When I was growing up in the 1970's and 1980's I used to listen to a lot of oboe recordings. These were on record and tape mostly.....

I'm sure you would expect my first post to be of an oboist, but no! It is hugely important to listen to lots of different music, styles...

To all my lovely students, When I teach you high notes why do you all pull odd faces while trying to play them and then look at me and...

I know, you've all gone yuck the moment you read the title. Well, most of you did. Believe it or not there are people out there that love...

Now, lovely students, you are all very clever, making good progress learning music and coping well with the oboe but why do most of you...

Now answer this honestly... How many of you have actually thought about what the piece of music you are playing is trying the express? I...

At the end of each lesson we ask you to practise. What many of you do is go home and PLAY THROUGH and I'm afraid this isn't good...

I've talked about this a bit in a previous blog post but it can never be said too many times..... Its all about the details and it really...

Dynamics! We talk about them so often but what are they and how do we do them? They are the markings in the music telling us to play...