Demystifying Double Reeds - UWSP Double Reeds University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Double Reed Faculty Prof. Stacey Berk, Oboe Dr. Patricia Holland, Bassoon

DemystifyingDoubleReedsUniversityofWisconsin–StevensPointDoubleReedFacultyProf.StaceyBerk,OboeDr.PatriciaHolland,Bassoon

UWSPBrassFestand

WoodwindWorkshopsDay

SaturdayNovember12,2016NoelFineArtsCenterUW-StevensPoint9:00-RegistraGon

9:30to4:30-Clinics,Ensembles,MasterClasses

Registeratwww.uwsp.edu/music

Don’tMythOut•  OboesandbassoonsaddmorevarietyofGmbrestoyourensemble•  Thestudentswhoplaythemcanbecomeyourbest“bandgeeks”

•  Myths•  DifficultDoubleReeds•  ImpossibleIntonaGon•  DeadlyDynamics•  RaucousReeds

TheMythsOboeandBassoonarehardinstrumentstoplay

TheMythsImpossibleIntona5on

•  Good(evenexcellent!)intonaGonispossiblefromdoublereeds•  Listen•  Adjust•  Vowelsounds•  Imagery•  Don’taskdouble-reedersto“pullout”or“pushin”asthesechangeswillnotimpactintonaGonliketheydoonotherwindinstruments

TheMythsDeadlyDynamics

•  Okay,sodynamicsarealialehardondoublereeds!•  Thebiggestvariablesfordynamicsarethereedopeningandairsupport•  Iftooloud,squeezethereedmoreshut•  IfsGlltooloud,useali8lelessair•  Iftoosod,usefasterair•  IfsGlltoosod,pinchreedopen

TheMythsRaucousReeds

•  DecentcommercialreedsDOexist!•  Tryavarietyfromdifferentbusinesses/makers•  Talktoprofessionalsaboutsupplyingreeds•  SeeourwebsitesforsomesuggesGons

ConceptsforDoubleReedSuccessEmbouchure

•  Useamirror•  Havestudentwhistle•  Increasedistancefromuppertolowerteeth(mouthmoreopen)

•  Bringcornersofmouthin•  Cushionreed,don’tgrip

ConceptsforDoubleReedSuccessEmbouchure

•  Bassoon•  Createdistancebetweenupperandlowerteeth,especiallyinthelowregister

•  Thetoplipcansitfartherforwardonthereedthanthelowerlip

•  RoundnessisessenGal!•  Cushionreedwithlips

ConceptsforDoubleReedSuccessEmbouchure

•  Oboe•  Pulltheupperlipdown(stretchthenostrils)•  Usethemusclesjusttothesidesofthemiddleofthetopliptofocusinwardtothereed

•  Keepthecornersdirectedforward•  Ifthepitchallows,pullthelowerlipdown,awayfromthereed

•  Keepthesodpalatehigh

ConceptsforDoubleReedSuccessBreathingandAir

•  Usebreathingconceptsforallwinds:•  Takelowbreaths•  Useabdominalmuscles

•  BassoonandOboedon'tusuallyrequirealargevolumeofair•  TheyDOrequirelotsofpressuretotheair•  PressurizedairisneededforcleanarGculaGon•  GoodintonaGonandtoneareonlypossiblewithpressurizedair

ConceptsforDoubleReedSuccessArticulation

•  Tonguecontactsreedabout1/4”backfromtongueGp•  Thetonguetouchestheboaombladeofthereed•  ArGculaGonstartswiththereleaseofthetonguefromthereed•  ThetongueshouldbefreetoarGculateatitsGpandmovetodifferentvowelposiGonsinthebackfortuningandtoneadjustment

OboeConceptsforStudentSuccessPosture/Body&HeadPosition

•  Headup!•  Elbowsawayfrombody•  Relaxedshoulders•  Oboeabout45%

OboeConceptsforStudentSuccessThumb&HandIssues

•  Wristissuesarearealproblemforoboists•  Ifoboistscomplainofpainintheirrightthumb/wrist,takeitseriously

