Here’s An Idea …

12. August 2010 · 2 comments · Categories: Oboe, Videos

So an oboist has posted a portion of a Barret study. Hmmm. I can do that with the MacBook … right? I’ve not tried, but it seems to me that maybe I could. I should do this for my students, so they can see how they are playing. I suppose, though, they wouldn’t appreciate it posted on YouTube. (But notice you can’t see the oboist in the video? I could film that way.) Without a great microphone setup one doesn’t get perfect sound, but you can listen for glitches, rhythm and intonation, certainly. (And no, I won’t be critiquing the video I’m posting; the oboist hasn’t asked for that on the YouTube page, so I’m assuming he isn’t interested in our doing that.) Not sure why I am only now thinking of this as a teaching aid. I guess I not only have OldBoeBrain, but I have SlowBoeBrain too. Go figure.

Anyway, check it out!

Wall Street Journal on Merola

12. August 2010 · Comments Off on Wall Street Journal on Merola · Categories: Merola, Opera

Check it out!

There’s even a paragraph on Elixir.

I wasn’t completely tuned in to how Merola operates, and wasn’t clear on the Adler Fellows, so I found it an interesting read.

Then, as Ms. Graham put it, “they throw you into the deep end of the pool, even if you don’t know how to swim.” I interviewed 10 participants in the program, from the class of 1980 to the class of 2010. All agreed on the frantic intensity of the pace, the incredible amount of information you were expected to absorb—while preparing for at least three public performances—in less than three months. “We were all little sponges, ready to cram in as much as possible,” said Ms. Voigt, between rehearsals in Japan. “The faculty throw such a crazy amount of information at you,” says Eleazar Rodriguez, ’09-’10. “Only now, a year later, am I beginning to understand it.” Elza van den Heever, ’03-’04—who has an astonishing career already lined up—compared the program to a young doctor’s high-pressure residency in a hospital.

FBQD

12. August 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: FBQD

Going to order a brand new oboe for my birthday =) which would be emptying my bank account completely.

When To Start?

12. August 2010 · 10 comments · Categories: Asked Online, Reed Making

Read online:

When is it a good time to start making oboe reeds?

hi i am oboe player and when i went to band camp last year i learned a little bit about making reeds and i really want to learn more. oh and i am in eight grade.

I would love to hear from instructors out there about this. I know of someone who begins teaching reed making extremely early. Others don’t. Do you wait until a student reaches a certain level, or a certain age? Do tell!

I prefer having my students learn from someone else, although I will teach reed making if necessary. I just think others might be better at teaching the craft since I really despise it so much!

TQOD

12. August 2010 · Comments Off on TQOD · Categories: TQOD

Love some of these PhD’s…PhD in oboe performance…

“This is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me”

12. August 2010 · 4 comments · Categories: TV

Well … um … yes. She’s only ten. Probably not a lot has happened to her at this point, right? 😉

So here’s this very cute ten year old girl singing “O mio babbino caro”.

(You have to put up with the stuff before and after, but do listen to her sing. This kiddo does have some talent. Now of course one never knows what will happen in the future … but how fun to hear a 10 year old singing something from an opera!)

Some Assembly Required

12. August 2010 · Comments Off on Some Assembly Required · Categories: Announcements, Opera

… but you won’t have to make oboe reeds. (Of course I might have to — who knows what my reeds will do at the other end of the country.)

So now the event has also made Anne Midgett’s blog in the Washington Post!