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Re: Dynamics?

Author: cjwright
Date: 2011-02-18 05:39

I do something very similar to Craig.

Metronome at 60, begin on low G.

Begin pianississimo
crescendo 12 beats
hit fortississimo
decrescendo 12 beats
Exhale and rest approximately 6 beats
Breath, and repeat on Ab

The duration of long tone and rest depends on your physical stamina at the time, but this is the general idea. Be very specific with your counting, and don't just approximate. Too often we approximate in our music and never quite reach that FF marking or never quite decrescendo enough to that pp at the end of the phrase.

You should also evaluate how you're choosing to crescendo and decrescendo. If you're doing it all with air and not with embouchure, then you're going to need to make very compact, very responsive reeds with lots of flexibility. If you're doing it more with embouchure cover manipulation you'll need more open reeds. In any case, just be aware of exactly what kind of reed you need in order to succeed, and know that usually reeds compensate at one end or another. If you need a big reed for a loud piece, you usually sacrifice the quieter dynamics. If you need a reed that can play pianissississsisssississimo low D's, they probably won't have a FFF on the same note. The major purpose of long tones for me is to build strength so my embouchure can allow both ends of the spectrum, so that my reeds can shoot for closer to the middle of the road.

Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra

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Dynamics? new

Theyoungoboist

2011-02-17 23:05