•  Productstohelpsupportoboedifferently(availableatForrestsMusic)•  Kooimanthumbrest•  Dutchandotherthumbrests•  Kickstand•  Harnessorneckstrap(takealialepressureoff,butnotcompletely)•  Englishhornsupportpeg

BassoonConceptsforStudentSuccessTipsonBassoonPosture

•  Silngallthewaybackonchair•  Putseatstrapallthewayforwardonchair(yes,alwayshavestudentsuseastrap!)•  Havestudentbringtheinstrumenttothem,ratherthanleaningforwardtoreachtheinstrument

•  Tensionistheenemy!Havestudentsrelax:•  Neck•  Embouchure•  Throat•  Arms•  Back

BassoonConceptsforStudentSuccess

FingeringsandThumbIssues•  ManyvariaGonsonfingerings/fingeringcharts

•  Havestudentsdevelopcriteria(withyourguidance)onfingeringsthat“work”•  Doesthenotespeakwell?•  IsintonaGongood?•  Isagoodtonepossiblewiththisfingering?•  Isagoodlegatopossible?

•  Handsmaymoveanduncoverholesforsomefingerings•  ThumbsareveryacGve!

AllThumbs…Thisisjustfortheledthumb!

BassoonConceptsforStudentSuccessDifferencesfromOtherWoodwinds

•  Whilefingeringsforoboe,flute,saxophone,andupperregisteroftheclarinetallcorrespondtooneanother,bassoonfingeringscorrespondtotheclarinet’slowregister.

•  Thismeansbassoonsmustuseadvancedtechniques(half-holeandoverblownotes)veryearly.

•  Ifpossible,havebassoonsstartoutsideofclassforafewweekstopreventbadhabits

Reeds

Reeds

ImportanceoftheCrow•  IndicatesfuncGonalityofthereedbeforeplacingontheinstrument

•  Fullnessofpitches•  Range–highorlow•  RelaGvedifficultyoreaseofblowing

ReedsWhattoLookForinaReed

•  Bassoon•  Material•  Goodtaperfrombackofeachbladetofront(holdtobrightlight)•  Symmetry,ledtorightoneachbladeandonebladetotheother•  ThinGp(helpsresponse)•  Noabruptdifferencesinthicknessexceptcollar(connecGonofbladestotube)•  Tipopeningofabout1-1.5mm

•  Oboe•  Totallength70mm•  Symmetry•  Tipopeningabout1mm

ReedsSources

•  Oboe•  TristanfromMidwestMusicalImports.com•  BlueProfessionalreedfromNielsenWoodwinds•  ChicagoOboeReeds-$17,madetoorder•  AmericanOboeReeds-$12forstudent(Ihaven’ttriedthese,buttheyareworthatryforthatprice)

•  BocalMajority–bandbundlesforreducedprices•  Bassoon•  ForrestsMusic•  ReedExperGse•  Woodwind/Brasswind

ReedsEasyAdjustmentsandFixes

Bassoon•  Useapliersorpressurefromyourfingerstoopen(makeharder)orclose(makesoder)thereed

•  ThinGptoimprovearGculaGon.•  Placesome320gritwet-or-drysandpaperonatabletopanddrawthereedacrossitwithlightpressurefromyourfingerGponreedGpandcorners

Oboe•  Usepressurefromyourfingerstoopenorclosethereed•  Ifthereedisflatinpitchandeasyblowing,takeasingleedgerazorbladeandclipGnyincrementsoffthereedGpunGlthepitchcomesupandmoreresistanceiscreatedtoblowagainst

•  Refertomyreedfixinghandout

RecruitingStrategies•  Establishtheirvalue:makeitseemfunandspecial•  Makeplayingdoublereedsareward•  Whentostartstudents

RetainingandNurturingDoubleReedPlayers

•  EnsureinstrumentsingoodcondiGon•  Helpwithreedsources•  Recordings

NotEnoughData?•  We’rehappytohelpwithquesGonsanyGme!

•  Feelfreetocontactusat:•  [email protected]@uwsp.edu

Q&A