Oboe Grade 8

Introduction to the oboe

Haydn oboe concerto, mvt 3 ABRSM list A

(written cadenzas must be observed in the exam)

Coste - Cavatine Op37

ABRSM list A

Saint-Saens oboe sonata, mvt2

ABRSM list B

Poulenc - oboe Sonata

mvt 1 Elegie

ABRSM list B

Britten - Phaeton: No2 from Six metamorphoses after Ovid, op 49

ABRSM list C

Britten - Niobi: No3 from Six metamorphoses after Ovid, op 49

ABRSM list C

oboe diagram & finger chart.pdf

oboe finger chart

Wider listening

Mozart oboe concerto mvt 1

performed by Nicholas Daniel

Marcello oboe concerto (complete)

performed by Fabien Thouand

Bellini oboe concerto - Francesco Quaranta

Reed-making

A time-lapse video of the process of making an oboe reed. Really worth a watch to appreciate the craftsmanship and skill it takes to make oboe reeds (not to mention it takes approximately 5 days to make a reed start to finish!)

After you have made the "blank" reed, it needs to rest before finally being scraped and shaped.

Oboe 101

Constantly rotate your reeds each time you practice - and don't waste your best reed on daily practice.
A reed always has a "best side", so it's worth noting whether your reed sounds nicer with the wire facing upwards or downwards.
Always have at least 3 or 4 reeds on the go - particularly in the lead up to a concert or exam!
Keep your reeds clean, don't eat and drink before or during playing.
When giving an A in an ensemble, make sure you have a tuner. The more you practice tuning to your machine each time you play, the better your ears will get at judging how far off that perfect 440 you are.
ALWAYS remember to breathe out any stale air before taking a fresh breath in.
Remember to create a good embouchure shape (think of the word "home"). A looser jaw is required to reach those low notes (ORRRR) and top top notes a tighter embouchure (EEEEE).
Regularly practice your scales & studies - they are the foundation to good playing as well as massively enhancing sight-reading skills.