Oboe Embouchure

[@KA-em4ei]

So helpful. I tend to play sharp and I think I’ve developed some bad biting habits. Thanks for the remedial tutorial on embouchure.

[@SoprAboist]

So glad that it helped you!! You're not alone with the biting habits. Every oboist will deal with it throughout their time playing. As long as you are aware and can adjust you're ahead of many!

[@melmilford1859]

When you take breaths on the oboe, do you simply open your mouth, leaving your lips rolled in in the same position and then close your lips over the reed, or do you have to do the whole rolling the lips in process for each breath? I struggle with having enough time to breathe and then reform my embouchure while staying on beat.

[@SoprAboist]

Great question Mel! Generally when you take a breath you want to keep the reed anchored on your bottom lip so that you don't have to reform the embouchure too much. The top lip should stay relatively in the embouchure shape, but should relax a bit so it can rest in that split second while you are breathing. I hope that helps!

[@melmilford1859]

@@SoprAboist this is helpful. I have trouble "restructuring" the shape of my embouchure in the short time that I have to rest before the next note.

[@SoprAboist]

@@melmilford1859 I would practice that by playing a long note stop to take your breath and concentrate on making that process faster. If you try to fix it while playing music you’re attention will be too divided.

[@terezasamsonova1272]

Dear Kristin, please would you know what to do... why the water comes inbetween the reed and the lips...? ( during long phrases..) I had an idea, that the reed is too much in the mouth, but i am not sure...

[@SoprAboist]

Hi Tereza! I can't fully know without seeing, but it's possible that you're maybe playing on a very easy reed and that allows your embouchure to be a little too loose around the reed, thus letting air and water escape. Does that maybe sound like what is happening?

[@terezasamsonova1272]

@@SoprAboist Dear Kristin, yes, it could be, the upper part of the lips was to lazy and not to much rolled into the mouth...thank you very much!

[@musiclovergeek1251]

Kind of a Late Comment. I'm a Saxophone Player (Ex Clarinet Player) and I've kind of suddenly started to get the inkling to double on Oboe. Would you recommend that?

[@SoprAboist]

Absolutely! It’s a fun challenge for a fellow woodwind player. There is a lot that is similar to saxophone and clarinet. Have a great time!