A.Dip (Vancouver Academy of Music)
B.Mus (University of British Columbia)
Diploma in Music (Kwantlen)
Elizabeth Brown is an oboist, flautist and gardener. Born and raised in Powell River, British Columbia, she holds a Bachelor of Music from UBC and an Artist Diploma from the Vancouver Academy of Music. She seeks out exciting music to play wherever and whenever she can.
Elizabeth enjoys teaching because of the fresh perspective students often bring to her own playing. She feels that learning music should be an enjoyable and enriching experience led by the student’s own goals and dreams.
Get to know Beth…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Sailing, gardening, skiing, canoeing
Musical influences: The Ocean, Beth Orson, Albrecht Mayer, Bjork
Favourite food: sweet & sour meatballs
Least favourite food: Brussel sprouts. ew.
Favourite music: currently K.Flay
Favourite song: Possibly Maybe – Bjork
Favourite movie: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring
Favourite movie music: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Favourite musical theatre/opera: The Threepenny Opera – Kurt Weill
Best quote from your teacher: “What makes me happy as an oboist is not necessarily what will make you happy.”
Favourite quote:
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
? Frank Herbert, Dune
Favourite book: Dreams underfoot – Charles de Lint
Latest Homework from Beth
Is Beth Your Teacher?
Sign up now to get your weekly assignments delivered, and never lose your homework sheet again!
September 1, 2020
Cooper
Good work this summer! You’ve made a lot of progress, and when you keep your air support going your tone is very nice. You are developing a very good musical ear, which may make it frustrating sometimes as you’re learning and you want things to sound better than you can currently play them, but it will be very advantageous in the future. I look forward to working with you in the fall once your schedule is figured out!
General Technique reminders:
- Air support! Keep your air moving fast, and try to use the embouchure to control as little as possible; this will allow you to play for longer without getting tired
- Breathing: To increase your lung capacity do the following every morning (or when you remember)
- breathe in as much air as you can
- take in a little more air
- hold it for 5 seconds\
- breathe it out in a steady stream (the same speed you would use to play the oboe) for as long as you can – try for 10 seconds then 20…30…40 a minute??
- Repeat up to 5 times
- Posture: Remind yourself to sit or stand tall, and bring the oboe to you. Allow the oboe to be at around a 45 degree angle from your body, not straight down.
- Practice with a metronome! Take the tempo DOWN when you make a mistake
- Practice with a drone on the tonic (first note of the scale) when you play scales to help your tuning
- Check your scales and pieces with a tuner to see if your tuning is correct
- keep working on your low C land B!
Barret
Work No.1 a little more if you like, with a metronome, or move on to the second melody if you want to. If you want a challenge, try reading the bass clef lower line on the oboe! (You’ll have to also move it up several octaves)
Preferred Books for Beth’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
Gekeler Method
The material in the Gekeler Method for Oboe is divided in two parts. The studies in Part I are for the purpose of developing musical style and interpretation; those in Part II are for the study of scales and intervals, and for improvement of articulation.
Gekeler Method
(See notes for book One)
80 Graded Studies
80 Graded Studies for Oboe is two books that bring together a broad selection of repertoire in a variety of styles. The studies are arranged in order of increasing difficulty, according to a carefully planned technical progression.
The Really Easy Oboe Book
Song book including: March of the Ducks * Daydreaming * Holiday Trot * The Brook * Mellifluous Minuet * Nocturne * Spring Song * Elizabethan Lament * The Barrel Organ * Siciliana * Dance of the Scarecrows * Ballad * Jovial Jig * Berceuse * Children’s Waltz * Wistful Waltz * Chrismtas Song * Comedy * A Winter’s Tale * Country Dance.
Oboe Music to Enjoy
Firs Book of Oboe Solos
First Book of Oboe Solos is the oboe solo part separate from the complete score of the First Book Of Oboe Solos (0571503721) that contains piano accompaniment. This book is a collection with the true beginner in mind, arranged and edited by Janet Craxton and Alan Richardson, introducing oboe players to an unusually wide range of music. All 26 pieces have been chosen to encourage attention to the basic technical aspects of oboe playing, and are organised in approximate order of increasing technical difficulty. The book helps young students take account of both technical and musical considerations from the very beginning.