Oboe Studio

Welcome to the oboe studio website at Northern Arizona University.

The Oboe Studio at Northern Arizona University offers exciting and rewarding opportunities for oboists. Students can major in music performance, music education or choose the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree where they can major in music and major or minor in other areas. There are also opportunities for those wishing to minor in music or just play in an ensemble. The orchestra, bands and chamber ensembles offer high-caliber performance opportunities.

Oboists study with the me, the Oboe Professor, and receive weekly lessons, master classes, and reed classes. Since the I am on campus full time, students regularly stop in for help with music and reeds. The members of the oboe studio work together helping each other with reeds and musical ideas. Students have access to a gouging machine and shaper tips to help keep costs down and to improve reed consistency.

I would love to talk with you more about the NAU oboe studio. Please contact me directly to talk about your interests and with your questions.

Dr. Rebecca Scarnati
Rebecca.Scarnati@nau.edu
(Read Biography)

Experience high-altitude training for reed players

“Good breathing techniques are essential at high altitude. There is less oxygen available, so you will need to take more frequent and deeper breaths. The good news is that the air that is available at 7000’ is cleaner than in lower altitude cities …Wind players may also find low note response and fast articulation a bit more difficult because there is less air to move. This is where excellent breathing techniques are essential. You have to have a lot of air pressure behind articulations and low notes. I tell my students that if you can do it at 7000 feet you can do it anywhere. Flagstaff, Arizona is designated a high altitude Olympic training city and athletes from all over the world come here to train. Perhaps musicians should take a cue from athletes and come to higher altitudes to learn to breath.” Dr. Rebecca Scarnati

Read the full article on the challenges and advantages of studying your instrument at altitude.

Auditions

About auditioning for the studio

Before you schedule your audition, you need to apply to NAU and apply to the School of Music. Please see the School of Music admission page for details about how to apply and schedule this audition.

How to prepare for your audition

Practice a lyrical section and a technical section from any music of your choice (accompaniment is not required).
Practice a chromatic scale and all major scales (your full range).You will be asked to play 2 or 3 scales.
Ask a lot of questions!

For additional information please see oboe audition repertoire.

About financial aid

You will be automatically considered for a School of Music Scholarship on the basis of your audition.

Performance opportunities

Oboists at NAU regularly perform as members of orchestras, bands, and smaller chamber ensembles.

Studio expectations

Lessons

Performance majors and Education Majors must sign up for one-hour weekly lessons. Students must attend a minimum of 12 lessons per semester. Oboists in the Bachelor of Music degree may sign up for either a weekly one-hour lesson or a weekly half hour lesson. Music Minors and non-majors may sign up for lessons when approved by the professor and when studio size allows. All students interested in lessons must audition for the studio.

Master classes

Meet every Tuesday with occasional guest master classes that meet at additional times. All students taking lessons are required to attend these classes. Topics of master classes include:

Technical work
Study of orchestral repertoire with emphasis on excerpts frequently asked at professional auditions
Study of pieces being played in major performing ensembles
Students perform pieces being prepared for recitals and juries, etc.

All students perform in the class and learn to give positive comments to help each other.

Reed classes

Students develop reed making skills from beginning to advanced. Beginning students learn to wrap and scrape reeds while advanced students learn to finish reeds. When students have developed basic reed making skills, they are taught to first shape cane and then to gouge their own cane. Oboe students need the following equipment for reed making:

Double hollow ground knife (like MCW deluxe razor knife or Landwell knife soft or medium)
Oboe mandrel
Flat plaque (not convex! Blue steel is fine)
Cutting block
Spool of FF thread (or EE)
Bees wax
6 inch/metric ruler (we measure everything in millimeters
10-12 oboe 47mm tubes that fit the mandrel
12-24 pieces of 10-10.5 mm diameter cane gouged and shaped (preferably with a Mack or similar shape)
Optional: very fine sharpening stone like an Arkansas hard stone, ceramic stone, diamond stone

This equipment maybe found at any oboe supply shop on line. For example Mark Chudnow Woodwinds sells a First Oboe Reed Kit that contains most of this equipment as does Weber Reeds. Just be sure that the knife that comes with the kit is double hollow ground. Contact the oboe professor if you are at all unsure.

Recitals

All oboe students taking lessons are required to perform in a studio recital each semester. Oboe students are also required to attend oboe recitals and related events.

Resources

Professional organizations

The International Double Reed Society is the world-wide organization of double reed (oboe and bassoon family) players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts. On its website, IDRS.org, you will find publications and other resources for oboists at every stage, amateur to professional.

Reed-making equipment

The oboe studio has a gouging machine, cane splitter, pre-gouger, dial indicator and several shaper tips and a shaper handle for student use. Students may check these items out if they are members of the oboe studio.