Author: JRJINSA  
Date:   2008-06-06 21:17 
 Though super boring to do, long tones helped me improve my sound A LOT!  They benefit your playing in that you are not totally focused on getting through a song, breathing at the right times, etc., but rather, you just stare into thin air, focus on your sound itself, starting a note correctly, achieving the desired sound, and ending the note nicely.  If you do this all along the range of the oboe for just a few minutes each practice, you will find that each note needs a certain tweaking to get it perfect.  It becomes ingrained in your mind and it just sticks.  It has another MAJOR benefit - it builds up your embouchure endurance and gets easier and easier.  Try that.
  
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