Gekeler Method Oboe 1 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an excellent beginning method book for students just taking up the oboe.It is especially good for students who have already had some experience with other instruments, since it progresses relatively quickly.Nevertheless, Gekeler does provide some introductory practice in musical notation, time signatures, and rhythms for students who have not studied music extensively before.There are exercises and short pieces in 4/4, 3/4 , cut time, 6/8 and 3/8, with whole notes through sixteenth notes, dotted eighth-sixteenth combinations, and syncopation. Key signatures are covered through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Basic fingerings are taught for notesfrom low B below the staff to high D above the staff.The alternate forked F fingering is also taught almost from the beginning, as well as an alternate fingering for D#.Dynamics and intonational cues appear throughout the text, but grace notes, trills, turns, and other fancy stuff are not introduced.Duets appear frequently amongst the study pieces; many are written such that the lower part requires slightly more advanced technique than the upper.In addition to technical exercises and etudes, there are short melodies by composers such as Hohman, Dancla, Czerny, and Schubert.Even on pages that are primarily devoted to introducing some new rhythmic pattern, there are always a few passages that the musically experienced beginner will find worthy of practice.Overall the book provides a varied and challenging introduction to the instrument.Methodical use of the book, together with daily practice, will enable rapid skill development.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gekeler Method Oboe 1

Product Description:
The primary purpose in presenting this method for publication wasto make available a book that did not progress too rapidly for beginners, one that taught proper oboe fingerings, and one thatpresented logical progression of rhythmical problems. Written by Kenneth Gekeler. Includes fingering chart for the conservatory system oboe.

Get 10% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Gekeler Method Oboe 1 now ?

Oboe Method Complete (Kalmus Edition) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If there is a required text for the oboist, the Barret Method is it.The etude studies are a standard part of the repertoire for students of all levels, and have been reproduced in other method books as well.I do not know of an oboist who has not worked from this book.Every student has their own favorite exercise and etude, and all learn to live with the yellow volume.While it can seem oppressive at times, the preparation it provides is second to none.It is a must-have for an obosits at any level.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Oboe Method Complete (Kalmus Edition)

Product Description:
The first in a series of three new Kalmus publications by A.M.R. Barret, the Complete Oboe Method, long a standard text for oboists, will assure ease of play for advancing oboists.

Get 15% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Oboe Method Complete (Kalmus Edition) now ?

English Airs and Dances: 16 Easy to Intermediate Pieces from 18th-Century England Violin (Flute or Oboe) and Keyboard (Baroque Around the World Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A master class in playing 18th-century English music

Jeremy Barlow is a superb performer and scholar of early music.He has been making excellent recordings under the name of The Broadside Band since the 1980s.

Barlow and others have collaborated on a series of music books with CDs called "Baroque Around the World."Barlow edited the volume "English Airs & Dances," playing (digital) harpsichord on the CD, accompanying violinist Sharon Lindo, flautist Jinnifer Stinton, and cellist Nick Stringfellow.

The book is described as "16 Easy to Intermediate Pieces for Violin (Flute or Oboe) and Keyboard, and optional Cello (Bassoon)."In fact, the lead lines of most of the tunes can be played by any instrument with a 2-octave range (D next to middle C, and up), including recorders in C, mandolin, and clarinet.

Five of the tunes have high notes that may challenge beginning and amateur violinists and recorder players.Numbers 9 and 11 have high Ds, numbers 10 and 14 have high Es, and number 16, which is in the key of E-flat, has high E-flats.Most of the tunes are in the keys of C, G, and D (and relative minors), keys which are comfortable on violin, flute, and soprano and tenor recorders.

The selections are lovely, interesting, and rare.Many are dance tunes from Playford and Walsh collections.There are a few sonata movements, as well.John Dowland is the only well-known composer represented.Next best-known is Thomas Arne, hardly a household name.

The editing, typesetting, and layout are clear and precise (the only error I've found is the placement of the endings of number 13 in the full score).No fingerings or bowing marks are included, nor are there any instructions on interpreting the ornaments.The keyboard parts are given in standard modern layout of treble-and-bass clefs, with no figured bass.The keyboard realizations are generally quite simple and direct -- effective and entirely musical.Part books for lead instrument and cello are included.Three selections include parts for a second instrument, mostly playing lower harmonies.Two selections include notation for the octave shifts required, depending upon whether the lead instrument is violin or flute.

The performances on the CDs are clear, charming, and stylish.Ornaments are played fairly simply and comprehensibly.Small, stylistically correct melodic variations are introduced.Each tune is played just once, with repeats.

The CD includes complete performances of all the tunes, with violin and/or flute accompanied by harpsichord and cello, and a complete second set of tracks with harpsichord only.One might wish the second set of tracks had included the cello, so that someone playing the lead part could have the full sound of the accompaniment.

Most professional players of early music tune to a lower pitch than the modern standard of A=440 when performing music of the 18th century, making it impossible for musicians whose recorders are tuned to modern pitch to play along.The recordings for this collection were made to modern pitch.

Barlow and the publisher chose to leave discussions of stylistic matters such as ornamentation, variation, phrasing, and bowing for the student to seek out elsewhere.It would have been helpful to include a few suggested sources for that kind of information.A great deal of that kind of information is conveyed aurally through the recorded performances.

I am a professional pianist and my work is mostly in American popular music styles.I have played recorders and studied early music as a dedicated amateur since I was a child.I am quite used to learning music "by ear."I have thoroughly enjoyed playing the 11 selections (the ones without the highest notes) on tenor recorder along with the CD.Because I am studying the phrasing, ornamentation, and variations, I have played along only with the complete tracks, and have not yet tried playing with the solo harpsichord tracks.I find that the tempi on the recordings tend to be just brisk enough to challenge me, but not impossibly fast.I can well imagine that less-skilled players might wish for slower recordings.I recommend to them the shareware program called The Amazing Slowdowner.

"English Airs & Dances" is beautifully conceived and executed.I look forward to the other volumes in the "Baroque Around the World" series. -- Hoyle Osborne

Click Here to see more reviews about: English Airs and Dances: 16 Easy to Intermediate Pieces from 18th-Century England Violin (Flute or Oboe) and Keyboard (Baroque Around the World Series)

Product Description:
The collection includes country dances, Cheshire rounds, hornpipes, and pantomime tunes, plus examples of the march, minuet, siciliana, gavotte, and jig. Featured composers include Arne, Earl of Abingdon, Hebden, Holcombe, Linley, Roseingrave, Stanley, Thackray.

Get 10% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about English Airs and Dances: 16 Easy to Intermediate Pieces from 18th-Century England Violin (Flute or Oboe) and Keyboard (Baroque Around the World Series) now ?

Oboe Solos EFS #99 (Everybody's Favorite Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recommend this book to every one of my students, from beginners to undergrads in college.The selection of pieces is extensive, and includes many standards in the oboe repertoire, including the Handel sonatas, the Schumann romances and the Mozart Oboe Quartet (entitled Sonata for Oboe and Piano in this book).The oboe parts are paired with piano scores; buying these pieces separately would cost a lot, so this is an incredible steal.There are also many pieces that are wedding-appropriate, for those oboists that are looking for a collection of pieces to play at such an event. A great resource and investment for all oboists!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Oboe Solos EFS #99 (Everybody's Favorite Series)

Product Description:
Some of the most important compositions in the oboe literature. Includes some of the larger forms, carefully edited and exceptionally well-suited to recital as well as for study purposes. Some melodies written for other instruments are also transcribed for the oboe for the first time.

Get 32% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Oboe Solos EFS #99 (Everybody's Favorite Series) now ?