 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: TropicanaToo
Date: 2005-05-01 16:43
So I have played the flute for....13 years now....and I wanted to take up the oboe in addition to the flute. I know that the fingerings are almost exact to the flute, and I also have the ability to play other instruments (ie. Clarinet) so I think I would have no trouble.
Anyways so I started playing and I am doing great, but I have a couple questions...
1) My mouth gets really tired after 10 minutes of playing. I know you aren't supposed to have a tight embochure, but whatever I seem to do, I get really tired. My lip muscles almost hurt. Will this get better with time? AM I doing something wrong?
2) I get really out of breath. I sit there and think "how can peopleplay an hour at a time?" .....is this normal??
3) I have trouble hitting G and A above middle C. Its like I have to really prepare for those two notes, or else they come out low instead of high. ANy ideas??
Thanks
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2005-05-01 17:42
After you start practicing on the oboe regularly for a while you'll get used to it and be playing fine. People feel the same way when they start on the flute for the first time.
Being a flutist who switched on over to an oboe for a while. I can say I absolutely love the sound of the oboe, but once you have 13 years of flute under your belt the oboe will always be "harder" to play in comparison. It is a beautiful instrument though... I just can never imagine doing Allegro 32nd note runs on an Oboe where it is a breeze on the flute. Maybe after 13 years on the Oboe!
-Piko
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-05-01 21:55
Hi Vanessa --
I've been where you are -- not all that long ago, actually.
First of all, are you sure your instrument is in good adjustment?
Second, what kind of reeds are you using? G/A is where the going gets a little hard, at first, and it may be that in addition to inexperience, you are struggling with too soft of a reed for the task.
If it's any consolation to you, a year ago at this time I was having the same trouble. I just *couldn't* get anything A or above. Well, I could make a sound, but it was putrid. Today, I can go all the way up the next octave, and it sounds pretty, and comes easily.
I don't really remember exactly when it started getting better, but it gradually did. Just keep after it, get some good reeds, and your technique will develop enough to support those higher tones.
You may be playing with too tight an embouchure. Are you actually pushing or clamping down on the reed with lips or teeth? Try to keep your embouchure as open as you can; "O" shaped lips, turned in, just on the tip of the reed, and teeth held apart. Keep the "O" in place as you turn the lips inward. It's not exactly an intuitive embouchure, but in a little while, those muscles will develop, it will become a reflex, and you won't get tired so quickly.
As far as the breathlessness, that may also be part of getting used to the instrument. Are *all* of the notes hard to blow, or just the high ones? At this point, the high ones will probably seem impossible. I know they seemed that way to me. But if everything seems hard, then it might be a matter of the instrument's adjustment.
Are you supporting the tone from your midsection, or only from your throat? That could make a difference, too.
Good luck! Keep us posted.
Susan
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Author: TropicanaToo
Date: 2005-05-02 02:01
ok....I am using a medium hard reed. Not all the notes are hard, just specifically G and A. I can play all the rest with ease. It seems like when i know I am going to play G or A, i have to get ready to ATTACK the note- meaning I can't get the notes out unless my lips ARE tight. When I do get into the higher octave, however, I do notice that I get much much more out of breath.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-05-02 04:05
Well, that sounds pretty par for the course, actually.
In fact, take a look at this thread (from the archives of this board):
http://test.woodwind.org/oboe/BBoard/read.html?f=10&i=536&t=505
That's me, just a little over a year ago, asking the same question! ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
There are some good answers to your question in that thread -- and I can tell you that what they said works, because at this point, I've got high notes to burn. I just yesterday did a BIG solo with my Community Band -- 16 bars of sustained half notes, tempo larghetto, dwelling on Ab, Bb, B, and C above the staff, with nothing else going on but an ostinato from the low reed players. A year ago, I would have collapsed after the first bar, and it would have sounded AWFUL.
Some people also say that you need to get farther down on the reed (roll in) as you go higher. At this point, I am not conscious of doing that until I get above the high C, but maybe it would help to try that on your A and above.
Keep after it, and it will get better over time, with a lot of work! And a certain degree of frustration.
Susan
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Author: TropicanaToo
Date: 2005-05-06 11:37
OMG u guys..thank you SOO much.Doing the "ah" when playing those high notes have helped IMMENSLY. The sound is MUCH better.
Although I can't open up to an AH until after I hit the note- and hitting the note is still a struggle (just that damn G and A), do you guys recomment having tight lips at the END of the reed to hit it, and then open up to an AH and move down the reed to get the better sound?
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2005-05-06 13:56
definitely not.....work on toungue position and air speed also. good breathing and natural idea of air flow is essential too! good luck!
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