 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Bird
Date: 2015-09-06 22:25
Greetings all,
I just bought a used Oboe. I looked around this site but did not find any particular recommendations, I was wondering if anyone could recommend some good reeds for starting out. I am not sure if it would make a difference in selecting an Oboe reed but I do play Saxophone and prefer to use Vandoren reeds at 3 or 3.5 strength.
Also, I will be self-learning, can anyone suggest a good book to study from? I have been looking at "Oboe Art and Method" by Martin Schuring for instance.
Thank you in advance. Really excited. I have wanted to get an Oboe since I was a kid.
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2015-09-07 04:58
OK, so I'm a flutist, and have studied clarinet and saxophone. Your experience with sax will help a little, but oboe is not good for self learning. An oboe-specific teacher will make reeds for you and keep you on the straight and narrow. He/she will teach you how to make, or at least adjust reeds for yourself. Oboe is treacherous!
That said, my teacher was tought reed-making by Stuart Dunkel, so I imagine that would be a reasonable choice. I have had a little success with Charles Double Reed, as well as Marlin Lesher. There do seem to be different approaches to reeds and playing, so your teacher will guide you on compatible reeds. They all need adjustment to suit you, your oboe, and believe it or not, the weather.
Enjoy! Oboe is going to be great, if I ever figure out the Reed thing!
Jim C.
CT, USA
Post Edited (2015-09-07 04:59)
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Author: Bird
Date: 2015-09-07 08:13
Hi alanporter,
Signet Soloist which I understand is a line from Selmer. I do not have it in my possesion yet so unfortunately, my information is limited.
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Author: Bird
Date: 2015-09-07 08:24
"....but oboe is not good for self learning."
- I get that impression. Perhaps that is part of the appeal
"An oboe-specific teacher will make reeds for you and keep you on the straight and narrow. He/she will teach you how to make, or at least adjust reeds for yourself. Oboe is treacherous!"
- In an ideal world, I would find a teacher. Guitar and Piano teachers are a dime a dozen out here- Oboe, not so much. I am under the assumption that I will be riding this solo for now.
Thank you for the suggestions, I will check those out. Proly will order a couple different types and see what works best.
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Author: MikeC855
Date: 2015-09-07 20:13
As to self-teaching, yes, I concur. Find an instructor to at least get you started because many bad habits come early and are tough to un-learn when you get to more advanced literature. I happen to be self-taught, but I switched from bassoon... it has its own alternate-fingering Hell, so I was prepared for the worst, and had already developed a double-reed embouchure.
For a teacher, have you contacted one of the band directors at Cal Poly? They have enough of a program there to possibly have adjunct faculty on oboe. I also know of someone in the Santa Maria area who used to play for major big-city orchestras, although I lost touch with him many years ago and do not know if he is offering lessons. (Or is even doing oboe at all. I know he burned-out playing professionally... which is another story.)
Personally, since playing for me is an avocation, I don't mess much with reeds now that I've shopped around for a maker that suits my instrument, style and timbre... and is consistent enough to rely on. To that end, Forrest's up in Berkeley has a smorgasbord of reeds and easy online ordering. You might give 'em a shot.
-----
Confounding band directors since 1964.
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