Mark Your Calendars! The UWEC Double Reed Day is Sunday, October 27th!

Come join us for a day of double reed-filled fun in the Haas Fine Arts Center at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire! All ages, levels, and backgrounds of oboe and bassoon players are welcome to attend. The day will begin with UWEC double reed faculty performing a short recital to welcome everyone to the day. Then we’ll break into smaller groups with sessions of specific interest for bassoonists and oboists. After lunch we invite all of you to participate in the rehearsal for massed double reed ensemble led by Dr. Stewart, UWEC director bands. After the rehearsal the UWEC faculty will lead masterclasses for both oboe and bassoon. The day concludes with our massed double reed ensemble concert. Throughout the day specialists from Midwest Musical Imports (mmimportsc.om) will have new instruments to try, as well as tools and accessories for purchase. While registration will be accepted at the door,  we encourage you to please register by Oct. 15th.

The Musician in Training: Some thoughts for the new school year

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the UWEC oboists when classes begin Sept. 3rd!

In anticipation of the new school year,  I thought I'd repost something I wrote in my other blog, www.theoboist.blogspot.com  The topic is particularly important for all of you.


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The Musician in Training: Some thoughts for the new school year

  I always think the new academic year in early fall is a time of great excitement and renewal, and for me is like   most people'sNew Year's Day on January 1st.  It's a time to reflect on past accomplishments and consider how we want to improve ourselves and our careers. With that in mind,  I thought I'd write a post to all of you music students out there with a little advice on being a student.

(I got to the "22nd grade" as a doctoral student,  so I had lots of experience!)

• First and foremost, remember that you are both a student scholar and a  musician in training. Keep your goals in mind with all that you do.

•  You'll likely have some auditions at the beginning of the school year for ensemble placement. This isn't a test to see how you match up with others in your studio or school. This is an opportunity to test YOURSELF to see how much you've improved. Don't compare yourself to others or be jealous if someone gets a better placement than you. Only compare your playing to where YOU want to be. And I don't mean who gets first chair, etc. That's petty stuff that no one cares about in the really big picture. Think about skill attainment, improvement on  specific techniques,  repertoire that you want to master, opportunities to seek out, etc. Then go get it! 

•  Get organized! Write out your schedule in a weekly calendar. Know when your classes are and then WRITE in the times that you plan to STUDY and PRACTICE and MAKE REEDS. Then stick to it. 

•  No really, I mean it. Stick to your schedule. That way you'll look back on the day with a sense of accomplishment instead of feeling behind. 

• Find a quiet place to study, away from the music building, reed room, or any other distractions. The school library is built for this! Use that time to really study and learn all that your classes have to offer. Turn off your cell phone. As a scholar in training, your study time is yours alone.

•  If your teacher asks you to purchase specific music and reed materials, do so!  If some of the materials are too expensive for you,  be honest and TELL your teacher that you have financial constraints. They can often help you come up with an alternative plan or order fewer supplies, etc. But if you don't tell the teacher and don't show up to reed class or lessons with the proper music/supplies,  it will just seem like you're not interested or unorganized. For music, order it through interlibrary loan until you can buy your own. Find a way to work around your problems.

•  Realize that your teacher has your best interests in mind. When your teacher gives you an assignment that you don't like,  don't whine or avoid it. Your teacher was a student at one time too, but they also know from direct experience what it takes to get a job. Listen to what they have to say and do what they assign.

• If you don't understand what your teacher is teaching you, ASK for clarification. Even if you think you'll feel/ look "dumb." You only look "dumb" if you DON"T ask,  because then you'll surely not   understand the concept. Teachers are here to help you and usually like to know when they need to clarify a point.

•  Never be afraid to stop in a professor's office hours. Stop in for extra questions and help. Really,  PLEASE! I can't tell you how many times I've had no students stopping in during office hours even though I KNOW some students are struggling. Office hours are YOUR time that you've PAID for as a student.  

