Oboe Pages and Resources

An excellent beginning method that concentrates more on rhythm and a wider variety of music(often famous melodies, but moves more slowly than Gekeler. Has an excellent fingering chart for c4-c6.

Gekeler, K. Gekeler Method for Oboe, Bk.1 (Belwin Mills)

A good beginning method for young oboists. Covers many of the idiomatic problems of the oboe. Fingering chart is poor.

Beginning Technical Exercises:

Pares, Gabriel. Pares Scales. (Rubank)

An excellent beginning technique book.

Intermediate Methods:

Gekeler, K. Gekeler Method for Oboe, Bk.2 (Belwin Mills)

A logical choice after Bk.1. Contains the forty progressive melodies of Barret.

Barret, A.M. A Complete Oboe Method. (1862)(Boosey and Hawkes)(also new edition ed. Martin Schuring).

A comprehensive etude book that can be used from an intermediate to a very advanced level. Especially good for teaching phrasing and style, particularly nineteenth century operatic style. Very frequently used.

Small, J.L. 27 Melodius and Rhythmical Exercises (Carl Fischer)

Good intermediate study book.

Gates, Everett. Odd Meter Etudes (Sam Fox)

Good rhythmic study book.

Sellner, Joseph. Mèthode pour hautbois ou saxophone, Bk.2(Costallat)

An excellent collection of short etudes for practicing articulation, phrasing and technique.

Intermediate Technical Exercises:

Snavely, Jack. Basic Technique for All Saxophones. ( Kendor Music)

An excellent intermediate technique book.

Advanced Methods:

Cailliéret. Fifteen Studies for Oboe or Saxophone. (Leduc)

Excellent studies for learning the baroque style.

Telemann. Twelve Methodical Studies. (Barenreiter)

Excellent studies for teaching ornamentation.

Devienne/Pierlot. Six Sonatas pour Hautbois Seul (Billaudot)

Excellent studies for learning the classical style.

Ferling, Franz W. 48 Etudes for the oboe or saxophone (1860?) (Southern Music)

A fast and slow etude in each of 24 keys. Excellent for musical and technical problems. Very commonly used. Excellent for learning the romantic style.

Bozza, Eugene. Fourteen Studies in Karnatic Modes (Alphonse Leduc)

Technically and mentally very challenging and quite modern.

Luttman, Reinhard. 21 Dodecaphonic Etudes.

Difficult. Employing "modern techniques”.

Advanced Technical Exercises:

Hite, David. Foundation Studies. (Southern Music Company)

An excellent technique book, employing scales, chords, etc.

Andraud, Albert. Vade-Mecum of the Oboist. (Southern Music Company)

Many good technical exercises and studies. Excerpts are included, but are not always accurate.

Reedmaking and Repair

Light, Jay. The Oboe Reed Book.M (Des Moines, Iowa: Drake University, 1983)

Easy reading, and very informative. A good book to start with.

Weber, David and Ferald Capps. The Reed Maker's Manual and Video (P.O. box 15024. Phoenix, AZ 85050)

More detailed than the Light book. Nice format, good photographs, lots of information.

Ledet, David. Oboe Reed Styles: Theory and Practise. (Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1981)

Interesting pictures and discussion. For the advanced reed maker.

Sawicki, Carl. The Oboe Revealed. ( Delhi, NY:Carl Sawicki, 1988)

A very useful source containing information about repair and maintenance.

Light, Jay. Essays for Oboists. (Alborada Publications, Des Moines, IA, 1994)

Interesting and useful essays on many aspects of oboe playing.

Fredonia's Oboe Studio

Oboe Resources