The Hite Site
An Oboist's Study Guide by Renee Higgins & David Hite
LEVEL 2

Completion of the goals in level one should instill a comfortable familiarity with the oboe. At the same time, enthusiasm to tackle more advanced skills with both the oboe and musical expression should develop. As muscle stamina develops, practice time should be increased to forty-five minutes a day. Listening to accomplished players will establish good tonal and musical standards. During individual practice sessions, self evaluation and correction - playing, listening, thinking, adjusting, then playing again - will lead to small improvements each day.

Practice in the recommended study materials will impart an understanding of scales and chords and will drill finger patterns so that new music can be performed more confidently and accurately. With the basic theoretical background outlined below, the student should begin to study music carefully before playing. As a result, more will be achieved during practice periods.

Technique basics
  • Refine finger motion and control.
  • Develop the ability to sustain long tones for ten seconds. Continue to improve tone quality.
  • Improve tongue and finger coordination. Always maintain clean articulation. Strive for control at faster speeds.
  • Continue to develop solid rhythmic concepts and control.
Theory basics
  • Know and perform major scales and tonic chords up to three sharps and three flats. Construct minor scales and minor tonic chords up to three sharps and three flats.
  • Aurally and visually recognize intervals up to a fifth.
  • Aurally identify major and minor triads.
  • Expand vocabulary of tempo and style terms.
Recommended study material for LEVEL 2
Andraud, Albert J.: Practical and Progressive Oboe Method

David Hite: Foundation Studies
Patterned after the method book by Carl Baermann, this volume contains scales, chords and interval studies for developing the fundamentals.. It serves as a lifelong daily study book which can be used to solve nearly every technical problem the oboist will encounter. “How to practice” routines and general advice sections are included.

David Hite: Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book 1
    Contents:
  • Demnitz 18 Expressive Studies (based on scales)
  • Demnitz 18 Expressive Studies (based on chords)
  • Nocentini 9 Melodic Studies
  • Baermann 14 Melodic Studies
  • Kayser 5 Progressive Studies, op. 20
  • Hite Major and Minor Scales
This popular study book contains musical, progressive style studies which extend to four sharps and four flats in major and minor keys, using basic time signatures, rhythms and articulations.

David Hite: Forty Progressive Melodies by A.M.R. Barret
    Contents:
  • Barret 40 Progressive Melodies
  • Dont 8 Progressive Exercises
  • Hite Scale studies
The Barret melodies are wonderful studies for melodic phrasing. They include an accompaniment for a second oboe to emphasize the development of rhythmic independence, intonation, and balance sensitivity and flexible tonal concepts. Later, these studies can be used as transposition exercises. The Dont exercises provide daily exercise for the tongue to build strength and agility. This book can be used with or following the Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book 1.

Recommended solos for LEVEL 2

FOR OBOE WITH PIANO

Mendelssohn-Zverov: Song Without Words
Telemann-Chidester: Andante and Presto
White, David A.: Episodes
Widor, Ch. M.: Pavane

OBOE DUETS AND TRIOS
Barret-Hite: Forty Progressive Melodies
McCarty, Evelyn : Oboe Duets and Trios
Study Guide:
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All contents copyright © 1997, Renee Higgins & David Hite    All rights reserved.
Revised: 4 February, 1998    URL: http://www.jdhite.com/study/oboe/level1.htm