Oboe Warm-up Exercises
Warming
up is a very important part of oboe playing. The reed, embouchure,
and air stream must work together in order for you to achieve
the best sound combined with the best attacks. These exercises
are great for improving all three of these things.
In
most cases, the examples should be played with a metronome
very slowly, about 60 to the quarter note.
Listen
carefully to how you are starting the notes. They all should
have as clean attack as possible. Think of starting each note
with the sound of "Taa" or "Tee". As Marcel
Tabuteau states in his "Marcel Tabuteau's Lessons"
recording by Boston Records, no "Gaa" no "Faa"
"Kaa" or "Daa". Don't crack the note or
accent it.
If
you would like to print out these examples, just "right
Click" the image and save to your disk.
Here
is the first example. It may seem very easy at first, but
it isn't. You can tell an awful lot about how your reed functions
with this test.
Put
your metronome on 60 and play with a moderate dynamic. Think
of using "warm" air. Take a nice breath, relax your
throat, and play:
Listen
for intonation and make sure every interval is in it's place.
Blow through the notes. If your reed is not vibrating properly,
or you are biting the reed, the low "D" will not sound.
If
you liked that one, why not try another oboe warm-up exercise?
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