Change of pace

It's felt very difficult this term to gain any sort of momentum in my oboe practice.  There has always been something to interrupt consecutive days of playing. It has felt quite frustrating, always seeming to be going back a step or treading water rather than moving forward.

At the end of June we had a long weekend away - which was lovely but another 3 days off.  When I came back it felt like a huge struggle to play and I managed barely longer than 30 minutes for the next 2 days.  However the next day I was off work sick, which probably explains why I felt so tired.   It was 3 days before I could face picking up  my instrument again but I was obviously feeling much better as I managed my usual practice time on the first attempt, despite nearly a week of next to no practice.  Six days later I now feel like I am on a roll again with the next few weeks looking fairly clear for keeping going and I am beginning to see progress again.

Another effect of my sickness was that I had a to cancel my oboe lesson, my teacher then told me she couldn't do this week's lesson.  So rather than having 3 lessons before summer holidays I now only have one!  Not very good news, but on the positive side it has given me a couple of additional weeks to prepare for my next lesson.  I've been surprised at how much that has taken the pressure off practice times. I don't have to play every pieces every session. I  can take my time over the lesson preparation and spend more time preparing pieces for both the Adult Learner's Concert and the Garden Party.  The change of pace has been good for me.  I need to remember that over the summer break and take time to revisit old repertoire and previous studies.  It could be good to take things at a slightly more relaxed pace, ready to tackle lessons in September more refreshed and ready to go back on the treadmill.

In other news I took my piano exam at the end of June and, last week, found out that I passed it with distinction! I am very pleased for lots of  reasons that are probably a blog post all on their own.  Needless to say it meant a lot!

Catch up

I thought I ought to do a round up of the things that I am practising at the moment:

Technical exercises - I am still doing articulation exercises to try and up my speed.  It is gradually having some effect I think. I'm also doing long notes based on arpeggios - trying to improve tone, dynamic range and tuning. Doing arpeggios is good as it means I'm doing notes across the whole range of the instrument.

Studies - this week's study is Luft No 20 which is in C# minor.  I really like this one but it has some tricky passages and also a lot of rhythmic changees - lots of subdivisions as it goes from minims to crotchets to demi semi quavers to quavers to semi quaver tripets to trying to fit 5 notes into the space of 1 semi quaver....it is making my head spin a bit.  Hopefully I will get another week to work on it.

Hindemith Sonata - There are only 2 movements.  The first one grew on me a bit - though having heard a recording of it with piano I would still say that it is a Sonata that is more fun to play than to listen to.  I really do not like the second movement at all.  Slow, random notes, strange rhythms.  It really doesn't do it for me at all. So hopefully won't be spending too much longer on this. 

Telemann Fantasia No 8 - still working on the second and third movements of this as we haven't looked at it in a lesson for a few weeks.  I really like these pieces but there are still a few bits of this that I am struggling to get into my fingers.  It just doesn't seem to go as expected.  Improving though.

Mozart Oboe Quartet - have been working on third movement in lesson which has some really awkward bits in the middle.  It is getting better though. 

I have finally agreed what I'm playing at the Adult learner concert and Garden Party.

Adult Leader Concert - second movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. Sadly the piano accompaniment for French Suite turned out to be too tricky and an alternative needed to be found.  The first movement of the Quartet exceeded the time limit so this is my third (maybe even 4th) choice piece.  My accompanist seems quite happy with this one though.  I need to get practicing and make sure I have a VERY good reed to pull it off!

Garden Party - I've had a run through with pianist for this, which seemed to go very well.  I am playing:
Mozart Quartet Movement 1
Piazolla Oblivion
Dring Italian Dance.

Hopefully this fits the bill of light, accessible, easy to listen to classical music and it should take just over 10 minutes.  I just need to time the pieces and send the programe to the organiser (and practice of  course!).

Piano exam 28th June.  Playing my pieces for a friend tonight.

It's warm...

It's been very warm this week - practice has happened in the evening's when  it has been marginally cooler.  I've been continuing with articulation exercises though not really seeing a huge increase in speed yet. I need to keep going though.  My study this week (Luft no 18)  is in F#minor and is also good articulation practice.  I need to focus on stamina, breathing and tuning for the rest of the week. 

Telemann Fantastia No 8: I've been working on articulation in the second movement nad trying to get accuracy and dynamics too.  The last movement is getting there.

Hindemith movement 1:  Still working on the basics - notes, rhythm, articulation.  I still need to work through the second half of this.  First half dynamics, phrasing is improving.

Mozart Oboe Quartet Movement 3:  Bits are OK, other bits are very ropey.  There is some ornamentation I'm struggling to get the rhythm to - it doesn't help that it comes very soon after a change from 6/8 to cut common time.  Articulation speed is also slowing me down - but that is something that I'm working on.

Extras: I'm working on the tricky bits for Gershwin.  I'll have another You tube run through next week to see if it's any better.

I had a play through Rendez vous and Causerie from French Suite yesterday.  Total time was 5 mins and 17 seconds which is slightly longer than my time slot for the play day so may need to only do one.  I've sent music to my accompanist - the first one is quite tricky so it maybe that I have to change my piece anyway.  Hopefully he can simplify it a bit to let me play it as it is a really fun piece.

I'm waiting for a piano exam date - 15th June would be my ideal date, so let's wait and see.