Hey! I am considering playing the Oboe. I already play the Alto Sax, Recorder and Piano. I love the sound of the oboe + Alto Sax is very heavy, it seems to never have the melody, and It is way to easy. So far I have been researching the oboe and it seems quite hard, but it has such a good sound! I love the oboe and I am going to rent one soon, but I need some tips...
well i'm new to the oboe, after 6 years of clarinet playing.
and yes it is hard but if you really want then it isn't a problem, just remember not to bite, loosen your lips and blow a lot of air fast.
Get a teacher to get you started correctly.
Rent the best oboe you can & have it checked by someone that plays oboe.
Get some decent reeds.
Practice long notes using a tuner to stay on pitch.
Understand & work on a good embouchure.
Yo, thanks a lot. I am going to join my junior band but if the teacher does know oboe, I might get some private lessons. I haven't gotten a tuner though.
I would first get a good teacher. Local symphonies often have working teachers/performers. just make sure your teacher's main instrument is oboe. then you can probably get some good reeds from him/her. They may be as expensive as $20 USD, but they generally last from 2-3 months after the first 2 or 3 reeds you have completely destroyed - yes, you WILL destroy two or three in the beginning.
Then for the repertoire and all that, get to it when it comes. The most important thing fo ryou to do in the beginning is rudimentary excercises. Start with a chromatic scale from the lowest note you can play - you will need it ALWAYS. Then do the basic band/orchestra scales, even if you are NOT in either.
The oboe isn't really hard. People just think it is. The hard part is working with a small tessitura and the fact that playing for too long destroys your lips, though the latter applies to any wind instrument.
A couple basic things though.
1) No matter what your instrument, play with correct posture. For oboe this means sitting all the way back in your chair, arching your back and keeping your head and chin up. To help with this, keep your stand at eye level.
2) Keep your instrument at a 45 degree angle from your body. The oboe is nice in that you can play it pointing in almost any direction, but this position works best and has the best tone. Most amateurs, usually coming from clarinet, ruin their sound by playing too close to their body.
3) To get proper embouchure, you must do something very different from saxophone or recorder. Suck your lips in over your teeth, until if you looked in the mirror you wouldn't be able to see them any more. Then, place your reed on your bottom lip, and gently press down with your upper lip. Do not put too much of the reed in your mouth.
4) Articulate with the tongue. This is much faster and easier than with your breath. Go "tuh tuh" rather than "huh huh".
5) You should play with the pads of your fingers, not the tips. This allows more movement and better tone, because some keys require the finger to close a small hole. Always keep your fingers close to the keys. Beginners will tend stick their fingers up when not using them.
1. I play Alto and I roll my bottom lip up. Most people don't, but I think it makes a better sound.
2. Unlike most people who play Alto Sax, and Recorder, I don't breathe for each note. Unlike most people I know how to tongue. Sadly though, most people don't know how. I hypervetalate If I don't tongue :D
Well, I guess I know some things about the so called "impossible" embrosure ( which I can't spell )
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