Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2010-10-10 08:29
Greetings teachers, friends and colleagues. I am requesting for your help to complete a small survey that i am conducting to seek some, hopefully, truthful and honest comments on regards to oboes made and sold today. It is very likely that someone who is now reading this realizes and understands to a certain extend the agony of a budding student who is not able to try all brands and models of oboes available in the market today (especially those who are not living in the big cities and studying with a famous teacher).
Worst is when, with a tight budget, the struggling student then pays for an instrument that at the end of the day does not accomplish what he/she expects not because of an inferior instrument, but a lack of understanding in what are the general characteristics of playing that are necessary to make that particular instrument work at personal level. We all understand it is not a matter of laziness or lacking in the spirit to experiment, but limited resources prevent from the possibility of a student to even attempt such a thing (Professionals i have spoken to face the very same problem). Talent is perhaps another factor, but at this moment too many variables (reeds, technique, oboes, environment etc.) already exist for students to have time to consider such subjective issues.
Therefore, i invite you write to me in an objective way, regardless of your position or level of playing (and even remain anonymous if you feel the need to). For the purpose of this survey please include the following items:
1) Your age and country which you live/work/study in.
2) Your profession (e.g. oboe teacher, principal oboe in orchestra, music student etc).
3) Your brand of instrument, model, and the number of years you have played it (be it 1st or 2nd hand). Is this brand a popular one in your region?
4) The pitch that you play in your country/region (e.g. a = 440, 442 etc).
5) The basic characteristics of your reeds. Do you produce them yourself? If not, are they from a reputable maker or a teacher/professional who tries them on the same instrument as you? Are they long or short scrape? What is the length of your reeds corresponding to your pitch necessities? (e.g. i play 440 and my reeds are 72 mm) Detailed description on the materials used for the reeds are not required but encouraged (as this is more a survey of instruments not reed styles).
6) Why you bought your current oboe(s). Did you buy your oboe from retailers or direct from the factories (or others)? Were you able to try your oboe before you bought it? Or did someone else try it for you?
7) Did your instrument fulfill your expectations? Please elaborate/state why (e.g. cracking, inferior mechanism, wonderful intonation etc).
8) And finally, do you intend to try a different brand/model in the future? Please elaborate/state which and why (e.g. fed up, curiosity, famous players using etc).
You can send me your replies via Facebook or email me at: hautboisjj@gmail.com. Thank you for taking the your time to read this. This survey not affiliated in any way to any exterior organization, company or person(s) and is solely intended for my private usage (Nor will it be ever used for commercial purposes). Again, if you feel a need to reply but wishes to remain anonymous you can do so. Any sort of reply will be very much appreciated.
Regards,
Howard, Ng Su Chee, Malaysia
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