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Re: Second Youtube Video

Author: cjwright
Date: 2012-06-07 18:30

I'd just like to state that many fine oboists have and continue to use a "corners back" method that has worked well for them, most notably the late John Mack who always pulled his corners way, way back. I don't think this is a hard and fast rule, but rather depends on your oral physique and shape of your lips. Most often when someone pulls their corners back a lot, it's because they have fuller lips and need to get them out of the way somehow.

Rather than sticking with a "corners back" rule or a "pucker kiss embouchure" rule, just make sure that it's FUNCTIONAL above all else. An embouchure has to be flexible to allow for changes in pitch and tone, comfortable that you're not hurting yourself, and allow you to play at both ends of the dynamic spectrum.

You have a lovely sound and an easy vibrato that fits well. Count that as a blessing! My advice to you would be to gauge your breathing better. After the first breath, I could tell that you were not comfortable and had already misjudged the breath, as you made a gasping sound.

A lot of younger players make three breathing mistakes.
1. they don't exhale (you do.)
2. they think every breath should be a big breath
3. they think every exhale should be a big exhale
4. they don't breath and exhale as much as they should.

Try this breathing scheme.
1. Start with little or no breath.
2. Take a medium breath at the 6 second mark
3. exhale at the 20 second mark.
4. inhale at the 27 second mark. medium breath
5. exhale at the 41 second mark.
6. Break the tie, and breath at the 48 second breath mark.

By that first half, you should already feel much more refreshed, and not need to gasp for air. Hopefully you'll feel nearly normal.

My professor Martin Schuring states in his book "Oboe: Art and Method" on page 10-11,

Quote:

You will know that your breathing plan is successful if you feel refreshed every time you inhale. If you accumulate a large quantity of stale air, or if you arrive at the end of the piece just bursting to exhale, the breathing plan is not yet effective enough. Make some adjustments and try it again. When the plan seems reliable and consistent, mark it in the music. You will need to develop some system of shorthand to distinguish "in" breaths from "out" breaths, and large breaths from partial breaths. Mark the plan in the music and then follow the plan.

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

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