1 K.Ge reed got chipped during practice, leaving 3 usuable reeds. The unthinkable happened. Introducing..
Patches, a 9-month-old Jack Russell Terrier, a.k.a. Reed-Eater!
He literally ATE up the cane pieces of my best reed, leaving a mess of thread and the staple behind. So, for all oboists reading this: keep your reeds away from your pet dogs!
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On being a piano accompanist...
Lately, Violin Teacher was looking for a piano accompanist for his Grade 4 student, and he called me one week before the exam to ask if I could play. I agreed, and, being his student before (long, long ago), I was expected to
- play accompaniment
- teach aural
- teach violin scales
- tune the student's violin before his exam
- bring my own violin just in case student's violin screwed up
Darn, I should be paid double or more. Pfffft!
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A Conversation
Yesterday I was sitting in the office, reading my book and waiting for my student when I heard a familiar voice say, "Hey, I've watched that movie before!". I looked up, expecting to see violin teacher talking to some other teacher or parent or student, and I found him staring at the book I was reading (it was "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera). That started of a long conversation about Nietzche, Freud, psycho-analysis, indian philosophers and a little of Milan Kundera (after all, I had only read ninety-two pages of that book). He did most of the talking, and I was contented just listening, asking questions and hearing his views :) He confessed that being a violin teacher rather than economist gives him loads of free time to pursue his interest in philosophy, psychology and the arts. Guess I'm really blessed to have such a teacher who has read so extensively and acquired a wealth of knowledge through years of learning and experience. (I should be grateful to my student too, who didn't show up for his lesson, giving me the time to talk to violin teacher :P)
Snuffles the bear
Xiaole the girlfriend gave me an extremely cute brown bear last evening which we named Snuffles :) That's him sitting at the corner of my keyboard at the studio
Oh man, in Korea we call that "Ddahk-Ssal" literally meaning "Chicken flesh" or "Chicken Skin". When two lovers are all lovey dubby and stuff, it gives us goosebumps and makes you wanna throw up. Hehe. Glad I'm married.
ReplyDeleteDo you use K.Ge Short scrape/German style reeds? So did you have any reeds for the lesson?
Haha, I'm single but I've got enough stuff to keep me occupied - oboe, violin, and piano :P
ReplyDeletethe lesson's tomorrow. So I've got to scrape more reeds until my order from K.Ge comes in (which probably won't be today or tomorrow)
Yup, I scrape my reeds European style(U-scrape), and learnt a W-scrape (a kind of a hybrid) from a lesson with Gordon Hunt sometime last year. I order the European style ones from K.Ge too. Always wanted to try american scrape but never got around to doing it :P I'd better start soon though, as I'll most probably head down to the US to study MT next fall. I can't possibly use a european scrape there, can I?
Also when you tie wire on your reeds (if you do), do you do it at the at the side? Most people I know tie it in the centre. My teacher taught me to tie it at the side though, and she claims that it minimizes lip injury from getting hurt by the wire.
By the way, your rendition of Bach's "Ich Habe Genug" was truly beautiful :) Like you said, tehere was a hint of de Lancie in your sound. That was truly unintentional, right? :P
Actually, the hint of de Lancie is entirely intentional. I know people either love him or hate him. I'm one of the lovers, and have been studying to get a Philadelphia (curtis) sound. I know... I know... everyone love's Mack and round and covered, but we all have our own tastes. Right? If you look at my blog archives, you'll see a lot about Philly Style reeds.
ReplyDeleteI don't use wire on my reeds. Only on EH reeds, which I tie in the middle. They might be okay on the sides, but I've never tried.
I don't think a short scrape will work very well in America. You're going to need to find a way to bring your pitch down, and be able to play ppp's on those low D Don Juan solos with your reeds, which I know a lot of short scrape players have difficulties with. (I play in Korea, where 90% of the oboists play short scrape.
Thanks for the encouragement about the playing! Are there are lot of Christians in Singapore/Malaysia?
Ohh, well you've succeeded in sounding like de Lancie then! :) Congratulations! My teacher is anti-Mack actually, she studied in Australia and Switzerland. I'll most probably go to Philadelphia to study Music Therapy next year! There'd be so much I could learn there, I'm looking forward to it! I love Gordon Hunt's sound, it's just so light but it has so much character! I like the dark sound of Schellenberger, and I find Albrecht Meyer's sound too sweet at times :P (all europeans, considering both my teachers studied in Europe)
ReplyDeleteI try not to use wire unless I really have to (as Rothwell says, no wire is best), but if the reed is overlapping then I'd put some.
Short scrapes won't work well in America? Darn. Yup I'm having difficulty with the Don Juan solo, and for some weird reason my oboe playing is unnaturally sharp! (bad habit of over-biting I guess) In America do the orchestras play at 442 or 440? Here in Singapore it's 442. I also find it tough to play the Le Tombeau de Couperin solo :S
You're a Korean right? Living and playing in America or Korea? I heard that there are many Christians in Korea :)
I live in Singapore, and visit KL sometimes for MPO concerts. I'm not sure about Malaysia, but there are many Christians in Singapore, with many types of churches too. In fact, we just had the Festival of Praise (FOP) held at our Indoor Stadium. It's a 3-day event held annually, where international speakers and worship bands come and speak/play. This year we had the band Delirious? and Pastor Phil Pringle from Australia.
This event attracts thousands of Singaporeans and its usually really crowded. I gave it a miss this year.
Oh dear, I'm more of a kinesthetic learner, I'm afraid I won't get much just reading how to make an american-style reed. I'll try and let you know the outcome later! One more question - how long are your reeds? I tie mine about 74mm, and then the finished one will be roughly 72-73mm. The length from bottom of the U-scrape to the tip is 10mm. And it's still so super sharp! Perhaps it's just me...
the movie is damn hot... but i still prefer the book... haha...
ReplyDeleteReally? I can't imagine how it'll be like. I mean, all that philosophy, how is it depicted? Arh, if it's hot i'm considering catching it :P where'd you watch it from?
ReplyDeletehaha, must have been a misinterpretation there. by hot, i mean steamy and sensual.
ReplyDeletei own the dvd, in fact. and of course, given the content inside, i believe that you're underaged. =)
Ahh. Anyway, I came across the screenplay in a local library while looking for something else and I've read it..
ReplyDeleteI'll still say I prefer the book much more :)