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Re: Beginning student cannot change pitch

Author: vboboe
Date: 2005-03-12 18:57

Wow what a lot of chat since my internet went down lots to catch up on
My comments based on steep relearning curve since September

Beginning students - no oboe embouchure yet, got to build one
Straw exerciser for smile muscles helped me get one faster

Second oboe in my band hasn't got enough embouchure -- excellent fingering, no probs breathing -- embouchure collapses early equals end of good tone back to ducks and crows -- beginners must build embouchure

Avoid drac bite on reeds, flattens cane curvature and collapses aperture especially as reed gets wetter with playing. Tired embouchure plays with drac bite. Stop playing, bad habit doesn't need any more practice.

Breathing - must learn cleansing breath first - ab muscles needed - completely expel air from lungs (quietly! discretely!) until automatic reflex indraws fresh air ... vital survival skill for oboe playing

Venting is harder to learn, must have good embouchure first, can't curl a lip corner open until fine muscles are strong

Medium hard reeds to start -- didn't work for me, had to start soft and work up to medium - just on to medium hard now, six months later - but I hadn't played any instrument for decades, if playing clarinet or flute already,
embouchure probably in good shape to start on mediums

Somebody says fibrecane to start? Not if have experienced oboe teacher -- need only real reeds, eh?

I buy commercial reeds and know how to fix them myself by scraping and tipping to suit me ... ask oboe teacher if would fix commercial or prefer to make new for you as it's usually another source of income anyway

Right handers - learn to play the harder left forked F's ASAP and then learn right forked F's -- some oboes don't need Eb to improve forked F's but more oboes seem to need it, so fingering skill best developed, don't avoid it.
Music with 2-4 flats you'll need the versatility of any way to play F

Some oboes do a great forked Bflat so that's handy ALT fingering moving upscale from right palmed Aflat -- more versatile for 4-5 flat scales to do right Ab up with forked Bb, and basic left Ab with basic Bb downscale

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