 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: kelloboe
Date: 2006-08-30 15:50
I have been asked to help a new oboe student get acquainted the the instrument. I have 30 minutes. Can anyone recommend a book or website that can help me with putting together an effiecient lesson plan. My lessons are 30 minutes long and usually cover 2-3 scales, an etude and a piece of music. Thank you in advance. Kelly
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-08-30 18:50
Kelly --
I'm not sure I understand what your task is here -- you have 30 minutes to help someone "get acquainted" with the oboe -- and then what? Nothing?
Wow. I'm not sure you could even teach someone how to put it together, hold it, and lay on hands in 30 minutes' time. But if that is what you've got, that's what I suggest.
If you get as far as blowing, I'd say talk about sucking a straw and making a nice "hoot" from the back of the throat.
Seriously, is this a one-time-only lesson? Why?
Susan
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-08-31 03:35
only one lesson?
... your outlined lesson plan might work fine for half-hour if new student is already physically capable of blowing the instrument for 10-15 mins, knows any scale at all on oboe yet, and can read music ???
If not, have to think much more basic, like illustrated info page about oboe in Essential Elements 2000 Book 1
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-08-31 03:35
If i had 30 minutes to get someone "acquainted" with an instrument.
I would make them play on the reed for 10 of those minutes. I would should them a proper embouchure, and have them play on the reed only so that they can hear what pitch the reed should be at with a comfortable embouchure. They would be able to warm up with this later.
I would also incorporate "hissing", blowing air between the front teeth after playing on the reed. For example (15 seconds reed, 10 seconds rest, proper inhale without the shoulders, hiss breath until everything is out, start over). This is a good fundamental exercise for beginners.
After they've got the hissing and reed exercise down, I'd have them play a simple G major scale, concentrating from low G to middle D to have them produce a good, solid sound. Using a metronome, I'd do 4 beats at 80 up and down from G to D and down, letting them stop whenever their mouth begins to give. This might even be just 4-8 beats only! (Better to have them learn the mouth properly first than to have them biting for the rest of their oboe career).
Students can learn fingerings, rhythm etc on their own. The tricky thing for a beginner is proper air production, with a decent reed, and the correct embouchure.
If you must use a book, I suppose the sellner's would be fine, but this is assuming they can read/count music.
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Author: kelloboe
Date: 2006-08-31 15:08
Thank you for your feedback. To clarify, this student is entering middle school. She came from a school that didn't have 5th or 6th grade band. She wants to play oboe. She rented an oboe and came to me for help. Our goal is to get her caught up with the others (who have had l year of band). We are working with Essential Elements Book 1 - the rest of the band just started E. E. Book 2. Her areas of opportunity will benefit from your suggestions. I must admit, we tend to flow past the 30 minute lesson. Being new to the instument is a challenge - she comes with a strong piano background and a desire to learn which is a big plus. Thank you again. Kelly
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-09-01 01:13
... must be absolutely wonderful for kids who get grade 5 & 6 band, around where i'm living kids don't get band until grade 7
... EE Book 1 & 2 mostly conquered (a bit of tricky stuff in there still eludes me) and Book 3 beckoning (ack, wot's this, 5 & 6 flats ???)
... gotta have extra outside oboe lessons to do sharp keys, otherwise miss them, usually get lots of practice in flat keys in band
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-09-01 04:38
in addition to what others have mentioned, I would strongly suggest engraining posture right from the start. Many oboists (including myself) don't get nagged on this until university. Make sure that:
-the head is neutral (not tucked down as many do)
-fingers are relaxed
-shoulders are relaxed
-arms are comfortably at the side, using the bicep muscle to support the majority of the weight of the oboe. Don't squeeze in too narrow, but don't "charge down the hallway" with big wide arms either.
Some people might argue this is too much for a beginner...but it is MUCH easier to do it now, than to develop bad tension habits, and have to undo them with extensive relaxation, and stretching exercises. (Not that one shouldn't do them anyway, but still...)
Also, teach them that oboe is not "difficult". While it's a challenging instrument, as any other, try to alleviate the common misconception that it's ok for oboists to *obsess* over reeds, and get really neurotic about everything. Especially reeds! It really isn' ok. Seriously!! Reeds are such an easy scapegoat, and as far as I'm concerned, an unacceptable one.
I think, aside from the usual scales and breathing, if the beginner is given a fresh, more logical, methodical, and relaxed approach to the oboe - instead of the typical tense-necked, squished-embouchure, tight-finger introduction - their oboe playing career, however long or short, will be much more enjoyable.
D
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-01 06:33
Kelly,
Can't you offer hour long lessons?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2006-09-01 13:38
Most music lessons in my neck of the woods (Central Illinois, Mid-America), both voice and instrumental, run 30 minutes. I don't know whether that's some sort of unofficial industry standard, but that's generally the way it works. And parents, who are paying for the lessons, understand this, and might be taken aback at being asked to fork out for what would amount to two back-to-back lessons. "What am I getting for my money?" they might ask suspiciously. "Why does Kelloboe need 60 minutes to teach what all the other oboe teachers are able to teach in 30 minutes?"
So.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-09-01 13:56
Lesson length might differ depending on the age and accomplishment of the student, as well.
I imagine 30 minutes is just about right for a younger player (as long as both player and teacher get down to business right away, and don't spend more than a minute or so chatting or dealing with administrative issues -- scheduling and payment, e.g.).
My lessons (I'm an advanced adult student) are an hour long, and I wouldn't want them any shorter. There's always too much left unsaid and undone as it is, plus I am driving an hour each way, so anything less than an hour's lesson just wouldn't quite cut it for me.
Susan
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