Author: vboboe
Date: 2005-11-26 08:22
Seems like you've got great qualified reed help, good for you! Get three reeds on Sunday! Oh, and maybe your reed helper might also be willing to do a quick look over your instrument to see all the screws and springs are OK for your concert?
<< Maybe it's my embouchure? Usually, I set the tip of the reed on my bottom lip, then roll my lips inwards, tightening the corners, making it firm but relax in the grip, but after some time, my embouchure will start to tense up. >>
That makes sense then, your seniors say you're playing too quietly, so maybe if embouchure isn't quite strong enough for long enough, doesn't have playing time endurance, when you get tired it's more likely you tense up, scrunch your reed aperture, turn into a ppp squeak ... or are you holding back because you're uncertain about how to play the music?
Not enough confidence in your playing?
... practice diligently for an hour every day until your concert to build up embouchure some more, going over and over your difficult sections, build up automatic fingering speed, use robust air support more than usual in your practising, be patient and persistent, it's cumulative, adds up gradually
<< Another question, during solos, are you supposed to play in a manner such that you can be heard? Even though it's written piano. What about during in rehersals? Normal melodies with the other woodwind sections? My seniors are complaining that I play too softly and can't be heard at all. Am I supposed to blend into the rest of the woodwind section, particularly the flutes, or to stand out from the other woodwind instruments? >>
??? WHAT'S THE POINT IN HAVING A SOLO IF YOU CAN'T BE HEARD ???
Practice so you feel really confident and then play it with expressive energy so it really zings
If it's written piano, what's the rest of your band doing behind you?
If they're coming on too strong (as drums, bass, brass and saxophones usually do!), ask your director to please hush them up, and then play your solo as expressively as you possibly can at whatever dynamic level balances best with the rest of them playing as quietly as they can manage (maybe as quiet as mf ?!)
... remember, what works OK in the band room may need to be boosted on stage (or wherever you're doing your concert), and those other players are going to open up too (nerves, excitement) so in your daily practice really work-out your air support muscles so you're ready to take 'em on ...
When playing normal melodies with the woodwind section (clarinets & flutes) you're a member of an instrument 'choir', and you tone colour your reed to blend in with the clarinets and flutes, as an oboe, remember woodwind sections are playing trios, not duets
When you're playing melody with the clarinets, or saxes, or trumpets you can change your tone colour to blend with them all differently.
Isn't oboe a wonderful, versatile instrument? Lucky us ! :-)
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