Do you know the secret behind oboe articulation?
It took me - no joke - 8 years of private lessons to learn this secret and understand how to execute proper articulation on the oboe! I...
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- Sep 28, 2022
- 3 min
Do your wind players warm up at home?
I’ve been doing in-school sectionals with middle and high school students over the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been noticing a...
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- Sep 21, 2022
- 1 min
No more "I think my reed is stuck..."
This is the time of year that we hear the phrase “I think my oboe reed is stuck” or “I…can’t…get…my reed out!” (said as the student grits...
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- Sep 13, 2022
- 2 min
How to practice dynamics successfully at home
Practicing dynamic changes in their warm-up is the most effective way that your students can practice the concepts I laid out in the...
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- Sep 6, 2022
- 5 min
Step 2 to teaching dynamics
As promised, I’m here with Step 2 in teaching dynamics to oboe students. Last week we learned about how dynamics on the oboe work. Let me...
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- Aug 31, 2022
- 2 min
The first step to teaching dynamics to your oboe students
Last week was my first week of teaching my whole private lesson load of the semester, and as expected there were students who were quite...
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- Aug 26, 2022
- 1 min
2 quick tips for oboe students
Happy Friday! I’ve been swamped this week with the first week of teaching all my students again. So, I’ve got two quick tip videos to...
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- Aug 16, 2022
- 3 min
How do you convince students to play oboe if reeds cost so much?
I’ve been thinking about a question I recently answered for a band director: “How do you convince students to play oboe if the reeds cost...
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- Aug 3, 2022
- 2 min
How to teach oboe embouchure...
Today I taught a beginner how to play for the first time. I’m still getting caught up from my trip, so I’m feeling a bit scattered, and...
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- Jul 19, 2022
- 2 min
What's an "American" oboe reed?
Did you know that the “American” scrape oboe reeds are different from the oboe reeds most of the rest of the world plays on? Did you know...
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- Jul 7, 2022
- 2 min
Do you have a breath plan?
Last week was my first week back at teaching from my June vacation. At the end of the week, I had a lesson with a student who told me...
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- Jun 29, 2022
- 3 min
Do you know which fingering of F to use?
Just yesterday I finalized and posted Lesson 3 of my online course Switching to Oboe - a course for band students who are switching to...
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- Jun 22, 2022
- 3 min
When students want to work on music that's challenging...
I just got back from a trip to Michigan with some college friends. At the end of my trip, I stayed with a friend who just recently...
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- Jun 9, 2022
- 2 min
Yearly Review!
Now that the last day of teaching is done for the school year (for me at least - hope yours is coming really soon if it’s not already...
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- May 18, 2022
- 4 min
2 ways to build student confidence and have better performances!
If we’re connected on social media, you may have seen my weekend post after some of my students performed in the Spring semester recital...
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- May 2, 2022
- 2 min
Make sure your oboe students do this before your next concert...
Let’s talk about breaking in new reeds. Since we’re coming to the end of the year concert season, here's what students will need to know...
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- Apr 27, 2022
- 3 min
How do you get two oboe students to play in tune...
You’ve heard the variations on this joke: Shoot one of them Make one stop playing Send one to the _insert other instrument name_ section…...
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- Apr 20, 2022
- 2 min
Student Success Stories!
It’s a busy time of year, so I want to keep it short, sweet, and simple today by sharing some recent successes my students have had with...
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- Mar 28, 2022
- 1 min
How long should I soak my reed?
Happy Monday! Over the weekend I hosted a Mock Audition event for 4 of my students who are auditioning (or re-auditioning) for Youth...
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- Mar 24, 2022
- 3 min
Oboe Reed Suppliers my students are using
The top question I get from Band Directors is "What reeds do you recommend?" So, here are the top 6 reed sources that my students enjoy...
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