How to find a teacher

The biggest problem that beginning oboists and their parents face is how to find a teacher.  If you live in a large metropolitan city or even just a small community, an oboe teacher is not that hard to find!  It takes just a little effort, and knowing where to look.

For the beginning oboist, I recommend calling the music departments of the colleges and universities in your area, and they can direct you to the oboe faculty.  The oboe teacher at that college may be able to teach you (depending on the size of the school and the schedule of the teacher) but if not, can help get you in contact with some of the qualified graduate and undergraduate students who would be more than happy to teach.  Some schools even have preparatory divisions in their music departments which cater to community education through lessons, classes and other opportunities.  Also, the local music stores in your area are a great resource for finding great teachers.  If you ask the employees, chances are they might know some of the reputable oboe teachers in town, or one of them might even be an oboe teacher!  Music stores tend to be "in the know" about the professional musicians, freelancers, band directors, and teachers in the area.

One final and important resource is your band director!  Don't hesitate to ask him or her about recommendations for oboe teachers.  They are more than willing to help you find a great teacher, and probably have many contacts with the other area band directors, private teachers, and alumni.  My first oboe teacher was recommended by my band director, and she even worked at the local music store!  Great oboe teachers are out there and are happy to help you or your child. 

Oboe Lessons 101

In the section above, you learned how to find a teacher, and he or she will be able to help you learn how to play this beautiful and unique instrument.  The oboe has a very special sound, and most composers of classical music write their most beautiful melodies for it.  You can join the special few who get to play the instrument, and be able to play all of these beautiful melodies very soon!

Once you have found a teacher, you might begin to ask yourself, "What do I bring to the lessons?  How much do they cost?  How often do I go?  How long do the lessons last?..."  These are some of the same questions that I had when I was younger, so I want to help you by taking some of the mystery out of the first few lessons.  Here are a few tips and things to expect:

   ~ Make sure you talk with your teacher before the first session and clear up any confusion about
      when and where the lessons will happen.  We all have very busy schedules, so the importance of
      punctuality cannot be emphasized enough.  Tell your parents that you want to arrive a few minutes
      early in case of traffic problems or forgotten materials because you never know, the lessons might
      be running ahead of schedule!  Respect for your teacher's time will make stress-free and happy
      lessons, both for the teacher and student.

   ~ For the first lesson, bring your oboe in its case, all the reeds you have at the time, all your books
      and warm-ups from band class, a swab and a reed-soaking cup (a THOUROUGHLY CLEANED pill 
      bottle or film container is fine).  Try to buy a metronome and tuner and bring it to your first lesson,
      because these are very important for practicing.  Good, basic tuners and metronomes are relatively
      cheap and can be found at most of the double-reed supplier's websites listed at the bottom of the
      page.  The brands that I recommend are Korg tuners (about $20), Seiko metronomes (also about
      $20) or Dr. Beat metronomes (more expensive, and are geared towards the advanced player).
      Even if you haven't discussed with your teacher what to bring, remembering these items will make
      he or she very happy!  Bringing your band materials is really important, because your teacher will
      more than likely help you with them in the first lesson.  Your teacher will then assign you materials
      for future lessons.  Your teacher will probably tell you what kind of method/etude books to buy, but
      I recommend the Gekeler method (books 1 and 2), the Rubank method books, and the Barret
      Method.  All of these are available from your local music store or from the companies at the bottom
      of the page, and will keep you busy for quite a while!
  
   ~ Discuss payment and payment options for the lessons before you arrive.  Teachers all operate
      differently, and some like to be paid each week for a lesson while others prefer monthly
      payments.  You can suggest what works better for you, and your teacher should be able to
      compromise and reach an agreement so everyone is comfortable.  For a half-hour lesson, prices
      range anywhere from $13-$30 depending on the experience and reputation of the teacher.  Hour-
      long lessons average between $30-$50, but in my experience, a beginning student can expect to
      pay $15-$20 for a half-hour.  Coming prepared with a check-in-hand shows both responsibility and
      dedication, qualities which the teacher will respect very much.

   ~ If you or your child don't play a note for an entire lesson, don't worry, because improvement is
      happening!  For the first few lessons, your teacher will probably want to focus on the physical
      aspects of playing, such as breathing, hand position, embouchure, posture, etc.  Paying attention
      to these problems are very important in the early stages of oboe-playing, because it is much easier
      to establish good habits first than it is to develop bad habits and try and re-learn everything
      later.  Your teacher will work on these problems with you very often, and I recommend practicing in
      front of a mirror so you can clearly see these problems for yourself.  If you put in the dedication to
      work out these issues, your teacher will definitely take notice and be very pleased.  All of the effort
      is finally worth it when you have fun, make great music, and can be proud of your accomplishments
      after a concert or lesson.

FAQ

As a professional oboist and private teacher, I have come across many of the same questions from different students and parents.  Hopefully the answers that I have provided for the following questions clear up any confusions that you may have.  In any case, please feel free to contact me with any more questions or concerns because I am happy to help!

Why are there so few oboes and bassoons in band class, and many more of the other woodwinds?
   Double reed instruments, such as oboe and bassoon, are very intricate and expensive instruments, so band programs purchase a small number of them for only a select group of students to play.  Double reeds are probably the most difficult instruments to play, and most people switch to them after having started on instruments that are played more often, like the flute, clarinet or saxophone.  Don't be discouraged, because with the right teacher and motivation, excelling on the oboe or bassoon is definitely within reach.  You play a very special instrument that not many people get to play, and some people that play other instruments are even jealous of the special attention that you get! 

