Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2011-02-17 23:30
A couple things to do daily that will help grow that ability:
1) Play long tines, and try a couple variations, one where you start soft and cresc. then decres.
With a metronome setting of 92 - 104 (whatever is comfortable), play cresc for 8 beats, decresc for 8 beats, cresc for 8 beats on one breath. Exhale, relax, breath in and continue. The rate of dynamic change should be more apparent on beats 6 - 8 going up and down.
I like to start in the middle range and work my way down seeing how much difference I can get as I go all the way to the bottom of the oboe.
So practice that.... people avoid it and that is a mistake.
Then reverse the pattern, start forte and go soft then loud on the long tone.
2) Practice drives. Those are long tones where you tongue each beat over the cresc. and decresc. Use a legato tongue and as little tongue on the reed as possible....almost none!
Both exercises are great warmups and the drives really tell you if the reed is responsive enough. (Assuming your oboe is adjusted properly and not leaking anywhere.)
For drives do a cresc. on one note, from p < F over 8 beats, then drop 1/2 step and reverse,... go from F > p. Keep doing this all the way to low b-flat.
I like to start with 2nd octave d and work down, then 2nd octave d and go up the oboe, at least to high d.
These exercises become a habit, even meditative eventually, and they really separate the pros from the rest of the players.
You will find as you learn more about reed making, this drive test is really important for evaluating the function of the reed.
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