Is circle breathing even possible with the oboe, and if so what is the best way to practice at it?

That`s the rumor, anyways... I`ve never been able to actually get the hang of it however.

Circle breathing...can be done on any instrument, but, it`s HIGHLY not recommended to circle-breathe. It`ll mess up your circulatory system, because it forces the air to go against the natural flow.

So, yeah, I don`t recommend circle-breathing.

~Chris

It`s totally possible, and somewhat easy to manage once you get the hand of it. I had a private lesson student who could do it seamlessly. I had no clue it could be done that perfectly!! He amazed me. I can do it, but not 100% semaless. Practice it without the instrument, then try it with, but on C or something easy. The more fingers you have down, the harder it becomes.

Heres some amazing facts about Australian Aboriginals for you... a instrument called the DIGIRIDOO (sp?) is played with circular breathing, i`ve seen a few people perform a few pieces on the digiridoo and its simply amazing.

O~> jaspie boI

Circular breating can be done on the oboe, but is mostly used on english horn. ON sear ch you should type in, Band Manual: Introduction, for a really good website

I have been circular breathing since the first day I played the oboe, 40 years ago! It was natural to me, and I use it on occasion. It really messes with other wind players who cannot play long phrases like I can. In a unison passage with flute, for example, I have to make a conscious effort to breathe when the flute player does to make it sound right. Practise without the oboe at first. Force air out your mouth while taking a quick breath in through the nose. Then you can transfer this technique to the oboe. It may take a while but will be useful when you can do it. I did have a very well known teacher tell me, when I was a student, that it was impossible. Maybe for him. LOL

Dear Taylor U,

I just saw your posting from Dec...

Yes, is the quick answer. It is often used these days and not just for "fancy" or show off (ie. Pasculli, holliger chordal study etc.) works.

Many, Many European players now use circular breathing in solo (and orchestral) performance daily. Things like the opening of the Strauss concerto is now a MUST with circular breathing ( listen to Thomas Indermuhle or Holliger recordings)

I have been working on a paper about Oboe Circular breathing over the past year or so "Circular Breathing, no longer the parlour trick"...

Here are some general "tips" for learning, 1st you can read a lot about it.. if you do look at Robert Dick`s book on flute Circular Breathing, it is the only worth while text on the subject.

My stages for teaching it (master each stage then move on);

#1 - put some air in your cheeks and blow a "rasberry" ( like a trumpet player withyour lips), the air ONLY from your cheeks - be "rude" with the rasberry - Have fun !!

#2 - Breath OUT your nose very fast and violent, make a noise with the air

#3 - Blow the rasberry (again), then breath out, alternate between these two.

#4 - Now.. fill you cheeks, blow the "rasberry" and blow OUT of your nose.

#5 - now you have this down, Breath IN through your nose very very fash (a "sniff" )

#6 now... Now.. fill you cheeks, blow the "rasberry" and breath IN through your nose.

That`s it !!! (I have taught people to get to this staeg in less than 5 minutes.. it`s easy..)

After you have this look into transfering it onto oboe, with long notes and with easy scales. You will need to work on the "gap" between the air and making the "sniff" and blowing out of air more quiet...

PS. you may ask why learn to Blow OUT through the nose.. well #1 it`s easier to blow out the mouth and nose together first off... #2 as an oboist you will need to BOTH breath out and in whilst playing, as we have a lot of stale air.. your Tuba friends will only need to blow out.. LOL.

Hope this helps..

Mosh..

www.smreeds.com