Author: JudyP
Date: 2007-02-25 21:10
I'm also rather ignorant about the oboe yet. I know that I have learned much during the past 5 months, but I have alot more to learn. I feel that I am just beginning to catch onto the breathing aspects of playing, and I probably have at least another 5 more months before my embouchure is where it should be.
Thanks to cjwright who frequents this BB, I'm finally getting it. He met with me in Eugene earlier this month while he was in town, and he gave me some pointers. I want to thank him for that.
I meet my teacher, Cheryl, about once a month. Most of our time has been about the embouchure and the air, but she also gives me assignments to practice. I started using the book, "Essential Elements 2000 Plus DVD", before I began my lessons, and Cheryl thinks it's a good first year book. Cheryl belongs to the Eugene Symphony, the Oregon Mozart Players, and is involved with a youth orchestra in Corvallis, plus teaching and who knows what else. Her time is very valuable to her, but she manages to get together with me for about 45 minutes to an hour every month to give me a lesson in her home. She gives me plenty to practice during the month. It costs about $40 per hour session, and I usually buy a couple of her reeds while I'm at the lesson, $12 ea. which is a wholesale price. She has a reed making business called, "Cascade Reeds". I don't think that I could get by with less than a 45 minute lesson right now. I've noticed that, by the time we get set up and started, at least 10 minutes have passed by.
My husband gave me a tape recorder for Christmas, and I tape my sessions with Cheryl. I play back the lessons at home which helps me to have a more productive practice session. It's really interesting to compare her playing to mine on the same music.....it's an eye opener.
One of my biggest problems, at first, was a weak right hand thumb. The weight of the oboe gave wear and tear to my thumb, and this joint pain and tiredness would throw my whole right hand out of alignment for my fingering. I bought a small rubberized device that fits over the thumb rest, and it seems to be helping. I also bought a neck strap to ease the weight off of my thumb, but I think the rubber device is more helpful.
I have noticed that Cheryl will swirl her reeds in a disinfectant before she gives them to me. She told me that I can buy the disinfectant at the music store in town, but I don't remember the name of it.
Something very basic you should know, if you don't already know it, is to get a container for soaking your reeds. Cheryl recommended a whiskey shot glass. I usually soak about two or three reeds before I start practicing. Another idea (I think the pros will agree) is to buy a
reed case because your reeds will tend to last longer with one. I have a relatively small one....holds six reeds.
If you get the same book I'm using, let me know. There is something I'd like to tell you about the reed playing on the DVD. It led me astray. I think the book is very good though.
Well, I think that I have spent too much time on the soapbox.
Judy
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