Putting the “A” in Symphony
"When and why the oboe?" is usually the first question on these types of interviews. Often the answer is that the child was taken to a performance and heard a sound that he/she liked and it turned out to be the oboe. Sometimes there are musicians in the family and this direction is put forth as a possibility.
In my case none of the above had happened.
When I was in elementary school the music teachers for the school district happened to be my best friend’s parents. So, when we were in the 4th grade there was a call for anyone interested in learning to play an instrument to meet with the music teacher.
I did meet, and during the summer break a clarinet appeared at home. Studies on the clarinet began not long after that. Now, life in our family was far from harmonious. My brother and I were always looking for any excuse to be away from Mom and Dad, who were always arguing and taking out their frustrations on us. So before long I realized that when I was alone practicing the clarinet I could escape them for a while. There was really no ‘music' involved and certainly never any encouragement at home. It was just something to keep me busy, like batting rocks or playing ball, plus, at band rehearsals I could be with my friends and we were excused from class.
So this continued into junior high and to the first year of high school.
Once at Lowell High I learned that the following year (1970) the orchestra was going to go to Japan. So I asked if I could go too. Nope. We have enough clarinets. But we need an oboe. If you get a teacher and practice the oboe this summer, maybe you can come along. I did just that and went to Japan, which turned out to be a sort of turning point, because from then on the oboe was a serious endeavor. And the oboe is just that. A serious endeavor. It is utterly intolerant of neglect. We oboists make our own reeds, the little mouthpieces which produce vibration in the air we blow through the oboe.
Playing the oboe is one thing, but keeping yourself supplied with reeds is …. the rest of your life. No more batting rocks…now you’ve graduated to playing with very sharp knives and banging your head against the wall. The reeds don’t last long, and they way they respond and sound changes from day to day depending on the humidity, temperature, altitude, acoustics….damn near everything. The demands of each piece of music guide what is required for a reed to do. It has to DO more than merely SOUND good. It is common for a player to use several reeds during one performance. And to be making adjustments to them throughout the rehearsals.
When things are working well though, there is a feeling of freedom in the music that makes it all worthwhile. I spend about 20 hours a week on reeds. That’s separate from practicing.
Hobbies? Hah! Time with my 8-month old dachshund Gino is my main interest right now.
I’ve been a mushroomer in the past, though I don’t foray much anymore. I am not a bad cook, though, having lost 50+ pounds (on purpose), I have curtailed most cooking. Travel is high on my list of wants.
Now, I know this was a long read, but it’s not without an underlying message. And that is that you don’t have to have a musical background to enjoy or even pursue music (although it does help). There can even be serious obstacles in your path, but with enough determination you can get past them.
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Bennie will be performing in our upcoming Spotlight on the Symphony Recital - Woodwinds in Winter - on Sunday Jan. 12, 2020 at Cabrillo College’s Samper Recital Hall at 2pm. Tickets at CabrilloVAPA.com.