 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: sanya
Date: 2005-05-12 02:00
Over the summer, my music teacher lets us rent out our instruments so we can practice and not suck when school starts again. So, obviously I am renting my clarinet, but she is also allowing me to rent an oboe from her, because I've wanted to learn how to play it for a while now. So anyway, my question -- what's it like to "switch" (not really, since I'll still be playing clarinet) from clarinet to oboe? Some say it's really hard to adapt the embouchure, and some say it's super simple. Others have other random concerns... for those of you who have tried/currently play oboe, what were/are yours?
Post Edited (2005-05-17 00:02)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-05-12 02:04
I haven't tried, but it shouldn't be too hard to adapt too. If you think clarinet to oboe is hard, my friend used to play trumpet but then she didn't like trumpet so she switched to oboe and the next day she could play it instantly! (maybe that's just her)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sandra F.
Date: 2005-05-12 03:44
I'm a trained clarinetists, but I decided to take up oboe. In my opinion, it is easier than the clarinet in some aspects, but it's a very finicky instrument that requires constant adjustments. ...and the REEDS.... I do own a pro oboe, and I teach beginning oboe students. My pleasure playing the oboe was dampened by the work required to craft the perfect reed. I'd much rather work with the clarinet. Although, there is much to be said for the oboe. My advice to you is to pick the instrument that you love the most, and after becoming well-acquainted with it, then add other instruments. Bear in mind that this is only my opinion.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-05-12 13:45
Reeds are a problem for sure. I've been playing oboe for almost a year. It's a lot more interesting than clarinet, just because of fingerings.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-05-12 15:10
I got a plastic Yamaha oboe and have been playing it to prepare for a baroque oboe workshop this summer.
The oboe embouchure requires strength in the upper lip equal to that in the lower lip. Also, the oboe embouchure is made mostly outside the teeth. Thus, even though I play double lip on clarinet, I've had to work hard to gain upper lip strength (mostly by squeezing a large plastic soda straw between my lips).
Oboe also uses considerably higher air pressure than clarinet, so the embouchure strengthening also involves keeping your lips and cheeks from puffing out.
Reeds are, of course, a problem. They're much more expensive and shorter-lived than clarinet reeds. Decent hand-finished reeds available on the auction sites and through ads in the IDRS Journal. (Avoid Rico and Jones.)
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cindy
Date: 2005-05-16 02:51
I played both clarinet and oboe for about four years. I went to a double reed convention about the third year, and had a great time in the guest conductor clinic thing (not sure what to call it, all the oboists got together and played some pieces, and we had a guest conductor lead us). Anyways, after the rehearsal a girl went up to him and asked about playing saxophone and oboe. He said that that was perfectly fine, and wouldn't mess up the embouchure or anything, as long as she kept practicing both instruments equally.
Assuming the same response, I went up to him and asked about playing clarinet and oboe. He got a rather horrified look on his face, and asked how long I'd been doing that. When I told him three years, he said I should stop right away. He went on to explain that at lower levels of playing it was possible to do both, but once there is concern with refining tone (so, basically ever) then clarinet embouchure counteracts the oboe embouchure, and vice versa. Whatever is used to make the clarinet tone sound good makes the oboe tone much worse, and same the other way around. He said that it's up to me whether or not to continue, but to be aware that it would make advancing on either instrument very difficult.
Granted, I have not gotten a second opinion and am not a professional myself, but I did stop playing oboe aside from very occasionally when asked, not because of what he said, but because I didn't have time for both. I think it's good to learn new instruments, but keep something like that in mind when you take up oboe.
And, no I don't remember the name of the conductor, it was four years ago. Hope that helps some.
So many instruments to play........so little time to play them!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2005-05-16 04:54
hm, my clarinet teacher at university was the fort worth symphony's principal oboe player. he seemed to play both with equal facility. the embouchure differences didn't seem to bother him at all.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-05-16 16:39
At least at my relative beginner stage on oboe, I've found that one embouchure doesn't interfere with the other, and in fact they pretty much overlap. It only a few seconds to switch.
More difficult is the large difference in tongue and palate position. After playing clarinet, I have to make a definite adjustment to play oboe, and after playing oboe, if I use that method of voicing, the clarinet hardly plays at all.
However, many studio and Broadway clarinet/sax players double on oboe and switch without trouble. It's just a matter of getting used to it.
The issue comes up from time to time about doubling on clarinet and trumpet or trombone, and everyone who does it says there's no interference at all. Any trouble comes from not practicing your main instrument.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2005-05-29 04:03
Interesting subject! After playing both oboe and clarinet for many years, I feel there is no conflict between them. However, I think that it is very important to study each with fine teachers. The techniques and traditions for both have been developed over many years by experts and it is essentially impossible to learn well by self teaching. Making reeds for the oboe is a time consuming task that takes hours every week for a serious player while clarinet reeds require relatively little work. Most serious oboe players make their own reeds.
Having said the above, I avoid thinking about the clarinet while playing the oboe as it is possible to switch fingerings accidentally. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
