Demystifying Double Reeds - UWSP Double Reeds University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Double Reed...
Transcript of Demystifying Double Reeds - UWSP Double Reeds University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Double Reed...
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
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!
BassoonConceptsforStudentSuccessDifferencesfromOtherWoodwinds
• Whilefingeringsforoboe,flute,saxophone,andupperregisteroftheclarinetallcorrespondtooneanother,bassoonfingeringscorrespondtotheclarinet’slowregister.
• Thismeansbassoonsmustuseadvancedtechniques(half-holeandoverblownotes)veryearly.
• Ifpossible,havebassoonsstartoutsideofclassforafewweekstopreventbadhabits
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