Author: Critter
Date: 2005-10-07 14:54
This posting absolutely breaks my heart. The thing that makes it so sad that you feel that the oboe is that insurmountably difficult is that it is so unnecesary that it be so hard to play. The answers to the oboe's difficulties are not something that you are are going to find on your own. You need a TEACHER who "has the ansers". There are SOLUTIONS to ALL of the problems that you guys express here on this forum.
That fact that the oboe presents special challenges doesn't mean that you can't overcome them and make beautiful music on the instrument, what it DOES mean is that you will need HELP from a knowledgable player of the instrument, someone who can see and hear what you are doing and get you going down THE RIGHT PATH to success. Unline the "Yellow Brick Road", the path is not obvious to see and stay on; and unless you have an experinenced guide, you're not going to get 50 feet towards OZ before you get swooped up by a flying monkey.
I truly admire the way you guys have taken on the oboe and your enthusiasm and love for it is wonderful, but you guys could learn to SOLVE the oboe's special problems and progress at WARP SPEED if you would only get help from a good TEACHER. What do I mean when I say a good teacher? Well, here are some absolute prerequisites:
Professionally trained by a fine oboist.
Makes EXCELLENT oboe reeds.
Knows how to adjust an oboe.
Plays beautifully.
Has a real passion for indentifying student's problems and giving them the
answer, or the tools for finding the answer, as the case may be.
Don't think I don't understand the impediments to studying with a fine oboist, but what say we address those impediments right here and now.
1) Don't know who to study with.
One of the quickest ways to find a great oboist would be to find an oboist who plays with a nearby professional symphony orchestra. Symphony orchestra jobs are the Holy Grail of performance venues on the oboe, and landing one of these jobs is the epitome of competitiveness.
The larger the city in which the orchestra resides, the better. The higher the person sits in the oboe section, the better. Ideally, you want to study with the principal oboist, but you may need to find a balance between this and other factors.
And PLEASE, HEAR THAT PERSON PLAY BEFORE YOU APPROACH THEM FOR LESSONS. Does this SOUND like a player who has the answers to the oboe's difficulties??? Do they truly make beautiful music on the instrument??? TRUST YOUR EAR!!!!!!! If you live in the United States, don't choose a teacher who plays with a bright, thin sound!!! That person is probably not going to be able to teach you to get the locally desired dark, warm sound that you will probably want.
Also, ask around to find out who the very best oboists are in the area.
Here's another thing: Being a succesful oboist means more than just blowing the instrument well. With the tremendous esposure and shear volume of solos that the oboe enjoys in an ensemble, the maturity of your musical phrasing is very important. This brings us to another factor in selecting a teacher:
If you are in the USA, find out what a prospective teacher's lineage is to "the father of American oboe playing", Marcel Tabateau. Tabateau not only invented the American long-scrape reed and the American concept of oboe tone, but devised a "system" of musical phrasing which has been studied and spread throughout the world not only by oboists, but other woodwind and brass players, and singers.
Right now, if you are lucky, you can find a teacher who studied with someone who studied with Tabateau. If a prospective teacher (in the USA)absolutely cannot trace his or her lineage to Tabateau, keep looking.
2) Can't afford lessons with a professional.
Can't afford the desired teacher's rates? TELL THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know for a fact that there are local students who are not approaching me for lessons because they know what I charge for a lesson and just can't swing it financially. But what's really happening is that they are ASSUMING that my rate is totally non-negotiable and/or that they would have to have a lesson every week. If a talent and truly motivated student were to tell me that they really would love to study with me I think you would be AMAZED at how accomodating I would be. I know somone who studied with an oboist of monumental stature for very, very little money by getting a drastically cut rate and by taking lessons when she could afford it. You see, in general, the better the oboist, the more passion they will have for sharing their knowledge of the instrument and helping developing players.
People don't seem to realize that a motivated student who practices a lot and takes one lesson per month with a great teacher will surpass a less motivated student who takes a lesson every week, like they were standing still!!!
3) You live in the boondocks and there are no good oboists around with which to study.
MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE to a great teacher. Depending on just how far away that teacher is, make it twice a month, or once a month, or once every three months, or every six months, but MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE to a great player/teacher. Ask prspective teachers if they would be ameanable to anwering questions or giving advice via email and/or phone calls between lessons. If they are not HAPPY to doing this AT NO CHARGE, try to find someone who DOES HAVE a real passion for teaching.
Once you've found your great oboe teacher, you will probably also have found a person who will always be very special to you. CONTINUE to use this and other forums to ask and answer questions; they can substantially augment your knowledge and enjoyment of this fabulous pursuit.
Again, please know that I truly admire your passion for the oboe and your brave pursuit of it.
David Crispin
Jackson, Mississippi
David Crispin
www.CrispinsCreations.com
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