Why is the oboe so hard?
   Unlike other instruments with single reeds or just mouthpieces, the oboe requires a double reed with an extremely small opening, made out of very delicate materials.  Developing muscular strength in the face and at the corners of the mouth to control the vibrations of the reed takes some time to obtain, and is more necessary than other woodwind instruments.  There is a lot of back pressure associated with the oboe, because we are trying to blow a fast, steady stream of air into a very small reed, and this explains why you might have a headache after playing for a minute or two.  Also, the spacing of the keys on the instrument is slightly awkward for the beginner, especially with the reach of the pinky and third finger.  Your teacher will be able to help you with these problems, and are things that we all have faced, but keep in mind that other instruments have their own difficulties.

Where do I get oboe reeds?
   More than likely, your teacher will be able to make reeds for you, and can make them for your playing level (easier reeds for the beginner and harder reeds for a more advanced student).  If your teacher does not have time to make you reeds, he or she can recommend some very good reedmaking companies that specialize in good-quality student reeds.  When I started the oboe, I played on very nice reeds from Stuart Dunkel (www.stuart-dunkel.com), and would also recommend MKL Reeds (www.mklreeds.com) or reeds from any of the companies listed at the bottom of this page.   

Why are reeds so expensive?
   Making oboe reeds is a very detailed and time-consuming process, and the best quality reeds are completely hand-made.  Professional oboists and reed-making companies have to purchase all of the individual parts of a reed seperately, such as the staple (cork part of the reed), thread, cane, machines and tools.  Oboe reeds begin with tubes of cane (usually grown in southern France) that are seasoned for a long length of time, and then cut to the right diamater.  The rest of the process basically includes splitting each tub into 3 parts, cutting the cane to length, soaking it, gouging out the insides to specific measurements with very precise and expensive equipment, folding, shaping, tying the cane to the staple with nylon thread, clipping and scraping until the desired thinness and balance is achieved.

How can you prevent reeds from cracking or chipping?
   Unfortunately, all reeds will chip or crack at some point and this is unavoidable.  The most important thing is to make sure that you take extra care of your reeds and try and make them last as long as possible.  Just the movement inside the mouth or the tongue against the reed can cause the edges to chip.  Keep them in a well-crafted reed case with a little ventilation, as to allow proper drying and to avoid water-logged reeds.  Reeds are very delicate and sensitive, so the slightest pressure or damage could drastically change the reed or ruin it altogether.  I have encountered many students who tend to forget these things, and brush the reed against the music stand, their body, hair, or keep them too close to other people, and unknowingly break a reed.  Sometimes, reeds just get too old, and crack or die on us, and we have to accept it.  A reed that I make for myself might only last me one rehearsal!  Trying to take very good care of our reeds and insure the longest life possible for them is the best thing that we can do. 

Why does my reed feel differently today than it did yesterday?
   As mentioned above, reeds are very delicate and are subject to the smallest changes.  In warm weather, reeds tend to swell and go flatter in pitch, making them more difficult to play.  In cooler, drier weather, the reeds collapse more, weaken, and become sharper in pitch.  In warm weather conditions, try soaking your reeds in cooler water for a really short amount of time, and making sure that they dry completely after they have been played.  In cooler weather soak them in warmer water, but only try these tips if the change from one day to the next is very drastic.  Also, as reeds age, the actual cane fibers themselves weaken, and the reed's sound and ability to respond changes.  This is the nature of the oboe reeds, and once you become able to make them yourself, you can learn to control these factors and better understand how the reeds work.

I have been taking lessons for months, so why do I feel that I'm not getting any better?
   Don't worry!  Most people do not notice their own growth and improvement, so you are not alone.  If you put in enough effort and pay attention to your teacher and band directors, improvement will come soon enough.  The oboe is a difficult instrument, but you learn something new about it and yourself everyday, and that is always helpful.  If you practice only 5 or 10 minutes a day, that is better than nothing, but ALWAYS practice very efficiently and don't just "doodle" around.  Practicing warm-ups, long tones, scales and etudes are very essential to rapid improvement, and it is the QUALITY of your practice that is important, not the QUANTITY.  Keep working hard, and within a year you will be able to look back and see where you started and how far you have come.  Good luck, and have fun!  

Links for Double Reed Companies on the Internet

The following companies offer instruments, reeds, music and other accessories at great prices:

www.carlosoboe.com (F.Loree oboes, repair, etc.)
    F.Loree oboes are the most popular professional oboes played in North America.  If you are on a tight
    budget, very fine used oboes are not that hard to find, and Carlos Coelho will be able to help you
    with your search.  Loree also makes an intermediate-level oboe called "Cabart", and is less expensive
    than the regular Loree instruments, but is still made to high standards and with excellent materials
    that the Loree company is known for.
www.trevcomusic.com (music)
www.rdgwoodwinds.com 
www.forrestsmusic.com 
www.mmimports.com 
www.coveyoboes.com 
www.nielsen-woodwinds.com 
www.jeanne-inc.com 

Other oboe-related links:

www.idrs.org (International Double Reed Society)
www.meridethhite.com (an oboe friend!)
www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com (huge CD and music selection)