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.