oboe, you are very brave taking up something that should probably be categorised as a lifeform in its own right. I look forward to reading responses on this thread, particularly relating to getting rid of that nasty stale air!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-06-11 22:58
Sanya --
I am an oboist who used to be a clarinetist.
The situation you are describing (your first attempts at playing) are perfectly normal. If you keep at it and get some expert advice (sounds like you have a plan for that) it will all get better, over time. ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif) (That's the color of an oboist's face on a long note, BTW.)
You might want to take a peek at the Oboe Board here at this site, and ask your questions there. I got a lot of good help when I was starting.
http://test.woodwind.org/oboe/BBoard/list.html?f=10
Susan
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