I want to make piercing too..but I cannot..I cannot have piercing bcs I play the oboe-I want it on mouth.
I hate pictures of myself, and I’ve never done the headshot thing. I guess I probably should have at some point; there are rare occasions when I’m asked for my picture and I don’t have much to offer.
But I love what Kim Whitman says in her blog about this. And one line was especially good:
We want to hire you, not be seduced by you. Yes, your headshot can be too sexy.
I’ve seen some headshots that look like that. I find them annoying.
Me? I think I should have one that makes me look thinner, younger, and beautiful. Now is that asking too much?
Um. Yeah. It is.
Never mind. I actually want one that really looks like me. Maybe someday …?
If I am understanding what I’m reading, this is a high school student who put this together for a talent show. Lots of fun! :-)
… and so unusual!
Or not.
But I read the paragraph below here.
Most of the numbers in his show deal with magic, however obliquely. Parodying the role of Harry Houdini, which he originated in the West Coast production of “Ragtime,” he arrived onstage in handcuffs, which he tried futilely to shake off in the Houdini manner. There was a “Bewitched Medley,” in which he played the oboe deliberately off-key. Later in the show he twirled the instrument like a baton.
I would have loved to have found a YouTube video of Jason Graae playing oboe. And twirling it, of course. Alas, it is not to be. (The link takes you to his site where you can hear him singing in tune … probably deliberately)
Yes, I’m sad that I can’t find a video. I know you are too. :-(
If anyone still wants to sing along with Mitch, by the way, they still can. The bearded conductor, classical oboist, record producer and television personality is still very much with us at the age 98, living in New York City and doing guest symphony conductor dates from time to time.
I read that, and more (not all complimentary), here.
Starting a new year at UCSC is always a bit of a confusing muddle. I usually don’t know how many will show up for oboe lessons. I am to meet and hear them the week prior to the start of classes to determine who I can accept, but not all oboists know this. In addition, students who take lessons are required to be in a major performing ensemble. So I meet with some, decide who I can accept, only to find out later that another student wants lessons, or to find out that one I did accept isn’t in a performing ensemble. I can only take a certain number, so it’s often “back to the drawing board” to attempt to figure out how it can all work. I try to coach the woodwind quintet as well; finding a day and time for those five students is a tremendous challenge. I can only come to campus one day a week, so whatever day works for them must also work for all the oboist. ACK! Looks like this year is just as difficult as past years … perhaps even more so.
Right now my head aches from all this craziness. I’m hopeful that by next week it’ll all be sorted out and I’ll know what the story is. Unfortunately that requires that students respond to my email. Not everyone does. Double ACK!
Advice to students: please answer emails from your pesky teachers! Pretty please!?
i forget to breathe while i play oboe, because im so darn excited
We believe strongly that the arts aren’t somehow an “extra” part of our national life, but instead we feel that the arts are at the heart of our national life. It is through our music, our literature, our art, drama and dance that we tell the story of our past and we express our hopes for the future. Our artists challenge our assumptions in ways that many cannot and do not. They expand our understandings, and push us to view our world in new and very unexpected ways.
-Michelle Obama
With opera done, UCSC tomorrow, and symphony beginning this Wednesday, I knew today should be spent on reeds. And I tried. Really I did. But there’s just something about the day after a run ends. I can’t manage to get things working. Maybe it’s just psychological. I wonder.
I’ll just let you learn. I’m nice that way. (But please verify what he says with your teacher.)
But maybe he is just taking the Miranda videos and running with ‘em … ya think?
I’m bringing my Oboe home and i’m going to brake in this new reed.
While an older crowd for the most part which can be a turn off, I believe it’s important to support artistic treasures that are truly San Francisco. Don’t let it deter you, as the music is definitely worth it. If you feel a little too chi-chi afterwards, you can always do what we did and hit up a divey (but delicious!) taqueria for a late night dinner.
I read it here.
