AboutGeoffrey Bridge Expertise Professional oboist with many years experience. Former pupil of Leon Goossens. Solo artist for Arts Council of Great Britain. Freelance recitalist/broadcasting/orchestras. Former Head of woodwind teaching in Hampshire, England. Questions on repertoire, playing styles, reeds, cane selection and processing.
Experience Royal College of Music
Licenciate of the Royal Academy of Music
General Teaching Council certificate
Broadcast solo recitals/performed with major symphony orchestras/Music Club recitals
Expert: Geoffrey Bridge Date: 5/16/2008 Subject: starting out
Question QUESTION: Oh Geoffrey, what am I getting myself into?
All my life I have felt like a frustrated musician, never quite able to work out what instrument I was really meant to play.
After many years of being thrilled by certain pieces of music and solos I realised how many were actually oboe. I made a very sudden decision that I just have to play!
I started my research online and so very very much is about having to make one's own reeds..and all sorts of mysterious things to be done with cigarette papers..and the other things that need to be just so, particularly on the high tide of the third full moon of spring..
How do I just start? I may be terrible? How much discomfort can my neighbours expect? (will it be worse than my singing?)How long will it take for me to actually be able to play notes or even a simple song? Over the years I have absorbed that some people just can't get the whole double reed thing, and that of the ones that do, a lot shouldn't ;-) How do I make sure I'm not one who shouldn't? I had no trouble with a single reed in my teens, can I expect a much greater challenge?
I have been frustrated that despite living in a large city, the music stores here seem to know little about anything other than electric guitars..("do you sell reeds for oboe?" "..um..I'll check the catalogue..")
I have stumbled across a CabartSpecial serial S231 and have been advised it is from the early 60s. Other discussion seems to support this model, but I do not even have a teacher yet to check it over. It is under $700, and from an instrument repair shop, they have told me it should suit me well as a beginner, and for a few years to come.
Should I wait until I meet with my teacher to get reeds and such? Or should I get some (what size) reeds and experiment beforehand? I don't want to start out wrong, but I'm just so enthusiastic about my musical epiphany!
I guess a lot of these questions will only be answered by time and practice, but any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Natalie
ANSWER: Dear Natalie
I am so pleased that you are considering the most wonderful of instruments, the oboe.
You will find it no more of a challenge than any other instrument where you make the sound happen. Easier on those where the sound is made for you like keyboards, pianos and guitar. But they have their difficulties too of course.
To have an easy passage into oboe playing you need:-
a decent instrument that has been checked by someone who knows how to play the thing
(The Cabart could be fine but you really do need to have an expert try out out first for you.)
A decent supply of reeds - usually not from music shops who are largely completely ignorant of oboe things as you have already found out! Reeds can best be bought from independent makers who deal with you directly. You can tell them you're a beginner and they will make reeds to suit your unformed and probably weak embouchure.
Both of these above requirements ought to be found from an alliance with a good oboe teacher. Preferably one who majors on the oboe and knows its foibles and not someone who is a general wind teacher. They may even make your reeds for you. A lot do sell reeds to pupils as it helps their finances and the pupils. A mutual benefit, as they make reeds that may not quite suit them but can then adjust them for your needs and the reedmaking time is not then entirely wasted. Reeds are a problem for all oboists and there is quite a wastage. Patience is something that might have to be developed by the way!!!
The noise you make will not be too bad for the neighbours if you start properly with that expert. If the sound you make is too loud the reeds are too open and hard for you. Fingering is pretty easy too and quite logical.
So before your musical epiphany do try and find this oboistic angel that will lead you to the promised land. It will be the best course for you. You could start on your own of course but you will have so many questions to ask (I wonder why I know this!) that you will need a teacher in the end of the day.
All the very best with this venture. It 's always thrilling to think that someone is wanting to try to play this glorious instrument. As they say in Australia "good on ya"!!
Geoffrey
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi again,
I just wanted to share with you what a great decision this has been. So far I have spoken with(or emailed) a handful of oboe people and I cannot believe how wonderfully supportive you have all been. I don't know how small the oboe world is, but my second contact was with a gentleman who does the Aust newsletter(John Armstrong) who guided me to Linda Walsh, who is the Oboe teacher here at Newcastle Con. I am meeting with her at the end of this week.
I have known so many musicians and music teachers, and I have never felt this level of encouragement and support for one another, or other musicians.
Thank you again,for welcoming me into the Oboe family.
Natalie
ANSWER: Natalie
The oboe world is quite small but like any other has people in it who will be helpful and those who won't!
I do hope that you get helpful advice from Linda Walsh. As I live in the UK it hard to keep tabs on who is doing what on the other side of the pond. I wish you well with her. If she is an oboe teacher in the 'system' it sounds like she will be the very person for you.
You live in Newcastle, Connecticut: I will make enquiries about teachers in your area and see what I come up with. Just out of curiosity!!
I will let you know how it goes if I have anything.
Thank you for your kind comments by the way. It is much appreciated.
All the best this weekend
Geoffrey
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Don't tell me there's more than 2 Newcastles!!!
I'm from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia! I thought you must have got it from the .au of my email -esp when you said "Good on ya"!
Thanks, I wish you a great weekend too!
N :-)
Answer Natalie
We have three Newcastles here in the UK! Now I didn't know you were in that land of fantastic wine and sunshine - Australia. I think it was the Newcastle Con which led me up the USA path...
Now I do know some oboe players in Australia. So, who are the oboe teachers in NSW?
I'll see if I can find out. Certainly when you get to the professional, tertiary eduction stage Jeff Crellins or Ann Gilby would be just the job.
Ann teaches at Monash University and has been/is very involved with the Australian Double Reed Society.
