Remembering Bill

Thinking of Bill today. I knew Bill Bennett for several years while living and working toward my master's degree in oboe performance in San Francisco. There are several things that stick out in my mind about him; the main one being that though he must have faced great amounts of stress and adversity in his day to day professional life, he was never ill natured. Bill was always in a likeable way. I think that this simple trait is something that sometimes people take for granted in the music profession. How much one's attitude can affect circumstances. If there is one thing I take away from having known Bill, I think this would have to be it.
He was always striving forward, trying to be creative and think of new ways to interpret music. Even if it was a piece he had known for years and interpreted a number of times already in performance. I remember him bringing to studio class once a big pile of opera arias, all of the most famous ones. When he asked us each to choose a different one and interpret it as if we were a singer, we all thought he was crazy. As the next week arrived and we played his arrangements, I think it taught us all something about musicality, interpretation and the capability of the oboe as a supremely vocal instrument.
I can't imagine how he will be missed by the orchestra, his oboe section, and his family. I am sure the orchestra will eventually find his successor, though I don't envy the person who will have to fill Bill's shoes simply because it will be an impossible feat.
You can read the San Francisco Symphony's statement if you so choose.

I actually just went online to Forrests and purchased this. I have never owned one, but will now proudly have it in my oboe studio to remind me of Bill and his legacy, and so that I can tell my students about him when they look at it :)

I AM BACK!

After not blogging for what has seemed like an eternity, here I am... I am alive, and back to writing about oboe. I have to admit that it is due to you, the reader that I am here writing again. I have received quite a few comments this week asking for help, tips, and tricks from past posts, so here I am! One of the hot topics: Oboe cracking. Yea, there is such a horrible thing as "cracking season" and we are right in the middle of it. Winter brings colder temps and DRY air, the biggest enemies of oboists worldwide. I have owned a total of 4 oboes in my 17+ years of playing the oboe. Three lorees, and my current oboe, a Kingwood Yamaha 841 oboe. All of my loree oboes cracked, a couple of them quite badly, and multiple times.
My current oboe has a plastic liner in the topjoint and I have had it for just over a year, no cracks yet. It is still a little early to do an oboe happy dance about it, but I DO live in Las Vegas where I have performed outside in 100+ degrees with it. So, I think it is at least a little safe to say: this oboe is a TANK!
 So that all being said, here are some tips on oboe maintenance specifically geared toward cracking from the QUEEN oboe-cracker:

 1. Swab, swab, SWAB! Not just at the end of a playing session but any time you have a break in playing. Cotton swabs are the best because unlike silk ones, they really absorb moisture and get it all out of the instrument.

 2. Warm your oboe up with your hands before playing. If it is even a little bit cooler than body temperature, it is going to be a shock to the oboe when you start blowing hot air into it, causing the wood to expand very quickly.

 3. Wood oboes need to have their bore oiled with sweet almond oil between 2-4 times per year. I am a professional oboist and I live in Las Vegas, so in this dry climate I actually got into the habit of oiling once a month. An oboe professional or the double reed dealer that your purchased the oboe from will be able to do this for you.

 4. Never let the oboe go through drastic changes in temperature. I carry my instruments with me all types of places as opposed to leaving them in a hot car. I would rather drag my oboe with me through whole foods than have it crack and be ruined later!!!!! Also watch out not to keep it close to air vents in the house that are cranking hot or cold air.

 5. If your oboe cracks, don't freak (this is the toughest part!) Put it away immediately. DO NOT PLAY IT. Consider this an oboe emergency, and your first priority is getting it into the shop whether that is down the street or across the country. I know, believe me, this is easier said than done... but it has to be. No matter how many rehearsals, concerts, etc. you have lined up, you need to put your horn down to save it from further damage!

 Since it has been forever since I last blogged, I will give you some updates on ME without taking up too much time and boring you.

 1. I am pregnant! Our baby boy Noah is due July 2. This is our first baby, and we are super excited. He kicks me a lot, and has already been to many concerts (gigs that I have played :)

 2. I got a new oboe in January 2012. It is a Yamaha 841 Kingwood oboe with the lined topjoint. It is hands down my favorite oboe that I have every owned. I love to play it, and I think it sounds (and looks) beautiful.

 3. I am teaching 20 oboe students right now in ages ranging from 11-adult and skill from beginning through college. I love all of you guys, and am so happy to be the one to guide you through your "oboe journey", you make me proud every week!

 4. I am playing A TON! Ever since the opening of The Smith Center, I have been a busy lady playing everything from Mary Poppins, to Nutcracker, to Opera, to backing superstars! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

 5. I never planned this one: I sell a TON of oboe and English horn reeds every week. I even have customers in California and Michigan! Most of my customers are locals here in Las Vegas and my students, but it is great to be able to use this most unusual and highly specific set of skills to help people and supplement my income!
 That's pretty much it for now, Hi to everyone out there, and I will be posting again soon! :) Caitlin

Next on my wishlist....

