Testing an oboe reed - 4 tips to improve your oboe sanity! Being able to test the reed is crucial to good reed making and is imperative for students who are choosing a reed that will work for them. Whether you are a student trying out a bunch of reeds…
Summer Festivals and more for Young Musicians, all levels by State Students who want to pursue a career in instrumental music need to immerse themselves in the scene as much as possible. This includes summer instruction from different professors than they would normally have access too. Summer festivals provide great…
How to: high notes on the oboe (Fingerings and tips for the 2nd/3rd octave with video tutorial) How do you get high notes out on the oboe? When you learn a new fingering for a high note on the oboe it can be tempting to blow really hard and squeeze…
How to break in an oboe reed (how long does it take?) Reeds for oboe, bassoon, clarinet or saxophone need some time to adjust to their environment and the player. This process is called “ breaking in the reed”. To break in a reed make sure that the reed is…
How to clean your oboe, and why Daily cleaning of the oboe is mostly about removing moisture from the bore, but periodically, more thorough cleaning is necessary. Neglecting to keep the oboe clean will eventually be detrimental to the playability of the instrument. Don’t neglect your beloved instrument! As you blow…
Oboe Articulation Single, Double, Flutter and more (With Video Tutorials) How to articulate on the oboe Clarity of articulation is imperative for expressive music making, can prove to be a unique challenge on the oboe. The oboist must use the breath, tongue and embouchure in concert to produce notes from…
Low notes not working on your oboe? How to fix it! When the low notes won’t speak on the oboe the frustration can be overwhelming and you will wish that you had picked the flute or trumpet in beginning band. The most common causes of low notes not working are…
How can I avoid playing sharp on the oboe? And how to play in tune. Most middle and high school oboe students who practice find themselves in a constant struggle not to play sharp with the rest for the ensemble. This can be so frustrating as most well meaning band…
How can I improve my oboe embouchure with Photos and Video Forming and controlling the oboe embouchure is a critical skill for players of all levels. The following exercises include helpful techniques for beginners just learning to form their mouths and advanced players hoping to take their tone to the…
REED DEATH! How to tell if your oboe reed is broken or needs replacing We learn early to value reeds and play them until they wont... Often when I start beginners I provide them with a reed to learn their first notes on. To be honest, it is rare to…