I am currently accepting oboe students (6-12) in the Buford/Dacula/Auburn area in Northern Gwinnett County.
Oboe lessons are $25 per 30-minute lesson. I expect oboists to practice at home on a daily basis, and lessons will be focused on improving tone/intonation and preparing for musical events (Honorband, All-State, playing tests, etc.).
1. Please read and sign the Music Studio Policies.
2. Check the current lesson schedule for availability.
3. Get directions to my home.
4. Contact me at (770) 995-3290 or at rachel.landers@gmail.com.
Why Play Oboe?
Oboe is a unique (and difficult) instrument that often is the center of attention in band/orchestra music. There are usually very few oboists in school bands due to instrument expense and difficulty. Oboists have good odds for earning first chair and playing solos. There are also good odds for oboists being selected for All-State/special groups and receiving college scholarships. However, before choosing to play the oboe, consider the expenses of an instrument, reeds, and private lessons.
Oboe Care/Repair
Oboe Care/Repair
To take good care of your oboe, never place it in extreme temperatures (the car trunk, next to the air vent, etc.). This can cause cracking and warping of the wood and keys. Swab your oboe after playing to soak up the condensation inside.
The following places are a bit of a drive, but well worth it (call before going):
Saxophone Lessons
Oboe Resources
Directions to My Studio
Reeds
The most important factor affecting the oboe's tone is the reed. In general, handmade reeds have a much better sound than machine-made reeds. Please print this reed buying information sheet and keep it handy in your car. Students should always have three reeds that work, and they should be soaked in water for 1-2 minutes before playing.
This is a good-looking reed with light shining through. Notice there is a "spine" going up the middle, a W-shaped scrape at the base, and the thickest part of the reed is just below the tip (this is called the "heart"). Poor quality oboe reeds appear flat and smooth, without any obvious sections.
Brands to avoid: Jones, Meason, Rico, LaVoz, Selmer, Chartier, plastic/fibercane reeds, any reed with a "European short scrape," non-American reeds, and reeds with wire wrapped around the cane
Need help? What's wrong with your reed?
Buying or Renting an Oboe
Because oboes are so expensive ($2000-$5000), many schools are unable to provide them for students. When buying or renting, try to get an oboe that has a "full conservatory system," meaning that it has all of the keys. "Student model" oboes do not have all fingerings available, and the tone is often lacking. If you choose to buy a used oboe, be careful to purchase from a trustworthy seller (such as the McFarland Double Reed Shop or Covey Oboes).
If purchasing for a student in 6th-9th grade, plastic/resin oboes are the best kind to get. A great oboe is the Fox 450 model, which has a plastic upper joint and a wooden lower section. It has a beautiful tone and will not crack. Completely wooden oboes are ideal for serious music students in late high school/college or other students who would be extremely careful. Quality brands of oboes include Fox, Loree (I have one of these), Yamaha, and Howarth.
All State
All-State Band is an annual 3-day event in Savannah, GA, during which the top middle-school and high-school musicians in the state perform together in a concert. There are two auditions in the All-State process. The first-round audition requires major scales/arpeggios (30 pts), a chromatic scale (10 pts), a lyrical etude (30 pts) and one sight-reading exercise (30 pts). This first round also determines whether a student is selected for District Honorband, which is made up of Gwinnett, Barrow, and a few other counties (it is possible to go on to the second round but not be picked for District Honorband). If an oboe student earns a score of 70 (out of 100), he/she goes on to the second-round audition. This round requires students to play both the lyrical and technical etudes as well as two sight-reading exercises.
I prepare all students in 7th-12th grade for these auditions because they are a great experience, and you can't make it if you don't try, right?
Possible 2011 Middle School Etudes and scales
Possible 2011 9-10 Etudes and scales
Possible 2011 11-12 Etudes and scales
Saxophone Lessons
Oboe Resources
Because the oboe is not included in the Marching Band, oboists often switch to saxophone or be in the pit (which is good for pianists). I do teach alto saxophone lessons the summer before a student enters high school (it will only take a few lessons to become proficient). Sax reeds should be a hardness of "2" or "2.5" for beginners (but they're much cheaper than oboe reeds).
Note: If you are unsure about joining the marching band, do it anyway :) This will be one of your best high-school experiences!
Directions
Oboe Reeds
www.foxproducts.com
www.uga.edu/music/summercamp
www.encoremusiccamps.com
www.sheetmusicplus.com
jason88k@yahoo.com
www.musicpeeps.com
Please enter your starting location.
