u/Heavy_Cod1156

Hello everyone!

I play the oboe. I'm in my second year of college, and I'm 18 years old. I'm currently working on a relatively easy piece, but I'm having trouble memorizing it. I remember the melody, notes, and fingers (although slightly less accurately), but when I start playing the piano, I get lost in the rhythm and music, and this happens every time, making it difficult for me to complete the piece quickly. Memorizing a piece is a stressful experience for me. Just yesterday, I had a speciality, I was learning a concerto all week (playing it every day), as a result, the slow part was well learned, but in the fast one, I still stumbled and got confused. When I entered, I had problems with the rhythm, but now I play quite smoothly. Maybe someone here has faced the same problem? How did you deal with it?

Hey everyone, I have a couple of questions that I cant find the answer to, and it really concerns me. I am desperate and have nowhere else to turn to.

I've been playing the oboe for eight years. I'm 18 years old. I'm currently in my second year of college with a good teacher. Since my first year of college studies, I've been suspecting something's wrong with my embouchure placement. Perhaps I have the wrong embouchure, or maybe it's just not right for the oboe. I often have problems with my sound; my lips feel very uncomfortable and tight.

I can't say I sound terrible, but I've noticed that I have to work harder to get the same results as the other students. I've watched their performances, and everyone sounded very good with clear intonation. They also didn't go red from the strain of blowing, whilst I on the other hand had issues with this.

Another common problem is when I've completely mastered an etude, but the sound remains problematic (notes blur, don't hit, or are stuck). I've earned a good teacher and won first place in competitions purely through hard work and because I love music. Could you please tell me who to contact and how to tell if your embouchure is right for your instrument?

Could it be that my lips are just not suited for the oboe? I can't say they're particularly plump or oddly shaped, though.