A reed and 5 oboes

July 31, 2023
I've taken almost a week away from the oboe. That's how I know I'm more than flirting with burnout. 

Today though. Today I met with two extremely generous women who are lending me their time and expertise. I finished a reed I started 2 weeks ago and left in my reed case, and I _like_ it. I compared my oboe to 4 other oboes, and still liked it better. Even the Howarth - though there's something very satisfying about it's key-work that I can't fully describe.

Today was good. 

I'll keep reaching out and trying to connect with people that inspire me, even if most of the time I can't imagine why they'd be interested. AH imposter syndrome, the Agony.

Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Music Gallery Residency T-2 days

January 29, 2023
I don't think I've ever had a full week of 8 hour days dedicated to oboe. That seems absurd, as I've spent years obsessing over the silly little instrument and it's glorious cousin the english horn, but I think it's true. I've spend hours and hours on end on reeds, practicing, rehearsing, but it has always been interspersed with other responsibilities - classes, jobs, etc.

This week, I will have a full day, each day, for a week, where I can focus on whatever aspect of oboe or music that I'd l...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Untitled Ensemble Emerges!

January 23, 2020
I'm stupidly excited to be organizing a chamber ensemble. I'm excited about the venues in Toronto that are available, I'm excited about researching repertoire, I'm excited about playing the repertoire, I'm excited about my instrument, I'm excited about my reeds. 

It's almost an unbearable amount of excitement. 

I'm back to scheduling my practice time, which is great, and scheduling my downtime (with help from a certain person in my life) which is even better. I've noticed that I work well with ...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

TLDR: I bought a new oboe and I'm really happy!

January 7, 2020
Since I moved to Toronto, I've felt like I was sometimes at war with my oboe. I questioned if I could make reeds, play music, play the oboe well enough to even continue, let alone improve. And yet I kept playing, kept accepting more opportunities to play, forced my reeds to squeeze themselves into pitch, because I love playing the oboe...but I wasn't loving it.

I was hating myself after each performance, even when things went acceptably, because I felt it shouldn't be this painful just to play...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Oboe Inspiration

July 24, 2019
I've been feeling a bit defeated about the oboe lately. My Lorée has had crack catastrophe after crack catastrophe, and I'm starting to feel like it might be the end of it's useful life - every time I start to play intensely on it there's a sneaky lack of suction, and although I'm much faster at spotting it these days, it's still wreaking havoc on my reed making. I'm certainly glad I made the somewhat impulsive decision to buy the lined Yamaha, as it has saved me several times, but switching...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Whyfor?

February 22, 2019
Finally bought a humidifier so I can stop boiling water all the time. As a west coast oboist, I was clearly not prepared for Ontario humidity levels (or lack thereof in the winter)!

So far:

- Lorée oboe cracks by posts, between trill keys, around old pin
- Lorée english horn bell crack (twice - once at the Thunder Bay audition, and again recently)
- Yamaha Lined oboe bell crack!!!!! :(

I feel cursed. Luckily I have a very good technician in Alessandro Garcia, so I now have both the Lorée instru...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Cracking

November 16, 2018
It seems the fate of oboists to be haunted by cracks. I'm gradually getting better at checking the instrument before assuming that I have just turned into a terrible oboist who can't tune to save her life...but I definitely failed this time. I believe my oboe has been cracking since October, when I foolishly played for around 10 minutes in an unheated practice space before realizing how cold it was (I had just come in from outside, and felt warm).

All the symptoms were there:
  • my low notes felt ...

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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Halloween Etc.

October 25, 2018


Somehow I have a rehearsal or concert every day from October 30th to November 4th, and only single day breaks after that until the 17th of November. No trick or treating for me I guess. The first rehearsal and sitzprobe for Oklahoma have passed...I think it will be a fun run, but I forgot how cramped pits (or in this case, loft) are for musicals. Gah. 

The singers are lovely, and I wish I could watch them! I need to go to more musicals that I'm not playing in!
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

refuelling

February 22, 2015
It has been a bit of a tough time adjusting to working full time while still trying to keep up some kind of practice regimen. I tend to fall into a downward spiral of guilt culminating in late night internet manga and netflix binges. 

I forget, repeatedly, that the best way to restart the desire to play music is to listen to music. I've been lucky enough to get to see not one, but two operas this past month, and tonight had the treat of possibly the most wind-centric concert I've ever attended...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 

Check the dates FIRST!

November 17, 2014
I've recently moved to Toronto, which was huge. I sold all my stuff that I could possibly part with and shipped the rest via greyhound. That was June, I think. It's what, November, now? and I'm only just getting my feet under me again. It's been super hard keeping practicing, to the point where if I pick up the oboe at all it's a success.

However! I'm finally feeling like I can breathe again, and needed a way to get my practice routine back - and viola! (not an actual viola...that'd be...cruel...
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Posted by Elizabeth. Posted In : everyday music 

 
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