 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Theyoungoboist
Date: 2011-04-14 23:51
So (as I think some of you know already) I have an audition coming up in about 3 weeks. (I will post a recording once I have the piece under my fingers. There are still a few spots I'm working on).
I was wondering what you oboists out there did to prepare for your audition and if you use any tricks to help you learn a new piece.
I first look for all the parts that might give me trouble, then think of how I'm going to tackle them, where to breathe, phrases ect.. Then I play a part of it through (depending on how long the piece is) at a very slow tempo. Over the remaining weeks I hammer down the hard parts, starting slowly and bringing the tempo up one click at a time (I know that may seem a bit extreme to some, but I find I move along quicker if I move up slower. It's harder to tell that the tempo is changed and I can focus more on what I'm doing rather than thinking about how fast I'm playing it). As the piece becomes more second nature, I add ornaments and dynamics. In the final weeks I run through and make sure it's as good as I can get it and hopefully I'll get into the orchestra.
-TYO
http://oboeadventures.tumblr.com/
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2011-04-15 00:05
That's pretty much it. Certainly others closer to the process will have better procedural advice to give.
For my part, I really want to impress the value of concentrating on the character of what you're playing. The results will impress the juries more than trying to dazzle with speed.
I was REALLY surprised when playing with my (then) new recording device:
- more focus on sound and breathing for dynamics DID improve the results
- BUT visualizing the character of the piece amplified the dynamics and clarity of articulations about 10 times more!
=> YES DO WORK ON technical exercises and work-up the piece like you describe.
But strive to get comfortable with it, then let your inspiration take over.
Try to make your scales etc. sound fun too.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: Theyoungoboist
Date: 2011-04-15 00:10
Thanks for the tip.
For some reason I never thought of my inspiration taking over. It was kind of in the back of my mind, but I never really thought of how I wanted to play the piece.
I feel as though I have been enlightened.
TYO
http://oboeadventures.tumblr.com/
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Author: Theyoungoboist
Date: 2011-04-15 00:24
Well, I took a moment to to visualize the piece. And Mozart's Oboe Quartet (1st movement) really came to me as a group of children playing in a hilly field with a large tree and a swing. The first (about) 12 measures after the second repeat (my favorite part!) is when one of the children (the one the oboe represents) gets separated from the group for a moment and feels lost, abandoned, and scared (That's when the oboe plays the leaps from high D after the Dm scale). Then she finds them again and they continue playing.
Not sure if I quite have the story down in my head or if my explanation of what I wrote made sense...
-TYO
http://oboeadventures.tumblr.com/
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-04-15 02:46
How can anyone play the Mozart Oboe Quartet and not feel like they're having FUN? Which should come across in an audition...
for me, I echo the 'less is more' mentality: avoid taking passages so fast that they're not 'clean'. Clean playing tops speed, so find a tempo that shows YOUR best interpretation.
Keep the sound focused, play (in your imagination) for someone you love, relax, enjoy the music, pick your most responsive reed, and GO FOR IT.
GoodWinds
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2011-04-15 04:53
I was already playing professionally before I learned to practice as you describe. That's exactly right. One further refinement (if you aren't already doing it) is to increase the speed a click at a time until you make errors. Then play it through slowly and correctly before putting it away. Each day you'll get a bit faster and more confident.
Stevens Hewitt says about practicing, in his book 'Method for Oboe' (which I think every oboist ought to own), "The memory of how it feels is your only method."
This is why it is so very important to start slowly, so that you will build a solid memory of how it feels to play the passage correctly.
Another Hewittism: "On the train journey the ties are blurred to invisibility, but when you laid the track you were painfully aware of the weight and place of each tie..."
Enjoy the Mozart. It's a great piece that you will continue to refine your whole life. You're gonna have a great audition!
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-04-15 06:02
An Audition trick that I learned during my Master's Degree...
Once you've learned all the music, you've got to prepare yourself for the energy rush of the audition. A teacher (for an auditions class) told us to do something vigorous to get your heart rate up, he suggested running up and down stairs, but running around the house, or any type of aerobics exercise will do. Then immediately go and play. This will give you that nervous, sweaty sensation and if you can play through that, you'll generally have a good audition.
No matter how well prepared I am for an audition, I still get sweaty hands while playing!
Last is to just have fun! If you have fun, the adjudicators will have fun listening to you.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: hautbois francais
Date: 2011-04-15 07:53
If you have a recording, it will be great to hear what you have prepared. It will be great while we cheer you on too.
Please post the recording if you have one.
Kudos and cheers to you !!!
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