Author: phoenix_song
Date: 2003-12-28 06:29
I actually taught myself the oboe freshman year. My band director needed one, so he thrust the school (plastic) instrument at me, told me to go buy a soft reed and shoved me into the sound room for practice. Well, I learned early not to buy jones, they collapse quicker than anything, and the bassoonist agrees.
You want to start on soft, and just start crowing on the reed until your lips adjust. Mine got very sore when I started and looked like they were bleeding in the middle, but they weren't. I switched from a clarinet, though.
After you've gotten the hang of crowing the reed (and not passing out), try playing with the whole oboe (and not passing out). There was a lot of passing out in my learning experience, and that comes from the CO2 buildup in your lungs with no release in sight.
When you notice that it's easier to push air through the instrument, you can start some serious practicing and getting the hang of the notes, and then you can start moving up in the strength of your reeds until you find the one you're most comfortable on.
And that's how I got to where I am now, the single oboist at my high school, a soloist during freshman, sophomore, and junior year, and I only blackout occasionally during rehearsal. (So happy to have my wooden oboe.)
My wallet photos:
Phoebe the Lesher
Marilee the Loree
Walter and Nichols the oboe reeds
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The Oboe BBoard
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