Spring 2015

UWSP OBOE BULLETIN TEACHING ARTISTS, TRANSFORMING LIVES.

Double Reed Ensemble at Camp COFAC 2014

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The oboe studio is part of the outstanding Department of Music at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Oboists can pursue degrees in music, music performance and music education. Many music students are even double majors outside of music! A new opportunity is an Instrumental Performance Certificate for intensive music performance studies as a non-major.

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If you are considering UWSP, come for a day on campus and attend classes and rehearsals, get a lesson with Prof. Berk and meet students already in the program. This is the best way to see if UWSP is the right place for you.

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Summertime is a great time to recharge your oboe batteries and to rethink your playing habits. When there’s not assigned music from your band or orchestra ensemble it can be easy to slip into a no-practice mode. Instead, this is a time when you can play music that YOU want to play! Get a book of any kind of music (oboe, classical, pop, jazz, whatever)

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and sight-read and practice as much as you can. Piano songbooks work great, as treble clef vocal ranges typically fit nicely into oboe range. Or play recordings of your favorite music and improvise along with it. Can you pick out the melody on your oboe? What about making up a harmony part to go along? If you’re interested in what you’re playing it’ll go a

Oboe in the Summer

Opportunities

Music Camp

Free Lesson

Register now for UWSP’s Camp COFAC – an oboe camp and band camp combined. We’ll make reeds, play oboe ensembles and more! For more information, visit

http://www.uwsp.edu/cofac/FineArtsCamp

Come check out UW-Stevens Point and get a free oboe lesson! You’re welcome to spend an hour or a day, visiting the school and Music Department.

Put February 13, 2016 on your calendars for UWSP Oboe Day/Woodwind Day. It’s like a mini-camp, as we’ll have master classes, work on reeds and play ensembles.

Auditions are required for all incoming music majors and minors prior to admission to the Department of Music. Dates for admission and scholarship consideration for Fall 2016 are: February 27, 2016 March 12, 2016

Oboe Day

Auditions

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long way toward encouraging you to play throughout the summer.

As you play, spend some time each day thinking about HOW you play. Are your fingers as soft and relaxed as they can be? Is your jaw dropped and mouth in an “O” shape? This will help your tone be rounder and help the reed work better. Is your posture tall but relaxed? Is your air supported with your lower abdominal muscles?

In addition to thinking about the physical aspects of playing, also think about the musical aspect of playing, which is just as important. Are you leaning into the most important notes in each phrase? Are you getting as much contrast in dynamics as you can?

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If your favorite singer were to sing this line, how would they do it? Emulate that kind of expression and you’ll go a long way toward making the music more interesting for yourself and for the audience!

Finally, listen to as much great music as you can, especially oboe, but also other instruments and styles. Some of my favorite oboists are: Diana Doherty, Allen Vogel, Hansjörg Schellenberger, Eugene Izotov, Alex Klein and François Leleux. Some of them even have master classes and lessons on YouTube that you can be inspired by.

So don’t let the lazy summer days get in the way of advancing on the oboe. Let it recharge your love of music and music making!

Oboe in the Summer (continued)

Online Events Calendar

The College of Fine Arts & Communication is a vibrant college with events to attend

almost daily during the school year! For information about current events, LIKE us on

Facebook or visit our web page at www.uwsp.edu/cofac to view

the schedule of events.

Stacey Berk Professor of Oboe stacey.berk@uwsp.edu 715-256-1526 UW-Stevens Point Department of Music Noel Fine Arts Center 1800 Portage Street Stevens Point, WI 54481 www.uwsp.edu/music

Why study music at UWSP?

UWSP Oboists having fun backstage on tour with the UWSP Wind Ensemble

22:1 student to faculty ratio

100% graduates hired or enrolled in graduate school within one year of graduating

Multiple large ensemble and chamber music opportunities for students

Personal attention in a supportive environment with high expectations

I appreciate hearing from you! Please call or email.