•  Minimize distractions while practicing. Turn off your cell phone. If there's a window on the practice room door, either put paper over it or turn your back to it so you don't see other students in the hall. Resist the urge to chat half of your practice away with others in the practice room areas. You can't count that time as practice! And let your friends know that when you're practicing, to not disrupt you. When you are in the practice rooms......practice.

• Get enough sleep. You're probably thinking,  "yeah right!  I'm a busy music major! We don't sleep!!" If you have a schedule, stick to it, and still don't have time for everything you do,  then do less. Cut out the extra clubs, gigs, etc until you have a sustainable life. Remember that this is YOUR time as a musician in training to learn as much as you possibly can.

•  Eat well. The junk food you've eaten as a teen won't sustain you very well as a musician in training. You're an adult now.  Eat veggies and fruits and only consume as little caffeine as is necessary (it can really affect nerves/performance anxiety). Foods with lots of sugar and fat will only make you feel lethargic and unfocused. So very not fun.

•  Get some exercise. Add it into your schedule. As a college student you likely have a recreation center/pool/fitness classes that are really affordable. Use these resources to become a strong, healthy scholar musician in training. This will have important benefits for years to come. At the very least, take short practice breaks by taking a walk. Get out of that music building and breath some fresh air. The exercise will clear your mind and help you focus on your next endeavors as a scholar and musician in training.

• Your fellow students are your colleagues NOW and are your FUTURE colleagues/contacts in our great profession after you graduate. Be supportive of one another and learn from each other! You'll be amazed at how many doors can open to you by being a good person and reliable colleague NOW. That big job you apply for just might have a former classmate on the hiring committee. They'll likely remember you, so make sure it is a positive memory. 

• Form study groups with the strongest students. Learn how they learn. Take mini lessons from older students whom you admire. Learn how they learn.

• Be kind to those struggling; they may not have had the advantages you've enjoyed. Share with them what you know and teach them how to succeed.

• Work hard, but enjoy the process. Have fun with your fellow classmates and make some great music!

That's all for now. I'm SURE I'll have more to share soon.

Oboe and out,

Dr. G

Update: Joins us for the Oboe Reed Making Bootcamp, June 24-28th

For those of you who are interested in the Reed Making Bootcamp June 24th-28th in Eau Claire, WI,  here are some more details.

1. The camp is perfect for beginning oboe and English horn reed makers,  experienced reed makers wishing to refine their reed making skills,  or anyone wanting to join in with fun people to stockpile great reeds for the summer and fall.

2.The reed making sessions will be from June 24-28th and consist 2,  2.5 hour sessions each day (one from 10-12:30 and another from 3-5:30). The sessions will take place in my office at UW-Eau Claire. In-between those times I be available to teach 30 min oboe lessons to anyone interested (3 lessons for each student over the course of the week are available). 

3. If there are enough reed makers,  we could have some ad-hoc duo, trio, or oboe ensemble sight-reading sessions for fun.  There will be ALL levels at the reed table,  from several beginners to professionals, high-school, college,  adults. The aim is to welcome a diverse community of oboe lovers who simply want to learn more about reed making, playing oboe, and learn from each other in good company.

4. There will be no fees for the reed sessions,  just come as you can. However,  I will have quite a bit of gouged/shaped/folded cane available,  and I ask that anyone using the cane makes a donation to help cover those costs.    

5. If you are under 18 years of age,  please have your parents contact me.  Please note that I am not able to provide supervision outside of reed sessions, transportation, or housing. Hopefully in years to come if there is sufficient interest we can organize this into a more formal event with housing, supervised activities for minors outside of reed sessions, etc!

6. Do you need tools for reed making? Contact me for a list of tools you'll need and places to get them.

Contact: OboeForEveryone@gmail.com  Hope to see you there!

