Recommended Advanced Oboe Method Books

Advanced Oboe Method Books
(appropriate for advanced high school and University-level study)

1. Barret Oboe Method (published by Boosey & Hawkes): the definitive oboe method book for serious high school and college students. Note that the new Barret Oboe Method edited by Martin Schuring is more clear to read and is spiral bound (how convenient!), but this new edition does eliminate the scale exercises at the beginning of the traditional Barret Oboe Method.

2. Ferling 48 Famous Studies (published by Southern): early college-level technical and musical etudes. The “1st Oboe” book contains the 48 studies and and the first oboe parts to the duets and trio. The other chamber music parts are available in the separate “2nd Oboe” book.

3. Vade Mecum of the Oboist by Andraud (published by Southern): includes orchestral excerpts and etudes, appropriate for high school and college students. I also really appreciate using many of the technical and musical etudes for English horn studies.

   

4. Melodious Etudes for Oboe of Marco Bordogni (published by Carl Fischer).
   This book of vocalese exercises (for singers) written by the famous vocal instructor Marco Bordogni, has been beautifully transcribed for oboists. These etudes are expressive, similar to the Progressive Etudes by Barret. A very good – and inexpensive – book to teach phrasing and musicality, as well as technical skills. This is a terrific book for intermediate and advanced high school
   students, as well as college students. The exercises also work well for English horn!
   
   
5. Scales and Arpeggios for Oboe Grades 1-8 by Ian Denley (published by ABRSM/Boosey). It is important to note that the “grades” listed on the book title do not refer to U.S. grades 1 through 8, but instead reference the level for Accredidation Exams conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. This book contains scales (major, minor, whole tone), arpeggios, and scales in thirds (i.e. broken thirds). The range goes up to G6 (G above the staff).
   

There are several excellent etude books and excerpt books available for advanced students, including several etude books by Gillet and orchestral excerpt books by Rothwell and Ferrillo.

Recommended Intermediate Oboe Method Books

Early Intermediate Methods
(appropriate for students with 1-3 years of study):

Rubank Intermediate Oboe Method: a good transitional book for students who need further technical development before progressing to highly technical etudes and/or etudes which focus on melodic expression. This book is an excellent second book after finishing the “Rubank Elementary Method”.


Upper Level Intermediate Methods
(appropriate for students with over 2 years of study):

1. Rubank Advanced Oboe Method – Book one: somewhat technical in nature, also includes many duets
2. Rubank Advanced Oboe Method – Book two: more technically demanding than Advanced Book one, includes duets
3. Gekeler Oboe Method – Book Two (published by Belwin/Warner): melodic Barret studies plus demanding technical scale based studies that range up to F6 (i.e. the high F that is an octave above the top line of the treble clef staff)
4. Salviani Oboe Etudes, volume 2 (published by Ricordi): scale based exercises to improve technical facility, good for both intermediate and advanced students
5. Practical and Progressive by Andraud (published by Southern): a large book containing both melodic and technical studies
6. Scales and Arpeggios for Oboe grades 1-8 by Denley (published by ABRSM/Boosey): a book of scales, arpeggios, and broken thirds in all forms (major, minor, and whole tone), good for intermediate and advanced students
7. Melodious Etudes for Oboe by Marco Bordogni (published by Carl Fischer): lyrical etudes that are of great value for teaching phrasing and musicality, good for both intermediate and advanced students.

The Gekeler Oboe Method Book Two includes the 40 Progressive Melodic Studies from the Barret Oboe Method, but does not include the bass line. The back section of Gekeler Oboe Method Book two contains challenging technical exercises to balance the melodic studies. This may be a more appropriate way for a student to work on high-school level melodic and technical studies without purchasing the more expensive Barret method.

The Barret melodic studies are also available in a book by David Hite called Forty Progressive Studies published by Southern. This book has transposed the bass line so that a teacher can play with the student in duet without having to transpose from bass clef. Additionally, this book includes several studies by Dont and by Hite.

This should not be confused with Hite’s other excellent method books titled Melodious and Progressive Studies volumes 1 and 2, which contain etudes by a variety of composers.

For serious advanced students, purchasing the Barret Oboe Method is advised. A newly revised version of the Barret Oboe Method is available, edited by Martin Schuring (see photo at right). While the Schuring edition does not include the scale etudes at the beginning of the Barret, it is a much clearer edition to read and is spiral bound to lay flat.

Recommended Beginner Oboe Method Books

Oboe Method Books appropriate for Beginner level:

1. Gekeler Method for Oboe – Book One published by Belwin/Warner. Note that this is book has a white cover, and shouldn’t be confused with the older “Belwin Oboe Method by Kenneth Gekeler†.
   The Gekeler Method for Oboe – Book One is an excellent book for either the young or adult beginner. It is also very useful for students who have played the oboe for a couple of years but need to work on developing better fundamental technique. The exercises range from beginner level through the intermediate level, with short exercises, more challenging longer pieces, scales and fingering challenges, and duets at every stage of the book.
   I personally alter some of the confusing text in the first few pages of the book (for example: I cross out the suggestion to keep the lips “drawn back in a smiling position”, changing it to say “tucked in but with the corners forward”).
   This is my favorite method book for the first 1-3 years of study, depending on the amount of supplemental material given to students (I personally assign solos and other technical exercises in addition to this book).
2. Rubank Elementary Oboe Method: a good book for young beginner oboists, although many instructors prefer the format and organization of the Gekeler method book one to the Rubank. As the content and tone is geared toward very young students, and it does not progress as far technically and musically as the Gekeler Method volume 1, I don’t tend to use this book very often in my studio. When I have used it in the past (for example: when a student transfers into my studio and already owns the book), I tend to use it for only the first year to eighteen months of study, always supplemented with additional technical and melodic materials.