Oboe Resources

More Details and Resources

• An oboe in fair condition - I can advise you on the suitability of specific instruments. Always get the best instrument you can reasonably afford. Do not buy or play an oboe without a left-hand F key. The difficulty and poor sound quality of the forked F (required constantly if there is no left-hand F) is prohibitive - the left-hand F isn't really optional, it’s required. Modified conservatory is the normal term used to indicate there is a left-hand F key. The next step up would be a wooden oboe - requires maintenance, but well worth it for the step-up in tone.
  • Beginning oboe $2000 - $3000.
  • Intermediate oboe $3000 – 4500. This intermediate oboe to be made of wood.
  • Top oboes - Cabart, Fox, Loree, Rigoutat, and Yamaha are long-term favorites with oboists and a top oboe will cost $5000-$10,000.
• Reeds - 4 reeds in a 4 reed holder. Oboe beginners should start with soft, handmade reeds. The extra $5 per reed you spend on hand-made reeds is well worth the price. You will be much happier and $15-25 per reed is pretty close to the price of mass-produced reeds in the store anyway. Buy these reeds online – they will break and wear out so you need to plan on a steady supply and always having 4 working reeds available.
  • http://www.forrestsmusic.com/ Forrest's Music 800-322-6263.
  • http://www.jamesgangcaneworks.com/shop James Gang Cane works.
  • Edino Biaggi, www.argendonax.us, 347-891-9034. 1 Reed $21, 3 Reeds $55, 6 Reeds $110, Dozen $220. Shipping (USPS) - $7.50 (1st Class), $11.50 (Priority). PayPal, Personal Checks, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders. Sent after payment is received. Lots of reed making supplies also.
  • Magic Reed. www.Magicreed.com. All reeds guaranteed. Beginner, intermediate, and professional - $18, $22, and $28 + shipping. KSheinhouse@Optonline.net.
  • North Texas Oboe Reeds and Cane -P.O. Box 567991, Dallas, TX, 75356, (214) 289-3493 oboereeds@aol.com , http://www.oboereedstore.com/.
  • Reeds are $32 each - http://www.premierereeds.com/gallery.html $34 to $42 per reed.
• Pencil - Musicians write with pencils because they make changes to their music and make frequent notations on the pages. Erasable, colored pencils are best.
• 5 GB flash drive (or larger) - To record your lesson, bring this to your lesson. When you begin each lesson, give your flash drive to your instructor and they'll record your lessons. Be sure and take the drive with you when you leave and listen to it in your computer the day of or the day after your lesson. This will give you a way to review the lesson and give me a way to send demonstrations of technique or songs home with you. If you'll review your lesson each week, you'll progress about 5 to 10% faster.
• Audacity - Also, if you'd like to get a even more out of some of your own practices, download Audacity, a free computer-based recording program. It does many great things to help you practice; people even make professional albums with it. You can change the pitch of your song, record yourself, record yourself playing with your song, or isolate sections of songs for practice. Many good things.
• Metronome - Leave your metronome at home, but you need it to practice. Apps for iphone – Tempo Advance is the best - $4. For Android, Tempo - $2. Standalone metronomes: Planet Waves PW-MT-02 ($15), Korg MA-1 ($20-25). Use the metronome whenever possible. It will develop your sense of rhythm and counting; equally important, it will show you where you should be practicing. If you follow the beat from the metronome in songs and exercises, the areas where you don't do well will be revealed, and you'll know where to spend extra practice time. The metronome is your drummer.
  • When you’re having trouble getting into the metronome, use a drum machine. For iPhone, use Garage Band, for Android use Drummer Friend - $3. Standalone drum machine: Boss DB-60. And a little home keyboard with rhythms and metronomic markings works well, too. Students who practice with metronomes or rhythm machines will also progress about 5 to 10 percent faster.
• Sheet music for 5 pieces - Some oboe students at Promethean Studios are working on two types of pieces at once: a classical piece and a ‘fun’ piece. Note pieces are usually the traditional classical piece where to succeed in the piece you must read and play the notes correctly. Many styles of music can be written as a challenging "note piece", but classical pieces are the normal choice. Fun pieces - a "top hits" book with a CD that has songs you like is a great choice. Don't worry about the difficulty.
  • Be careful not to get instructional material by accident. You will work through 1 song per month, and will need to keep a steady supply of songs available, as we learn the old ones. As the student progresses past the beginner stage, I will recommend note pieces and music to be purchased.
• Tuning fork A 440 - Every orchestra in the world tunes to the oboe every day. You've got to have a great ear to play the oboe, so get a tuning fork and develop your ear.
• Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music - Recommended, but not required. Definitions for many useful musical terms are found here.

More Oboe Resources

Instruments and Accessories for Sale

• http://www.carlosoboe.com . Carlos Coelho, 317-920-0519, carlos@carlosOboe.com. Lorees and used horns.
• https://www.prowinds.com/merchantmanager/index.php - Prowinds.
• http://www.usahorn.com - USA horn.
• http://www.wichitaband.com/index.html - Wichita Band.
• http://www.wwbw.com/ - Woodwind and Brasswind.

Repairs

• Williamson Music Company, 701 East Plano Pkwy, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75074, 972-516-1331.
• Carlos Coelho, repairs http://www.carlosoboe.com . 317-920-0519, carlos@carlosOboe.com. You’ll mail your oboe off for repair.