Author: Dutchy
Date: 2007-03-09 15:39
Well, if you're going to be serious about playing serious oboe music--that is, music that's intended for the oboe, whether solos or with a band--and not just play Key-of-C fake books, then you're going to have to learn to play in flats, specifically in the keys of Bb, Eb, and F. Very little band or oboe music is written in the key of C, because the key of C just doesn't sound good on most band instruments. Even the flute, although it's in C, is happier in other keys.
And the key of C sounds especially bad on the oboe, because second-space C, being an "open" note, always sounds quite harsh and needs ameliorating.
So invariably, in Beginning Band, you're going to find yourself in either Bb, F, or Eb. Which also means G minor, D minor, and C minor.
And the BAD news is, that as you advance to Book 2, you also have to do a certain amount of playing in Ab (four flats), Db (five flats), and Gb (SIX flats, in which every time you see a C, you have to remember that it's actually a C flat, a.k.a. B natural, and if you thought you hated Db, wait till you run into Gb, your head will explode, but actually, it's okay, because once your head explodes you just sit there in a sort of terrible calm...)
And the reason you need to play in Ab, Db, and Gb is because some of the other band instruments are transposing instruments--like Bb clarinet, Bb trumpet, Eb alto sax, Bb tenor sax, F french horn--and what's an awkward key for you may be a good key for them. So the composer asks the flutes, oboes, and bassoons to put up with six flats for the sake of giving the French horns or the clarinets an especially yummy part.
Band instruments jes' naturally play in flats. That's how it works. But you don't need to know anything about music theory in order to play in flats. Just learn to push the right keys when you see certain black spots on the staff, and you'll be fine.
You can go ahead and write in the sharps and flats on every note that requires it. Many people do. A fine-point mechanical pencil is best for this, because it's always sharp and leaves a thin but definite line that fits nicely on the staff.
But, you know, if you will work your way through the method book of your choice, practicing the exercises and the little pieces daily, you'll find that the whole "sharps and flats" issue will eventually go away by itself. Your fingers will train themselves to hit the right notes. But you have to start with those little 4-bar exercises, and do them over and over (and over); it's all about hand-eye coordination, and rote training.
Post Edited (2007-03-09 15:45)
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
