Author: oboedrew
Date: 2008-07-22 14:34
Hello, MDunn, and welcome back to the oboe world. The problem you're describing could be either a mechanical issue or a finger coordination issue. The first thing you need to do is identify the "extra note" that occurs between C-A and A-C. Is it a B or a Bb?
When going from A up to C, if the extra note is a B, that means you're moving your left hand second finger too soon, earlier than the right hand first finger. If the extra note is a Bb, it's the right hand first finger that's moving too soon.
When going from C back down to A, just the opposite is the case. If you get a Bb between the C and A, your left hand second finger is moving too soon. If you get a B between the C and A, your right hand first finger is moving too soon.
This is a common problem when playing this interval quickly, when the fingers may not move with quite the precision as when you play it more slowly. If you confirm that it's a finger coordination issue and not a mechanical issue, there are a lot of exercises that can be done to train the fingers to move with greater precision.
But it could also be a mechanical issue. For example, if the extra note is a B natural when ascending from A to C, it may be the result of a sticking key. Notice how when you finger a B natural and then press the F# key with your right hand first finger, two keys on the top joint (just below the half-hole key and the A key) are raised? Well, if there's any delay between when you push the F# key and when the uppermost of those two keys on the top joint opens, it'll have the same effect as moving the left hand second finger too soon when going from A to C. There are a number of things that can cause a key to stick like this. The most likely scenario is just a bit of oil or dust under the pad causing it to stick. Slide a piece of cigarette paper under the key, close the key over the paper, and gently pull the paper out from underneath the key. If it's just a bit of oil on the bottom of the pad, this will likely do the trick. If not... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Cheers,
Drew
www.oboedrew.com
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