As much as I don't like to admit it, I have playing related pain issues. I used to consider this a huge weakness, and hated the idea of any type of neckstrap, or instrument support. I convinced myself that they "tied me down" and that they weren't really necessary anyway. I was so stupid back then!
The damage began when I was in my final year of college, preparing for my final recital and grad school auditions had me practicing up to 4 hours a day, and in some cases, definitely over-practicing (I tended to do that A LOT!). A lot of the damage, however, was done while I was in San Francisco at grad school. It was my first time living totally alone, and as I spent most of my time alone- I felt guilty if I wasn't doing something oboe related. So I would go on oboe "binges" that would last an entire, full day of scraping, playing oboe, playing English horn, repeat. So not good for my right hand and arm. It got to the point where my thumb would go totally numb and tingle kind of like when you foot falls asleep. Again... NOT GOOD!
I received a lot of benefit from weekly acupuncture sessions, which just got me thinking about my body more in general which sometimes (ok a lot of the time) I take for granted.
Since those days, I have taken to playing for much shorter periods at a time, and reminding myself not to "hold" my oboe and put that strain on myself if I am not playing, this is mostly for teaching. I have an awesome English horn peg that kind of works like a cello peg, from Forrests that is a lifesaver. Still remaining, has been what to do with the oboe??? I hate neckstraps, but that is just me, I feel unrelaxed and uncomfortable whenever I have used one (yea I am difficult!).
Stephen Caplan first introduced me to this amazing contraption and I am been coveting it ever since. The thumbrest redistributes the weight of the oboe so that it feels like you wouldn't believe it could feel to play the oboe. If you have any type of pain issues due to playing this thingy is a MUST. I plan on purchasing it and having it installed(!) on my oboe before the end of the summer. The "installation" is the main thing that has kept me from doing it sooner, a repair technician must drill into the back of the oboe in order to attach it. As an uppity little oboist, I worried about doing something so permanent to my instrument, however, after consideration... this is sooo worth it.
In other news, all is pretty quiet on the Western front. I am really proud of the majority of my students as they continue to work this summer. I am so so very excited to be back at Phantom for a string of shows this week starting Friday. SO FUN! And when I come back from vacation (an Alaskan cruise with my Mom and Sister) I get to be the oboe instructor at the Las Vegas Academy Band Camp. Yay Oboe auditions, sectionals, and clinics!

This Summer... so far

This summer is going great so far, I have had time to really relax and enjoy teaching my students (all of whom are taking lessons throughout the summer). I have been teaching for an entire day on Tuesdays this summer to save on mileage and energy that the drive into Vegas consumes during the regular school year. Sure, it is tiring to teach from 10am to 6pm, but I really have been looking forward to it every week and it is always a day that ends with zero energy but a rewarding feeling of satisfaction with all of my kiddos.

I have been really working to streamline my lesson curriculum to help not only myself by staying more organized but by becoming more efficient for the kids as well. I don't like the idea of an oboe lesson "formula" because every kid is really different and I want them playing different music and focusing on their different strengths and weaknesses, especially the kids that attend LVA together. I want them to all feel like they have their own individual music and are on their own path (it gets competitive enough at a performing arts high school!).

Lately, it seems like I have taken a group of my upper middle schoolers into the highest range of the instrument, as it becomes necessary and I have noticed that I have been drawing WAY too many messy and perhaps unclear "drawings" of the oboe fingerings. Oboe fingering charts are crazy, I have been unable to find any two that are alike in my recent search, and there are many variances on the high E and F fingerings. I came to a great solution: This stamp from Midwest Musical Imports. Now I can just fill in the blanks without having to draw my sketchy gross version every single time (it takes awhile!).

I was recently asked how I feel when I am playing music, if it was "motivational"? It was an interesting question and got me thinking about how I feel when I am "working". I can only describe it very simply; my heart feels full when I play music on oboe and English horn. I don't know how many different jobs that can be said about, although come to think about it, isn't that how you would want to feel if you were spending so much of your time doing something? I love playing, it is that simple- it just fills me up to the brim with happiness. I consider myself very lucky to spend so much of my time doing something that I love so much.

More Deals!

So the pickings on EBAY are good right now-- really good! Could be that other musicians out there are strapped for summer cash (I usually am). Not as many gigs during the summer + oboe students traveling out of town = less $.

Anyway, their trash can be your treasure. Here is a great BAM case (same one I rely on) for a steal.

EBAY!

If anyone is looking to snap up some English horn bocals at a possibly great price, go to ebay and search "English horn bocal".

There are four on there for sale, here is only one of them.

Or this is you have an extra $8000 and feel like taking a gamble!

Come Down In Time - Elton John (Tumbleweed Connection 2 of 10)

A few days ago I was talking to my Mom on the phone, telling her about my idea to start a group of some type this year. I was trying to describe to her the style of music I had in mind, and she right away said "OOooo I remember a song of Elton John's with oboe or English horn in it" (it is oboe :) ).

Here it is, the song has a a good feel and I like the use of oboe in it!