Get started playing oboe today!
Designed with busy musicians in mind, Switching to Oboe the online course takes the guess-work and struggle out of playing the oboe.
I take care of the essentials:
- care of reed and instrument
- embouchure formation and troubleshooting
- practice habit development
- dynamics and intonation
- how to simplify a hard band part until you've practiced it well enough to feel comfortable playing in class.
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The curriculum was developed in over 10 years of hands-on lessons with beginning oboists of varying levels of experience.
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The course is perfect for the adult or high school beginning oboist!
MH, 10th grade
"Working with Ms. Gessner has tremendously eased the pressure of switching instruments, especially learning a double reed instrument like the oboe. My lessons with her always end with improvement, targeting parts of my playing which can be applied elsewhere, and I can comfortably play the oboe only a few months into our lessons. In my school ensemble, I'm able to play with the band because Ms. Gessner's advice can be applied to many of the exercises and pieces."
TDS, Adult
"Switching to Oboe" is a really well organized, clear and easy-to-use resource for learning the basics of playing oboe. I have played flute for many years and decided to learn oboe when our band needed another one; I found Alli's instructions on everything from fingerings and air support, intonation and dynamics, to how to choose and manage reeds, were complete and really well presented. This course is an efficient and cost-effective way to learn the nuts and bolts before playing oboe in an ensemble and/or starting in-person lessons.
SZ, 7th grade
"Working with you has helped me have better rhythmic counting, play notes more accurately in tune, and play songs more comfortably. For a beginner, the fingerings get familiarized quickly with the specific practices given. Working with you helps me learn more about how to solve particular issues with how I play and with the oboe when there are any problems as well."