#oboe performance

How to play dynamics on the oboe

Building a large dynamic range on the oboe can be challenging for oboe students of all ages. Students must work smart and hard to create a large range of dynamics from ppp, to fff with a beautiful rich tone throughout the whole range.  It is often easy for oboists to get stuck in  mezzo forte land where every dynamic level is the same. Dynamics provide shape to the musical phrase, contrast…

I have been playing the oboe for 20 years, and teaching for over 15 years now, I tend to take soaking reeds for granted and I do not tend to give it a lot of thought, but the topic has been coming up in different ways lately and I feel it is worth putting some perspective into type. I recently had an adult student come into a lesson with me and they had concerns about low notes not speaking on…

Is there a correct side to place an oboe reed on my lips?

This question was asked on Quora and I took a moment to answer it. “Is there a correct side to place an Oboe Reed on my lips? This my sixth year playing oboe, but I’ve always wondered if I was placing the reed correctly in my mouth. If I were to flip the reed over in my mouth, would that create an important difference in sound? Is there a harder side I should be placing on my upper or…