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Getting Started with Intermediate Oboe Music

Getting Started with Intermediate Oboe Music

If you have been playing oboe for about a year and are ready to move onto the next level, this is the intermediate oboe music I recommend.Technique Books If you are looking for intermediate oboe music, these are the first real technical etude books I introduce students too. The melodies are easy enough to start with (espeically in Barret), but keep in mind they can be used all the way through Undergrad and beyond (as there is quite a bit of variety).Oboe Method by A. M. R. Barret This is one of the most standard oboe books in the repertoire....

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How to Fix a Large Reed Opening

How to Fix a Large Reed Opening

A Complete Guide: How to Fix a Large Oboe Reed Opening Whether you are dealing with the largest opening you've ever seen, or split sides, this guide will walk you how to fix a large reed opening on oboe and English horn reeds. I’ve included solutions you can use immediately and there is a special section at the end just for baroque oboe reeds too! What variables can contribute to a large opening? Thick gouge Narrow diameter cane Tied too short Wide shape Soaked too long What are the problems or “symptoms” of a large opening? If you are...

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The Ultimate Guide to English Horn Reeds

The Ultimate Guide to English Horn Reeds

The Ultimate Guide to English Horn Reeds Several years ago a great English horn player came in and did a master class for our studio. He graciously provided a multi-page packet with everything you could think of related to the English horn. A few years later, I started to refine my own English horn reed-making process to best suit my personal needs. However, I found there wasn’t much in the way of information online to help guide me with the overwhelming number of shapes, staples, and troubleshooting issues. It is my hope to be able to shed...

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Oboe Reed Adjustments [Infographic]

Oboe Reed Adjustments [Infographic]

My common oboe reed adjustments guide has been such a hit, I made a simplified version as an infographic. You can download a pdf version by clicking here, or click on the photo for a higher resolution JPEG. The information in this article is original and COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Please feel free to use this information for personal use only, or contact me at khara@kharawolf.com for any other usage rights. Happy reed making!

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Choosing a Music Career for Double Reed and Wind Players

Choosing a Music Career for Double Reed and Wind Players

After having several dedicated students approach me this year with dreams of playing the oboe professionally (followed, naturally, by some concerned parents), I felt inspired to write the article I wish someone had given ME when I was in my teens and early 20’s. Choosing a music career, especially on an instrument like the oboe, bassoon, or other wind instrument, can be a little bit different then aspiring to be a famous pop star or a freelance guitarist. However, I would hope this article will put anxious parents at ease and suggest some new...

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High Altitude Oboe Reeds

High Altitude Oboe Reeds

A Guide to High Altitude Oboe Reeds As you get above 5,000 feet, and often into a dry climate, the reeds will vibrate less. The result will be a reed that might be stuffy, sharp, too closed (small tip opening), or issues with leaking sides. The major of reeds I’ve made for my students, and myself, have been scraped at high altitude over the past 20 years, which have led me to the following suggestions of how one might start to combat the effects. The information in this article is original and COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Please feel free to use this...

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