Oboe competitions are places where serious oboists can show off their skills in exchange for a cash prize, a scholarship, or a formal performance job. Preparing for these competitions entails looking over the rules and selecting and preparing music that adheres to them. It also entails going over the music step step and preparing both the instrument and the performer’s body.
First, read through the competition’s rules. Oboe competitions frequently have their own set of rules regarding technical requirements, duration, and number of pieces. Some have strict rules about what to wear, how to apply, and even how to address the judges. Failure to follow each rule could result in disqualification, which would be a huge letdown for a performer with significant talent and ambition.
After that, choose music with care. The competition board for some oboe competitions publishes a repertoire list from which players must choose their pieces. Play through some of the more difficult passages in the works to see which ones could be developed further. Technical works for oboe competitions are ideal, as they allow for incredible musical expression.
Develop a regular practice schedule and methodology after you’ve chosen your music. Warm up with the longer, more sustained legato passages in the work, for example, before moving on to the more technical passages. Find the most practical and productive time of day to practice. Use a variety of practice techniques, such as running through the piece on the reed or just fingerings, working from the end to the beginning, and grouping beat pitches in various ways. Finally, play through each piece without pausing and rehearse the pieces in performance to familiarize yourself with the performance flow.
The next step in oboe competition preparation is to memorize the pieces as much as possible, including the accompaniment, which has two benefits. To begin with, memorizing the music allows the oboist to play on “autopilot.” This should not affect the oboist’s level of technique or musicality. In fact, the oboist should experience the opposite because he or she is more mentally and emotionally connected to the music. Second, memorization allows the oboist to recover quickly if something goes wrong during the performance.
Listen to as many recordings as possible of the chosen repertoire. This reveals the various ways in which the same work can be interpreted, allowing the oboist to consider how he can incorporate the best of all performances into his own playing. It also establishes standards for things like tempo, ensuring that the oboist’s rendition of the piece is consistent with what the composer most likely intended. Listen to the competition pieces while going over all of the fingerings, pitch, breath control, and embouchure considerations in your head.
Oboe competition success or failure is sometimes determined the technical aspects of the instrument. As needed, adjust the oboe for optimal facility. Adjustment tools should be kept in the oboe case in case minor adjustments are required due to changes in humidity and temperature in the performance venue. Make a lot of reeds and alternate them during rehearsal so you can manipulate the competition piece even if the reeds are different. Select a few reeds a few days before the competition on which you can achieve the best control and tone for the works.
Nerves are a major issue for oboists competing in oboe competitions. Although an oboist may not be able to remain completely calm during competition, he can reduce his anxiety performing the competition program in front of several audiences before the competition. This allows the oboist to perform the works under a little more pressure and receive feedback from the audience.
Playing the oboe is a physically demanding instrument, as the oboist must expend a lot of energy to achieve the right tone and complete passages with proper technique. This means that staying in shape is an important part of preparing for oboe competitions. Being physically fit, getting plenty of rest, and eating well can help you play better increasing your alertness, stamina, and lung capacity.
Perform a final check of music, reeds, the assigned performance time, and tools like swabs and cigarette paper when you’re ready to compete in oboe competitions. Listening to other performers can sometimes increase anxiety and self-doubt, so it’s best to avoid it. Don’t worry about what others are playing; it’s too late to make any major repertoire, tone, or technique changes the performance date. Perform a “spot check” of the pieces in the actual room where the performance will take place to get a sense of the acoustics before the competition.