Clinic by: Jan Eberle, Professor of Oboe at Michigan State University Photos by: Heather Peyton and Michael Kroth Presented: May 12, 2017 at the Iowa Bandmaster s Association Conference Copyright Jan Eberle 2010 Copyright: 2010, Jan Eberle
Who to choose? Financial means Private lessons Replace reeds High achiever A lot to overcome with reeds Finicky adjustments Leader Often the only one Many solos! Motivated Improvement rate is often slower than other instruments
Instruments to purchase Student Models Josef NS-1 Fox 330 Professional Models Josef BGS-1 or 2 Josef MGS-1 or 2 Loree 125 th model Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Fox/Loree Suppliers RDG Woodwinds, Inc. www.rdgwoodwinds.com Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Josef Supplier Supremo www.josefoboeusa.com
Instrument Care
Vaseline NOT Cork grease Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Assembly Bell to middle joint first! KEY SIDE DOWN, middle joint/bell on belly SLIDE on top joint: NO TWISTING AVOID SQUEEZING RODS! Un-assemble: same way in the opposite order Copyright Jan Eberle
NO Swabs! YES NO Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Feather YES Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Adjustments
Know the five most common ones This knowledge can save many repair costs! Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Daily Adjustment Chart $10.00 from Supremo bestreed@aol.com
Other adjustment resources The Essential Guide to Adjusting the Oboe, Bruce McCall A Method for Adjusting the Oboe and English horn, Carl Sawicki Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
HAND POSITION
More comfort = More practice time More practice = Better player! Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb rest check: C# key Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb rest TOO HIGH Desired spot for pinky Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Copyright Jan Eberle 2010 Adaptors
Easy wine-cork adjustment Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Correct thumb rest position Cork adapter in place Pinky on C# key Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Wrong Right Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb placement -- NO Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb on rest YES Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb angles -- NO Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Thumb angle YES Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
DO NOT GRAB OBOE! Index finger Thumb Copyright Jan Eberle 2010
Proper hold: BALANCE B finger left hand Right thumb rest
REEDS
Reed Style -- FRENCH U scrape Short scrape One part
Reed Style -- GERMAN W scrape Long Scrape Two part
Reed Style -- AMERICAN Hump scrape Tabuteau scrape Three part
Fiber cane: NO! French style + wide shape Flat upper notes Causes biting!
Choose hand-made American Look in light ( windows )
American Reed Sources Local Symphony oboist American Federation of Musician s oboist Supremo: bestreed@aol.com Other Suppliers if you can see the hump!
Store flat
Store flat CHEAP! RICO
NO mandrels
NO plastic tubes!
Soak in Water
BRUSH TEETH!
EMBOUCHURE e
American Embouchure Teach the American embouchure Suits the American reed
NO SMILE!
NO bunched chin
Whistle/Potato YES!
FLAT chin
Use mirror
Embouchure Test Pinky in mouth Blow HARD SEAL air leak
Orient to bottom lip Leave reed on bottom lip when taking breaths
BREATH CONTROL
TOO MUCH AIR is biggest fault! Oboe is NOT like other winds instruments NO big inhales EXHALE instead!
In/Out Exercise in ex ex ex ex ex ex
OBOIST S NEMESIS
TONE
Support Doc Severenson trick Lowest note; no reed; blow through oboe Hand on abdomen Belly stays OUT Ha/Sniff test Feel for diaphragm motion
Hug test for reed Whistle/Potato Reed in mouth No hands Blow/tongue hard Reed motionless Play with snugness!
Position of lips on reed NOT across from each other! Upper lip Lower lip
Upper lip Offset position of lips on reed YES! Under bite Upper lip Lower lip Over bite Lower lip
Oboe Angle: NO 45 degree angle--no!
Under bite Head up Oboe down
Over bite Head down Oboe up
Oboe Angle: Review YES NO YES
Listen to good tone!
INTONATION
Playing sharp: Worst nightmare! Replace reed Old reeds play sharp Review embouchure NO SMILE Smile = biting Biting = sharp
Use a tuner Must emit SOUND! Use Korg CA-30 or TM-40
Teach tuner use Play with C (tonic) and then G SOUNDING NO needle reading!
Replace reeds often to prevent yo-yo! Old reeds play sharp Students compensate by loosening Embouchure gets flabby New reed seems flat
Teach the Tuning slide Oboist s tune with their right thumb! (similar to the trumpet pinky slide) Slide reed WITH lip in or out as needed
Quick Pitch Fixes NEVER PULL REED OUT of oboe! If sharp: replace reed, review embouchure If flat: displace reed blades so that one side overlaps the other.
VIBRATO
Article: Vibrato: No Longer a Mystery! IDRS The Double Reed, volume 29, #3 Video Stream: Vibrato: No Longer a Mystery! IDRS Masterclasses 2006 http://www.idrs.org/multimedia/video/ browserecord.php?-action=browse&- recid=785 Google: Jan Eberle Vibrato
6 UNIQUE FEATURES
1. Can t adjust pitch Thus the custom to tune to oboe Cannot pull reed out!
2. Can hold the longest note!
3. Exhale more than inhale
4. Most sophisticated finger system Can trill with only one finger always No cross fingerings (opposite finger motion) Most number of adjustment screws
5. Smallest range of notes
6. Uses a feather
Questions?