Author: d-oboe
Date: 2005-12-04 04:02
Alright let's see if we can answer these one at a time!
Isometrics: pulsating with the abdomen - like "HooHooHoo"
Air Support...
To me, correct air support feels like every note on the oboe is easy and in tune. Or at least that's how I know it's working! It feels as though my entire body is filled with sound, and that the entire oboe is full and vibrating. The best way to find this is to closet yourself for an hour, and do only long tones for an hour. Really concentrate on finding the "centre" of the sound. Relax everything, and get everything resonating really well.
Get it vibrating in your head! Fill the room with sound! To do this, you will need to support very well. The best way is through experimentation, I think.
Air Pressure...
Ideally, You shouldn't really "feel" the air pressure. If your body is relaxed enough, and your embouchure strong enough (I know you are working on this) and the air is moving how it should, it should feel like turning on a light switch. Almost like it just shoots through the oboe.
Length of open tube issue....
I understand your confusion. From an instructors point of view, telling students to create a "fountain of air" shooting out of the oboe is a very good analogy, and is effective in getting students to blow.
What I am referring to is the actual physics of the sound. It just isn't necessary on high notes to blow a ton of air through the instrument. The higher notes take up physically less space in the oboe, and, thus, need less air to create optimal vibration.
I will post more later...let me know this makes sense up to now...
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