 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2011-12-05 00:46
How do you learn to make the instrument "speak" every time you put the reed into your mouth? It seems that I am always a portion of a beat off when I need to be getting a good tone out and I have a solo part in the music. This is frustrating the "dickens" out of me? I have decided to opt out of the church Christmas program for this very reason. But I really need to get this corrected before Easter when I should be able to play again. I thought about switching back to my clarinet but that's not a really good idea as it will mess up what little oboe embouchure I have formed over the past almost 2 years. Thanks for your help over that last 2 years. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from you all!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-12-05 01:04
Sounds like you need a reed which is more responsive. What reed are you using now? Contact me off-board (email under my screen name) if you want recs. for responsive reeds.
Susan
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-12-05 02:50
Sometimes it is a sign that the reed is too hard or simply, as Susan says, not responsive.
In terms of technique, assuming the reed is sorted, I found for a long time that in an effort to not make the oboe 'blare' when beginning a note, I would tighten up, in turn reducing the amount of effective air needed to make it speak at all. It took a long time to open up my embouchure for starts of notes, and still find myself creeping back to old habits when I am in a pressure situation or an acoustic that makes me feel exposed.
Good luck!
Rachel
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2011-12-05 03:15
As Susan said, it could be a non-responsive reed, but if it isn't, try this:
Put the reed in your mouth and stop it with your tongue. Blow against this with wind pressure sufficient for the dynamic you wish to play. When all this is in place, go 'tah' and the attack should be immediate.
If this works, then the problem is preparing too late for the attack. Your embouchere should be set and the wind behind your tongue for every attack you ever make. I tell my students to start each attack like (hut)-TAH, where the (hut) part is building the wind pressure behind the tongue prior to the attack.
Set your metronome on a slow tempo - 60, maybe - and practice attacking every other click. This will give you time to do the preparatory steps prior to attacking exactly on the click. When you can do this, that problem is solved.
Now go make reeds! :-)
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2011-12-05 11:10
Howard posted a youtube video about attack a while back - it was really, really good.
Howard, can you post the link again? It is not searchable in youtube.
J.
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2011-12-05 12:42
Thank you for making me feel that my efforts were worthwhile! I am sure the video can still be improved and recently i have had some new thoughts on this subject... but non the less, there you go!
http://youtu.be/zXfU1CiXVl0
Regards,
Howard
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-12-05 15:34
A little detail would be to make sure your reed is adequately soaked.
Dry reeds speak not.
GoodWinds
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