Author: sömeone
Date: 2004-09-15 14:05
There are a few posibilities to this, but from my personal experience and what my past tutors have told me, i find the following most likely to be the problem:
- Posture. One can omit this very easily. Too low a posture will prohibit a direct airstream, and can be very disastrous to oboe playing. Yes we always see professionals playing in such a way but they have a way of directing the air stream. Anyways, if you cannot give good intonation or tone or couldn't start a low note easily this is most likely to be the problem.
- Embouchure. A good embouchure is very very relaxed and actually gives a lot of what i like to call cushioning. Control the dynamics by slightly altering the opening of the reed. (imagine a flowing pipeline and the effects of altering the vent holes.) At first you will find out that intonation might be effected seriously, but that will only mean you do not have a flexible well cushioned embouchure, or you are simply taking in too much reed. It is very common to not hear your own faults or even notice them.
- Reed. Like ohsuzan said, a good reed is very important for optimum expressive freedom, but i always try to remind my juniors and myself,
DO NOT BLAME THE REED. I have had the worst reeds sound incredible in the hands of my mentors, which is good enough prove on this. Practise more and more and more.........don't make too many excuses. Haha, i hope you don't. I play the dutch scrape, which is far more difficult to control and operate. I have played american scrape on several occasions before, and i have never been dissapointed by the quick response and ease of playing.
- Air. The ideal concept on the use of air support is most important in playing the oboe. Focused, direct, and very fast air stream (high pressure) is a must for a good sound. Try imagining someone pulling the air out of your oboe bell instead of pushing like hell from inside. Ohsuzan said that air speed is used to alter the dynamics, that is not entirely incorrect but it is much more common to be practised as ornamental tools for vibrato and tone color technique. The Hinke method is a good way to understand this, try and get one and study it with a teacher if possible.
I virtually studied the oboe by myself for 3 years and took minor lessons for only about once a year, due to my location in the country.
So try working harder and the problem might be solved just around the corner. Keep going! Good luck!
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