Author: cjwright
Date: 2014-01-19 09:23
I'm not sure age is an issue at 30 as much as the usual factors.
1. Discipline
2. Equipment
3. Instruction
Obviously as everyone mentions DISCIPLINE and practice are the key factors here. You should expect to play 10-15 minutes, three times a day the first month or so, and slowly build five minutes a day a week until you're up to an hour twice a day or so. Based upon your consistency (once in morning, once in afternoon, once in evening), this would be the equivalent of starting bicep curls for someone who has no muscle. Start with 3 pound weights and do 3 sets of 10 reps.
EQUIPMENT is an underestimated issue, but I've seen it affect a student's progress and seen what students are capable of when it is not an issue. Many people might tell you to buy a student instrument. I believe you should buy what you can afford. If a used Fox 330 for $2500 is your price range, great, buy it. If a used Newish-Loree for $5000, buy that instead. The better an instrument you will have, the less problems (uneven tone from note to note, out of tune notes, lack of warmth of tone in the bore, etc.) and therefore the less you will try to compensate by falling into bad habits. I find it is far easier to work with a student to get them set up correctly and then help them to add in more flexibility once they've established a foundation of muscle than to make them start out with no muscle trying to gain enough flexibility to play the darn instrument, then try to teach them how to play the instrument correctly.
The same is equally, if not more, important with reeds. Finding a good source of stable, in-tune, comfortable reeds will keep you from physical pain, frustration, and mental anguish with the instrument. This is often equally tied into INSTRUCTION as your teacher can help you to gauge what is a "superior reed" from a "lesser quality" reed. Often times, a teacher will be able to make you a reed. I currently have 11 students in my studio and some of them are just starting to make their own reeds and have me finish them, but about half of them are still buying reeds, and I realized the other day how quickly my pre-college students are improving, and I think the fact that I can scrape reeds for them, on their oboes, for their embouchure and blowing ability.
Hope this gives you enough to think about.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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