Who Painted this Picture?
Who painted this picture of virtuoso oboist Johann Christian Fischer?
Tying the Knot on Your Oboe Reed… Here’s a Quick Video
Got a question recently about how to tie your knots when you’re making an oboe reed. It’s hard to explain in words, so take a look at the video and see if it’s clear. This video is actually part of our reedmaking course, The Beginner’s Guide to Making Your First Playing Oboe Reed… In 9 Days or Less
It’s Been a While
Been a loooonnnnggg time. We’re living in Flagstaff now. At the top of a very tall mountain. This has nothing to do with the oboe, but I’d like to introduce you to some of our neighbors.
Oboe Zen: Simple Thoughts for a Musical Journey
We’ve landed… About 1667 miles from where we started. In our new home: Flagstaff Arizona. It’s a whopping 7,300 feet above sea level. (If you’re wondering what high altitude does to oboe reeds, well we’re about to find out 🙂 But I’ll talk about that later. Right now, I want to tell you about something that might help you get through those oboe blahs we all go through now and…
Remembering Oboist Cynthia Steljes of Quartetto Gelato
I just read of the passing of Cynthia Steljes, oboist and founding member of Quartetto Gelato… I didn’t know her personally, but just a few weeks ago, I sent her a letter to tell her about a new project we are working on at MKL Reeds and to ask for her input. I am telling you that only because, for some reason, it made the announcement of her death so…
Where do dead reeds go?
Here’s what happens to dead oboe reeds (in this case, a bassoon reed) in our house. My son really gets a kick out of this. I wish I could have so much fun when my reeds kick the bucket. 🙂
Setting Your Oboe Goals for 2007
Did you set oboe goals for 2006? Have you achieved them? If you listen to any of the self-help gurus out there, you’ll find advice ranging from the simple, “you must set goals” to the contrarian, “the worst thing about setting goals is that you achieve them when you could have achieved more.” I don’t generally read self-help books like that, but my husband does. And guess who gets to…
English horn, the Nutcracker and sore arms
We were driving to my grandmother’s house today for a holiday get-together when I chanced upon some production of the Nutcracker playing on the radio. One of the amazing things about music is how certain pieces can bring back a flood of memories in an instant. The first thing I thought about when I heard the Nutcracker was how sore my arm was the last time I had to play…
You have to love it more than anything else. Really?
Have you ever read an article where some famous music teacher says words like these to the young, unsuspecting music student: “You should only choose a career in music if you love it more than anything else.” Or maybe something like this: “A career in music isn’t easy, so if you have anything else you can do, do that instead.” I read an article the other day that was loaded…
Life Lessons from a Cellist
Not sure what it is about commencement speeches this week, but I keep attracting them. I was cleaning out one of my oboe closets yesterday and came across a copy of a commencement address delivered by the famous cellist, Lynn Harrell, to the graduating class of the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1994. Rather than make any comments about it, I think I’ll let it speak for itself: Commencement Address…