 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-05-12 21:43
Steve wrote (in another thread)
-- "Being a former clarinetist, ....." --
Susan, sorry to change the subject, but I play the clarinet and only became interested in the oboe about 6 months ago.
I'm aware from what I've done so far that if I made the effort, I could make rapid progress. But the problem is that I love the clarinet as well.
Do you still play the clarinet? Is there any reason why I shouldn't put equal effort into both? From my limited experience, I have no problem adapting to the very different embouchures and fingerings. The only problem I have is the position and angle of the fingers on the keys, though that's solved after a few minutes of practice.
I guess, what I'm seeking is reassurance that both instruments can be learnt to a rather amateur standard, well at least good enough for community orchestras.
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Steve --
If you've got the time to do both, I don't think there's any real reason why you shouldn't.
I did continue to play the clarinet for the first year after I started oboe. The only place it fouled me up was in confusing the F/F# and high D fingerings for the two instruments. I do fantasize about being able to double proficiently at some point in the future.
But I, personally, really wanted to become primarily an oboist, so at the point where my oboe playing began to rival my clarinet playing in proficiency, I made the switch. For the past 18 months, I have not so much as put a clarinet in my mouth. My oboe playing has benefitted significantly from this undivided attention.
I have no doubt but what most of my clarinet chops would come rushing back within an hour or two of taking it up again. I played it for a long, long time, and it is still the standard by which I experience woodwind playing -- something is either "like" the clarinet, or it's not.
But the oboe is a separate instrument -- it's not just a clarinet without a mouthpiece. It has its own repertoire and traditions, and has its own challenges. And to me, it is infinitely more pleasant an instrument.
Besides, whether in band or orchestra, the oboe routinely gets all sorts of cool solos that clarinetists can only dream about! And if you can play it half-well, you get all sorts of strokes for doing it. Clarinets are, for better or worse, part of the musical wallpaper of our culture. But there is a mystique about the oboe that just captivates the contemporary listener -- and I love it when that happens!
Good luck to you.
Susan
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-05-13 00:32
<<... in band or orchestra, the oboe routinely gets all sorts of cool solos that clarinetists can only dream about ... clarinets are, for better or worse, part of the musical wallpaper ...>>
Oh, that's very helpful perspective on routine oboe solos in band music, i was wondering if i was getting more solo work in band because the director wants to find out if i'm actually playing or just faking it -- my tone is a lot softer than it was at the beginning, and our brasswind section is so dynamically enthusiastic
... as for the clarinets being musical wallpaper, in our band they seem to get a lot of cool stuff to play, while i often find i'm wallpapering with flute, clarinet, trumpet or A-sax
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-05-13 01:59
>our brasswind section is so dynamically enthusiastic>
Yeah, you have just defined the brass in virtually every context that I have experienced in the past, oh, 35 years.
When I was a director -- yes, I was, for some 20 years, in high-level church music -- I used to contemplate having the brass play out in the hallway (with everyone else inside the sanctuary), hoping that might possibly create the balance we were looking for.
But, having had the recent experience of a director's hand in MY face for an entire concert season, I have newfound empathy.
Some instruments just want to be heard.
S.
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-05-13 13:38
As much as I love to prattle on about oboe, this is one case where it is necessary.
For those out there that want to take oboe to the next level - that is, beyond just playing parts in band that are doubled by flutes or clarinets anyway - the oboe really needs to be the only instrument. Unlike the more traditional doubling jobs, such as clarinettists who play saxophone, or saxophonists who play flute, the oboe really doesn't have any friends, just its big brother, the english horn.
-The main reason is that the physiology of oboe playing is incredibly different than that of any other wind instrument. We have to deal with back-pressure, caused by a naturally too small aperture, embouchure fatigue to a much greater extent than others, and of course that two-reed setup.
-Because of the somewhat cramped nature of the oboe, we have to be even more flexible than normal, in order to maintain a true sound. (Has everyone been doing their embouchure rolling exercises for flexibility?!?!? :P)
Now, here's where doubling presents a problem.
Clarinet+saxophone: if you've ever looked at these instruments, you'll see that the reed doesn't touch the mouthpiece at the end. However, in order to produce vibration, it has to be "pressed" against the mouthpiece somewhat . This produces a natural biting tendency, which is completely out on the oboe.
Flute- Flutists have to play in such a way to conserve air, yet still produce a true sound. Oboists are the exact opposite - we always have too much air!
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2006-05-18 18:46
Well, you've articulated (heh) why clarinet and flute are different than oboe, but I don't think this necessarily means that the habits from one will carry over into the other to a significant extent. There are multilingual people who have problems with words and grammar from one language spilling over into the other, but there are also many multilingual people who have no problem keeping their languages separate. The human brain is a wonderful organ and can do wonderful things.
I could even imagine the contrast being good. Maybe one gets all one's biting instincts "out" on the clarinet, so that one plays the oboe relieved of any urge to bite. Feel like biting? Go play the clarinet for a while. Come back to the oboe when you've had your biting for the day. Feeling congested? Blow away on the flute, come back to the oboe when you run out of blowing and want to feel the buildup of pressure again.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2006-05-19 08:04
Susan,
Thanks for the advice.
-- "If you've got the time to do both, I don't think there's any real reason why you shouldn't." --
I guess that's the biggest problem of all! Finding time.
Strangely, I find that the embouchure change from clarinet - oboe -clarinet is not too difficult. In fact, I'm convinced that playing the oboe actually makes my clarinet embouchure better. Perhaps it's a matter of giving your lip muscles a complete workout?
I haven't had any problems with consusing the fingerings yet, but then I'm only up to C above the staff on the oboe (2 octaves).
Perhaps the biggest problem is one of breathing. The control is so very different and I'll have to practise this. Or just pass out occasionally!
Mike gave a good analogy with languages. I often have to switch between english, italian and french at work and I wonder if there's a link.
Who knows? Want to improve your oboe playing? Get those Berlitz books out! ;-)
Steve
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Author: Demonxz
Date: 2006-05-22 18:34
i am also a former clarinettist switched to oboe 2 yrs ago, and now i am doing oboe major in a music school
i had a chance to do doubling on clarinet/bass clarinet last year in a youth orchestra and the experience is awful ! i was too used to a balanced embouchure for oboe and the emphasis of lower lips of clarinet playing makes me so painful after 2 hours playing
and the pain remained for a day !
but i do have a friend who does very good doubling on both, and he has professional teachers on both instruments. but my teacher ( who is also his oboe teacher ) told me his oboe playing is hindered by his clarinet playing, to some extent his mouth leaks air while he plays oboe ( coz sometimes for playing softer and rounder in clarinet u got to leak a bit air voluntary). and his sound on oboe is quite aggressive. maybe due to bigger air flow on clarinet.
i do recommend doing oboe ONLY, feel soo much better
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2006-05-22 22:45
-- >i do recommend doing oboe ONLY, feel soo much better< --
Yes, but you also said: --"and now i am doing oboe major in a music school" --
I think that in such a situation, your advice is very wise and I respect that.
However, in my case I was asking about far more general problems. Playing music for me is just a hobby. I take it very seriously and absorb any info to do with clarinets and oboes BUT I don't have any exams to worry about. ;-)
It's early days yet, but I just can't imagine ever giving up one for the other.
Steve
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