Don’t wait for it. The lowest notes on the oboe are notoriously difficult to play. They don’t want to speak, they MIGHT splatter, they are SLOW to respond, they feelContinue readingDon’t Wait For It
The AIR is the Sound
It’s never wrong to go back to basics. I was working with some college freshmen and we were playing two-bar phrases. I talked about arcing the air over the barline.Continue readingThe AIR is the Sound
Micro Rests
For oboists, endurance is a huge problem. We can play an endlessly long phrase, because of the way the instrument is constructed, but we can really only do that aContinue readingMicro Rests
Coffee? COMMUNICATE.
Thesis: Communication is important. Letting the other person know your CONTEXT is a part of that. Scene: We’re walking the doggo, so I can’t step into the co-op with Steve. Continue readingCoffee? COMMUNICATE.
When to Cheat
I got an email from an oboist a while ago, back before COVID. After thanking me for the reeds I had sent, and complimenting the warm tone they had, theyContinue readingWhen to Cheat
You are the Music
You ARE the music. YOU are the music. It’s not the oboe. It’s YOU. Too many oboists live RIGHT up against the resistance of the oboe, blowing straight into theContinue readingYou are the Music
Separating it Out
Last semester, my student came in with the Hoedown from Copland’s Rodeo. Let me guess, I said – the low tonguing passage? Of course she assumed that she had aContinue readingSeparating it Out
Keeping My AIR to Myself
I was out running this morning and I crossed the street to avoid a perfectly nice lady walking her perfectly nice dog. We smiled and waved at each other –Continue readingKeeping My AIR to Myself
Top Six Reasons I Love Teaching Online Lessons
I’ve been seeing so many complaints among my friends and colleagues about the quality of their Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom lessons. I have to say that while I acknowledge theContinue readingTop Six Reasons I Love Teaching Online Lessons
Reed Mindset
In our dress rehearsal Saturday morning I became aware of just how GREAT my reed was. It felt so EASY to play the oboe. I could come in perfectly softly,Continue readingReed Mindset