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English Horn - First Experience

Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-12-20 21:59

Hi all!

I have been playing oboe for a year and a half now and finally got to try an English Horn. My nice teacher loaned me his Loree!!! I was pleasantly surprised how it wasn't so foreign. Within 30 minutes I was playing all my oboe songs on it, just a 5th lower. My initial observations are as follows:

Second register takes lots of air pressure, much more than the first.

Thank goodness I'm used to "sliding" the half hole on oboe because that's exactly what you do on English Horn...that didn't take long to get the hang of either.

The low notes are sooooooo easy to play, all of them.

Vibrato is easier to do on an English Horn.

It's more comfortable to play than oboe because you use more air and don't have to exhale as much.

Anyway, that's what I've noticed so far...I'm sure there are tons of things to learn with technique, breathing, etc., but I was surprised at how it didn't feel that much different than oboe and I can honestly say I can play two instruments now.