Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yay another oboist!!! Im actually an oboe major!! biggrin

Ok... the stressfulness is normal, and probably wont go away for quite sometime. I've been playing for 6 years and I still get that way every once in a while.

My biggest suggestion is that if your really going to play oboe and take it seriously you need to get a private teacher asap if one's available around you. They will be able to help you unlike anyone else can.
====================

When it comes to oboe, the reeds play the biggest role. If your reed is not what it should be you might as well hang it up, and it dosnt take much to throw it out of whack. What kind of reed are you playing on? (If you know) If your playing on a "medium" or a "hard" reed you need to put it down, it wont work for you right now. Early beginners should be playing on a soft reed right at first. So make sure thats what you've got. Soft reeds make it easier to make noise out of. The tone isnt so pretty on soft reeds, but their good for learning. The brand dosnt matter so much, its really more of a preference. Try a couple different brands to see if you have an easier time with one over the other. That depends more on the person.

Also, when your picking out a reed, look at each one. Dont just buy one without looking at it. Make sure its not cracked. Make sure it looks symmetrical and nothing strange is going on. The opening should'nt be too closed or you'll have trouble getting air through. Having a good reed means everything to an oboist.
====================

As far as getting the notes out. It could very well be the reed your using. I cant see it so I dont know. Its also that your embouchure just isnt developed yet. The oboe uses a lot of muscles in the face, and it takes a long time to develop a good embouchure. It took me years.

Also endurence is very important on oboe. When I first started on oboe, the only thing I did was literally walk around and play long tones until they sounded like they should in the recordings I was listening to. I remember nearly passing out one day. I was walking around just playing long notes and I actually got dizzy and fell over. Its going to be normal to feel dizzy and to get those quick 5 second pounding headaches but it'll go away eventually.

My advice to you is to focus on long tones until you can get notes out much easier. Oboe can be frustrating instrument to start on because of this. Breathing comes with endurence. Also try to open your mouth a little more, lower your jaw. Use your diaphram to blow, not just the little air thats left in your lungs. It might help with the constricting feeling. Also, try and relax as much as possible. Time, long tones, and practice will be the best cure for this though. (And checking up on your reed)
===============================

Keep in mind in the Guiness book of world records, the oboe (alongside with the french horn) is considered the hardest instrument in the world to play. So your not going to get it overnight. This is going to take time to build up the strength it takes to play oboe. And your practice should consist of getting notes out right now. I seriously recommend you get a private teacher though.

That said, the oboe is an extremely rewarding instrument if you can play it at even a fairly good level. You will be very much in demand, and even treated a little special at times. wink

Good Luck

Oh, I forgot to ask.. You are soaking your reed in water before you play right? You definately need to do that for a couple min. Dont soak it too long because it will get water logged (you'll notice when it is), but you dont want to play on it while its dried out, it wont work either.

Also one of the reasons we soak our reeds in water instead of in our mouths is because spit actually deteriorates the reed and they dont last as long. Though your mouth works in an emergency, water is better for them. (I actually use distilled water)

So if you havn't already go get a little cup with a lid you can carry to school and soak the cane part of your reed in just before you start to play. If you cant find one you can probably order one off a double reed site online.

Good, im glad you found the advice helpful. How did your exam go? Have you gotten a private teacher if I may ask?

Now that you've been playing for a little while I want to add that another good practice routine to do on oboe is tounguing. Its hard to tounge fast for most people on oboe. Its a million times harder for most to double tounge on the oboe, but it is possible. I recommend practicing getting your single tounging faster and more acurate (Most importantly right now), and also on the side, work on learning to double toungue (you'll need it in the future with harder and faster songs).

Oh and when you practice your long tones start incorporating dynamics if you havn't. For example start loud and then go softer and softer until you fade out into nothing, and vice-versa. Do this as controlled as possible, and well... do it untill you get better at it. It takes a lot of breath endurence to do this. Its simply muscles and strength you have to build to do it right.

Think of doing these little practices as a workout for your muscles in your face, diaphram, lungs and even your mind. Thats why even the professionals still do these "workouts". Its not something you learn and then quit doing. You, me, and even the best of the best, have to continue to "work out" to keep up our strength.