Hello.

I am starting to play the oboe very soon. I have an instrument, a Linton oboe, had it checked out, and will have it ready to play later this week. I played the clarinet in high school, but, am in love with the oboe.

In addition, I have signed up for private oboe lessons at the Eastman School of Music (in Rochester, New York).

So, I guess that I am curious as to some basic hints about getting started. For example:

1. What are some tricks/strategies to learn how to play a double reed?

2. I have the Rubank Elementary Lesson Book. Is this one pretty good? Other ideas for lesson books?

3. Any ideas or hints to improve playing?

Thank you! Have a nice evening!

Go here, and click on Lets play Oboe, and read it, its pretty helpfull for a beginner!
http://www.foxproducts.com/instrument_page.htm

don`t be nervous if you do not get a tone out of your instrment! it will take you weeks to get proper tones out of it!
then: oboe is one of the hardest wind instruments to learn, so be prepared to make at least half a hour place in your practising for intonation and "tone cultivation".
it`s not like clarinet:-)
but he, if you become better u`ll enjoy!

are you a boy or a girl? because i have a friend named daniel and it is a boy but his sister`s name is daniel too....

anyhoo, the essential elements 2000 book 1 is really good to learn with.

Thank you everyone. I got my oboe today. It`s in wonderful condition. I noticed that I cannot play for a long time because my mouth hurts.

I think it is best to take frequent breaks to rest my mouth.

Any thoughts?

yea take it easy. especially on the oboe. a lotta pressure lol. it can hurt the lips. gradually increase playing time, since your lips will get more used to it, so then you can play longer.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!!!

(I think the femail version would be *Danielle*)

I used the Rubank Elementary Method book .. yes, it is good. As is the Intermediate and Advanced. And they all have very nice pieces in them .. I would suggest looking into them as well when you have a change to play at the upper level.

Welcome to the Oboe Club!

thank you for the advice. i missed a day of practice. the next day, it was like i had never played before. wow!

it`s lots of fun playing this instrument.

i also noticed that i am having difficult going from middle C to D. hmmm. is this normal?

Just a thought daniel, are you covering only half the hole when you play middle D? (first key, index finger)You really have to practice on rolling your finger to fully cover the hole and then rolling it to only cover half the hole. If you dont, then your D will come out fuzzy. Im not sure if that is the problem thought, I could be wrong.

PS. Is it really true that The Guiness Book of World Records really say that the oboe is the most difficuly instrument to play? Because i think i heard that from one of my bandmates....