Oboe and out,

Dr. G

Join us for an Oboe Reed Maker's Bootcamp June 24th-28th

Oboe Reed Maker's Bootcamp June 24th-28th

Want to learn how to make reeds for the first time? Just looking to learn how to adjust the commercial reeds that you buy? Already know how to make reeds but want to refine your reed skills? Or, want to join a group of fun people to simply focus on reed making for a week and stockpile some great reeds for the summer and fall?

If so,  here's your opportunity! I'll be leading an 

Oboe Reedmaker's Bootcamp

June 24-28th 2013

 Eau Claire, WI

We'll be working on tying fundamentals, knife technique, understanding the parts of the reed, troubleshooting guidance for reed refining and adjustment, and everything else under the sun that pertains to reed making. The sessions will be half-day,  leaving you time to take an optional oboe lesson, practice your oboe, possibly play in ad hoc chamber groups, and to explore the lovely Eau Claire area (float down the Chippewa River on a raft, enjoy an outdoor concert, miles of bike/running/skating trails, fishing, boating, the Eau Claire Downtown Farmer's Market, mild Wisconsin summers, etc, etc!)

I'm here to help you become a better reed maker. Come join us at the reed table for a week of great learning in an informal setting. College students and amateurs are welcome! Since this is a part of OboeForEveryone, there is no cost to participate, but I am suggesting a donation to cover the cost of cane, etc. which will be supplied for beginning reed makers. 

Are you in? Contact me at: OboeForEveryone@gmail.com

My reed making background:  I've been making reeds for over 20 years, having studied the art of reed making with greats such as James Brody (Oboe Professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder), Elaine Douvas (Oboe Professor at the Juilliard School and the person who taught me how to make the "5-minute reed"), and David Weber (owner of Weber Reeds and co-author of The Reed Maker's Manual) and inspired by the oboe teachings of Marc Lifschey. I have a thorough understanding of WHY reeds work and take the mystery out of reed making for my students to make reeds quickly and consistently.

I look forward to seeing you there,

Dr. G

Attend Oboist Kathryn Greenbank's Masterclass at UW-Eau Claire on April 1st!

Here ye, hear ye!

All oboists in the Eau Claire, Wisconsin region take note!

 Kathryn Greenbank, the amazing principal oboist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will be giving a masterclass at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire on April 1st from 2-4 pm in Phillips Recital Hall. The public is welcome to attend this FREE event.  This is NOT an April Fool's Day joke!  

Mark your calendars and email me: OboeForEveryone@gmail.com for more information.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Oboe and out,

Dr. G

If you've never heard Kathy Greenbank's exquisite playing,  try this out:

Congratulations to Jonathan Conjurske and Stuart Sutter

Congratulations to Jonathan Conjurske and Stuart Sutter on a FANTASTIC student recital yesterday! WOW!  Fantastic performances by all!!!

Jonathan, Stuart, and the rest of the great UWEC oboe crew

Captured on video!

Greetings all!

I've been busy making short videos and loading them on YouTube for you to watch. Each  video is only a few minutes long,  but is full of essential information for playing the oboe. Topics covered include forming a basic embouchure, characteristics of a good oboe embouchure, embouchure flexibility exercises, troubleshooting advice for embouchure problems, and hand position.  Soon to come are more videos on how to play dynamics, articulation and the oboe, good body use, etc, etc. Think of each video as a  mini lesson on an important element of oboe playing. The concepts are useful to beginners, advanced players in need of a "refresher" lesson on basic elements of playing, or for those who want to improve their understanding of how to teach foundational elements to students. Here's a sample video below on forming a basic oboe embouchure.

 If you'd like to catch all of the videos and listen to some of my playing from live concerts, go to www.youtube.com and become a "subscriber" to my channel: "Christa Garvey"
That way you'll instantly receive notification when new videos are added. Or,  you can find them in the list of teaching videos on the OboeForEveryone site.

Enjoy and let me know what you think of the videos--are they helpful? What other videos about oboe playing topics would you like to see on Youtube? I look forward to hearing from you!

Oboe and out,

Dr. G