Hello! I’m Erin Brophey, Principal Oboe of the Saskatoon Symphony and a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan. I also direct a programme called The Oboe Path, designed to help oboists play with joy and ease through a combination of group online masterclasses, one-on-one feedback, and personalized plans.
My aim with this blog is to share the insights and guidance that I wish I had when I was starting out. Growing up in a remote area of Northern Canada, I had limited access to professional oboe players and faced numerous challenges in my development. Despite having good information and resources, I nearly gave up at times. Now, I want to help others navigate these challenges more smoothly.
If you’re preparing for an oboe concerto with an orchestra, here are five essential tips to help you succeed:
Tip 1: Study the Score
Understanding the orchestral score and your part’s role within it is crucial. Listen to recordings and thoroughly study the score to grasp when your part enters and how it interacts with the orchestra. Make notes and integrate insights from the score into your practice. This approach will deepen your understanding of the piece and enhance your performance, creating a more cohesive and engaging experience for your audience.
Tip 2: Practice the Challenging Sections
Identify the technically challenging sections of the concerto and focus on them. Rather than playing the piece from start to finish repeatedly, isolate these difficult passages and practice them slowly. This focused approach will help you address specific issues and build confidence, allowing you to tackle the concerto with greater ease.
Tip 3: Incorporate Run-Throughs
Conducting full run-throughs of the concerto is essential for building stamina and managing the piece from beginning to end. While it’s important to spend time on tricky sections, run-throughs give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the parts you already play well and provide a holistic view of the concerto. This practice will help you maintain continuity and consistency throughout the performance.
Tip 4: Rehearse with a Pianist
Practicing with a rehearsal pianist or using a piano reduction of the concerto helps you understand the harmonies and catch any issues in your preparation. This approach provides valuable insights into the piece’s harmonic structure and improves your comprehension of how the music will sound with the full orchestra. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that your part aligns well with the overall orchestral texture.
Tip 5: Prepare Multiple Reeds
If you make your own reeds, prepare several in advance and break them in before the performance. Having a selection of comfortable and reliable reeds will help you avoid last-minute issues. For those who don’t make their own reeds, ensure you have a few new reeds broken in and ready. Having backups will reduce performance anxiety and ensure you’re well-prepared for the big day.
I hope these tips help you prepare effectively for your oboe concerto performance. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about The Oboe Path, feel free to reach out.
Remember to play the oboe with joy and ease. Let’s all strive to be the oboists everyone wants to play with. Take care and be well!