Author: huboboe
Date: 2012-03-09 03:26
OK, My 2 cents worth here...
If you shout, "HEY!!!" as loudly as you can, that is the most abdominal pressure you should experience in playing oboe. I can't speak for other instruments, but except for trumpet, the rest of the band blows more freely than oboe.
If you find it takes more work than that to produce your loudest sound, then I think you might look at the resistance your reeds are offering and make some adjustments.
I've always found playing extended pianissimo passages way more taxing on the abdomen than long, loud passages. Control softly is way harder than loud.
If playing is straining muscles, I would look very hard at what muscles are being used for what purpose. To go back to the, "HEY!!!" analogy, playing is just like vocalization, either speaking or singing. The only difference is that the resistance is at the reed, not the vocal chords. On oboe you 'push' a little harder than you speak, but if it is more than that, look to your reeds...
I hope you fix this. Playing should be fun and a joy. There's no other reason to do it...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
