Oboe Pedagogy MUP 481/581 Fall 07

 

Martin Schuring

Music E-443

Class meeting: Friday 2:40-4:30

480/965-3439

m.schuring@asu.edu

http://www.public.asu.edu/~schuring/

Office hours by appointment

Objective

A comprehensive survey of oboe technique designed to supplement the more individualized information given in lessons.

Required reading:

Goossens, Leon and Edwin Roxburgh. Oboe. MT360 .G66

Rothwell, Evelyn. Oboe Technique, 2d ed. MT360 .R8 1962

Sprenkle, Robert and David Ledet. The Art of Oboe Playing. MT360 .S77x

All are available in the music library; I also have copies of these books.

 

Recommended reading:

Bate, Philip. The Oboe: An Outline of its History, Development, and Construction.. 3rd ed.

ML940 .B37 1975

Haynes, Bruce. The Eloquent Oboe: A History of the Hautboy, 1640-1760. ML940 .H39 2001

Joppig, Gunther. The Oboe and the Bassoon. ML940 .J6613 1988

Burgess, Geoffrey and Bruce Haynes. The Oboe. ML940 .B87 2004

Ledet, David. Oboe Reed Styles: Theory and Practice ML941 .L4

Weber, David and Ferald Capps. The Reed MakerÕs Manual ML941 .W42 1990

Sawicki, Carl. The Oboe Revealed ML 941 .S684x 1988 (oboe adjustment and repair)

Mayer, Robert Essentials of Oboe Playing MT362 .M38x (beginning oboe teaching)

Veale, Peter. The Techniques of Oboe Playing MT360 .T42x 1998 (20th century Òavant-gardeÓ techniques)

Acht, R. J. M. van. Dutch double reed instruments of the 17th and 18th centuries: collection Haags Gemeentemuseum ML931 .A34x 1997 (beautiful illustrations of historical oboes)

Please also read the various articles on my web page (URL above).

Also the ÒOboeÓ articles in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed.

Final Project/Paper:

A final project or paper is required. The ideas below are intended to serve as suggestions giving an idea of the scope of project I have in mind. Many other ideas are possible; the goal is that the project should serve some pedagogical purpose. Get my approval for any final project idea before beginning work.

A one-page decription of your work together with at least three bibliographic references is due October 5. A detailed outline with full bibliographic references is due November 2. Completed papers are due December 7. Bibliographic references and footnotes should follow the models in Kate Turabian A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations, available in the ASU bookstore and worth getting for all your other classes.

á       Design a course or method for the Þrst year of oboe lessons. Assume that the student has never played the oboe before coming to you, but that they can read music.

á       Prepare a guidebook of oboe technique aimed at the high school band director.

á       Develop a 4-year undergraduate curriculum. Make provisions for the exceptionally talented as well as the marginal student. What should the student know and be able to do upon graduation?

á       Write a pamphlet of career guidance for the graduating student. What opportunities exist, and what are the most effective approaches for taking advantage of them? Include the possibility of further study.

á       Compile an annotated bibliography of some essential sub-set of repertoire: chamber music, orchestral music, solo oboe music, music from a certain time or place, etc.

á       Prepare a guide to orchestral audition excerpts. You might include a survey of orchestra excerpt lists, performance hints, sources for music, information on taped auditions, suggestions for coping with the audition process, etc.

á       Prepare a reedmaking guide. Consider designing a pedagogical approach that teaches the beginning player how to make reeds from the very beginning of study. In other words, design a set of preparatory exercises that the student will eventually apply when beginning to make reeds.

á       Compose a group of etudes aimed towards developing a specific musical or technical issue: high register, odd meters, atonality, sight reading, etc. etc.

á       Explore the history of the oboe in a particular time or place: ethnic oboes, BachÕs oboes, mid-19th century English oboes, etc.

 

Final Exam:

There will be a Þnal exam on December 7 based on class discussions and the required reading.

Grading:

Final exam:                                40%

Final project:                              40%

Class participation                       20%

 

Tentative schedule which we will not doubt deviate fromÉ

 

August 24

Introduction

Reedmaking I

Cane gouging, shaping, tying.

August 31

Reedmaking II

Reed scraping and adjustment, English horn reeds. Selection and care of tools, supplies.

September 7

Tone Production I

Posture, Breathing, Support

September 14

Tone Production II

Embouchure, Reed placement, dynamic control, vibrato.

September 21

Practicing

Technique

Facility, articulation, fingerings

September 28

Expression

October 5

One-page description of final paper/project due with at least three bibliographic references.

Instrument care, adjustment, repair.

Instrument selection for various age groups.

October 12

Methods, materials, etc. with consideration for different ages.

 

Professional development: auditions, competitions, jobs, etc.

October 19

Teaching with consideration for different age levels.

Performance related issues

Stage deportment, performance anxiety, overuse injury, etc.

October 26

I may be out of town, and class may be cancelled. If notÉ

History of the oboe

November 2

Detailed outline of final paper/project due with complete bibliographic references.

History of Oboe Playing

Discussion of the various national/regional styles of oboe playing.

November 9

 

Other oboes (oboe dÕamore, English horn): playing techniques, equipment.

November 16

 

Extended techniques.

November 23

 

Thanksgiving Holiday: no class

November 30

 

December 7

 

Final papers/projects due

Final exam