If you are looking for something a bit different to add to your classical collection, Joshua Bell’s At Home With Friends might be right up your alley.
I read the above so I was curious about the CD. I’m not sure the CD will add to one’s classical collection; just because Joshua Bell is playing it doesn’t turn Beatles into classical music … does it?
Sony doesn’t allow embedding (stupid, if you ask me) but you can see and hear snippets here. (Part of me wanted to leave that link off. Just because it bugs me that Sony requests no embedding. It also makes me not want to purchase the CD. I’m just that silly. I know it’s goofy, but that’s my initial reaction and I’m being honest and letting you know how petty I can be. Do you hear me, Sony? Do you care?)
Man, I want a place like Mr. Bell’s! That’s one cool looking abode. And he doesn’t spend nearly as much time at home as I do. Seems like those of us who are home more often should have the better place … you know?
Okay. Kidding. He is a fab musician. He can have what he wants. 8-)
I received a wonderful email from Janet Archibald about resumés for auditions. It’s something I probably should have blogged about long ago, but with Janet’s email, I’m now spurred on to finally doing this. (For those of you not in the know, Janet is the fabulous English hornist of San Francisco Opera.) I’ve combined what she has to say with my thoughts.
- One page resumés are fine, and easier to read through. Be sure they are legible. (A big duh, but I’ve seen some that aren’t.) Put the most important information first.
- Put your playing experience front & center, clearly! Be specific about what chair you play(ed). State whether or not you had a tenured seat or subbed: best to be honest, short & clear.
- Audition experience: if one has been in the finals or even semis of one or more auditions that looks quite promising even if it is a young player w/out a gig yet.
- List any summer festivals & any auditions in which you advanced, & if so, what rounds you advanced to.
And here are some things to avoid:
- No one needs a career statement. We can kind of figure that out if you are auditioning.
- Don’t send in clippings of reviews or bios from programs or CDs.
- Don’t lie. Don’t exaggerate. If you haven’t figured it out already, the music world is small. (If an applicant isn’t a tenured principal player but states he/she plays principal I know I question the applicant immediately. Be honest if you were a sub.)
- Don’t list high school awards. (Janet is kinder; she suggests you keep them to a minimum.) If you played Carnegie Hall while in high school it no longer matters and shouldn’t be mentioned, as far as I’m concerned.
- Don’t list non-music related work.
- There is no need to list every work you’ve ever played. (Listing a few of the most important works is fine, but again not necessary.)
- References are not needed on a resumé for auditions. If an orchestra needs references, they’ll get back to you on that. (I know that San Francisco Symphony requested three letters of recommendation sent to them for the English horn audition.)
And a very good suggestion from Janet: for younger players who don’t have much to list yet: If an orchestra won’t even let you audition, look for the many ones that will accept tapes or will let anyone in, then try to advance.
The opera is over. Typical me; I’m now sort of sad and sorry it’s over. You sure wouldn’t have heard me say that this morning! I would have told you it was time to be done. Go figure.
I love working with my Opera San José pals, and I’ll miss them.
I did think this was a very good run. Maybe I’m hearing wrong, but I thought things went quite well. I enjoyed the singing I could hear (I can’t hear everything, due to where I’m sitting in the pit). I have been told it was visually great too (I can’t see anything at all). The oboe solos I had were the juicy sort that allow me to be expressive and take a bit of time. I hope I didn’t take TOO much time and that the conductors were okay with what I did. I was actually happy with my playing. (Don’t die of shock DK!) We rarely talk to our conductors, and I honestly never know what they think of my playing. I’m so insecure I worry that they aren’t happy. (But blogging here is like asking for compliments, as I know at least one conductor does occasionally read this blog. Ack! It’s a lose-lose situation, you know?)
So now I move on to a Chinese concert that takes place a week from today. And then? Then it’s lots of major English horn work with Symphony Silicon Valley. Gotta hunker down and make some reeds and practice, practice, practice!
