Valparaiso, Indiana

Posts Tagged ‘oboe case’

Step One- Getting Started

Welcome to your new world of oboe playing. The key to success is treating your oboe like a best friend-you want to spend time with it every day!

The first step is opening the case. Be sure the oboe case is right side up. Check the latches. You should be releasing the latches upward and then opening the case. You should see three sections of your oboe “smiling at you.”

The three pieces connect with corks. The corks need to be greased with cork grease. You should find a small tube of cork grease in your case that looks like Chapstick. Open the top, turn the bottom clockwise and the cork grease will come out of its casing. Put the cork grease on the cork at the bottom of the upper and lower joints of the oboe.

Hold the upper joint in your right hand with your palm on the bottom where there are no silver keys. Hold the lower joint (the larger of the two) in your left hand with your palms on the bottom where there are no keys. Gently turn both joints in your hands as you push both together. You will notice two silver pieces on each side of the joints that need to line up with each other. When you have accomplished this alignment you now put the bell on the lower joint (larger joint). Lay your oboe down in a safe place with the keys facing upward.

Take your oboe reed carefully out of its case. Soak your oboe reed for about 5 minutes in lukewarm water. You can dip your reed into the water and sit it down on a flat surface or you can use a small container with water and put your reed into the water with the cork part facing upward. Remember that the reed is very, very delicate. It is transparent at the tip and can break very easily. Oboe reeds are expensive so be careful in these first days with the reed.

After five minutes you can buzz your reed by rolling your lips over your teeth and stretching your teeth apart like you are yawning with your lips on the reed. Take a breath and blow into the reed with the energy of a waterfall. Practice starting the sound by placing your tongue on the reed as you blow through the reed. You can make up different rhythms and you will notice you can play simple three or five-note melodies by moving the reed in and out of your mouth. Be careful not to push the reed into your teeth and cracking the reed.

Beginning Oboe Step 2: Fingering

Play all videos from Beginning Oboe series