Hi, I would like to know more (or really anything) about arranging for Concert Band.
I have come across different books, also secrets of orchestration by Franco Cesarini. There seems to be a book and a workbook which I find quite interesting.
Has anyone used these? Would they be a good start for a beginner? Do you have other recommendations?
I would like to hear about your experiences with Oboe/English horn cases. I don't need the English horn every time (but quite often) and I sometimes don't know it beforehand so it would really be great if I could just could carry both instruments in one compact case.
I am based in Europe and the cases available here are, according to my research, Protec Cases, BAM Cases and Marcus Bonna Cases.
I know my instruments don't fit the Protec Cases. That leaves me with BAM and Marcus Bonna. BAM is a whole lot cheaper than the Marcus Bonna ones but then again, Marcus Bonna seems to be the gold standard in a way (even though they don't look so sturdy/isolating to me)? Then there are all kinds of different models…
In a perfect world I would like a case that holds my instruments securely and which gives me space for sheet music, one small water pot (or two, just in case), pencils, swabs, cigarette paper, oboe stand (I have a very compact one), reed cases, a tuner, handkerchiefs, keys, wallet and phone (I don't make reeds myself and only rarely adjust them so I don't need my knife etc. with me.)) and if lucky even things like my music stand shelf or a waterbottle. I am fine if that doesn't fit in - an additional bag is no problem but at the moment I carry three (Oboe in rucksack with sheet music etc, unnecessarily huge English Horn Case and my normal day bag with music stand shelf, wallet, keys etc.). I have looked into the idea of smaller separate cases for my instruments but I’m not convinced.
From my research my instruments would fit both cases. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Wir haben einen relativ langen Weg zur Haustür, der mit Platten ausgelegt ist. Es gibt insgesamt drei Stufen, die aber unregelmäßig auf dem Weg verteilt sind, so dass Besucher (und manchmal auch man selbst) nicht damit rechnen.
Der Voreigentümer hatte die Stufen mit einem Streifen weißer Farbe markiert, was ganz hilfreich ist, auch wenn der Weg einigermaßen gut beleuchtet ist.
Diese weiße Farbe ist mittlerweile ziemlich abgetragen. Ich würde das gerne erneuern, bin mir aber unsicher, ob ich Spezialfarbe brauche / möchte ungern eine größere Menge teure Farbe kaufen.
tl;dr Welche Farbe würdet ihr für den Außenbereich zur Markierung von Treppenstufen verwenden?
I have recently received my first ever compliment (as far as I remember) on a scent.
In the morning I did overspray a little my “Gucci - Bamboo” like fragrance because it felt so refreshing (it was already getting hot…). I don’t think it’s the greatest perfume ever but I like it for work.
A few hours later my boss came into my office and nearly immediately asked whether I was wearing perfume.
I was getting a bit nervous because she had often complained about people wearing perfume - but she said she quite enjoyed it and even asked what the fragrance was.
Are there any perfumes you would never have thought you would get a compliment on but did?
No matter how often I have played a piece: one day it will sound fine, the other I will play wrong notes here and there, mess up accidentals I had been playing correctly before, the articulation is off or / and the intonation or I have miscalculated breaks for breathing and need to stop etc. It is really frustrating. The hard parts of the pieces are getting easier to play, but I will still have those “accidents”.
I have been practicing for a kind of test and I am concerned about this constant up and down.
Also, I have been practicing the pieces for this test for years, no joking … so even if it goes well, I am afraid that even though I have reached that goal it won’t mean anything / is undeserved / doesn’t mean that I have reached the level because I have needed to practice a hundred times more than everyone else and wouldn’t be able to play other pieces as well.
Any words of wisdom?
I posted a longer question on ask men but ironically received zero replies…
The short version: I have been single all my life - there must be something I can do better.
Friends and family are no help, in their eyes I am alright (or they don’t dare tell me). If I walk the earth doing silly things that turn others away I would like to know - maybe my butt looks horrid from behind or I reek from my mouth or my voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard?
From whom/how have you received helpful feedback?
(I am aware of where I am posting this but I am sure there are people who can offer insights here)
I have been single all my life. For context: I have had a friend of a family member confess to me but I didn’t have feelings for him; years later I met someone whom I shared my first kiss with (we had a few dates, he ghosted me. That was eight years ago.). That's mainly it. I have tried online dating and met some men, but it seemed staged, interview-like, heavy and full of pressure. Nothing came of it. I have been in love but that was unrequited. My friends have married people they met at school, college, through friends, family members, hobbies etc. For me that seems increasingly impossible.
I mean there must be something "wrong" with me. If I were to ask my friends/family specifically for feedback - from what they have said in the past I am sure they would say that there is nothing wrong with me and have no advice on what I should do differently. That is very kind but unhelpful. I once was at a kind of party where a couple of people were looking for another roommate and we were promised that if they didn't choose us they would give an explanation. I wasn't chosen and the explanation was that it wouldn't be a good fit. I understand that you cannot always pinpoint exactly what you dislike and of course not everyone will like the same people, granted, but there must be something I can do better?
I could write a long post here, trying to describe myself and my life and asking for feedback from you - but that post would just say how I see myself, not how others see me and you can't really know about a person by reading a post anyway.
What would you suggest? Therapy is really hard to get where I am and is mainly reserved for people who have a mental illness which I don't think I have. Coaches? I have booked a course with one, but it was a more general "you are lovable", "identify your negative beliefs and get rid of them, the rest will follow" type of thing. It cost a lot of money and did not help. I seem to give off a "nope, no romance here, better look somewhere else" kind of vibe, but how do I know how I am creating that vibe and especially: What can I do instead? / How can I become better? Or should I accept my fate? This “maybe I could find someone?” vs. “I won’t, look at the past, I should just get over it!” is a bit exhausting and being in the latter mood won’t help the former, most probably.
Any suggestions where I could find specific feedback?
(Please excuse me if this post sounds clunky - English is not my first language. And please be kind.)
Hi!
I have the recurring problem that there is a little water in the little octave key that opens when you play the upper a. At least I think that that is the problem.
The a is coming out super scratchy and it is really distracting me. Also I have a few performances and a test coming up.
I have tried swabbing and blowing out the water, which kind of helps (not always/completely though), also letting the oboe air out with a piece of cigarette paper between the hole and the key to keep it a bit open and drawing out the moisture.
I have heard that this might be typical for a Marigaux, but if that is the case what are all the other players doing to help it from occurring or stopping it when it occurs?
Edit: Just saw the post on the Ab6 question. This tone mostly comes out fine. I have no oboe repair workshop near me so if it needs cleaning out it seems I must accept it for the time being…