Customer Reviews:
 Robust Start for Advanced Beginners February 26, 2005
Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is an excellent beginning method book for students just taking up the oboe. It is especially good for students who have already had some experience with other instruments, since it progresses relatively quickly. Nevertheless, Gekeler does provide some introductory practice in musical notation, time signatures, and rhythms for students who have not studied music extensively before. There are exercises and short pieces in 4/4, 3/4 , cut time, 6/8 and 3/8, with whole notes through sixteenth notes, dotted eighth-sixteenth combinations, and syncopation. Key signatures are covered through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Basic fingerings are taught for notes from low B below the staff to high D above the staff. The alternate forked F fingering is also taught almost from the beginning, as well as an alternate fingering for D#. Dynamics and intonational cues appear throughout the text, but grace notes, trills, turns, and other fancy stuff are not introduced. Duets appear frequently amongst the study pieces; many are written such that the lower part requires slightly more advanced technique than the upper. In addition to technical exercises and etudes, there are short melodies by composers such as Hohman, Dancla, Czerny, and Schubert. Even on pages that are primarily devoted to introducing some new rhythmic pattern, there are always a few passages that the musically experienced beginner will find worthy of practice. Overall the book provides a varied and challenging introduction to the instrument. Methodical use of the book, together with daily practice, will enable rapid skill development.
Gekeler's Book is great June 23, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I found this method book to be quite efficient in increasing my ability to play the oboe at the beginning to intermediate level. It has great exercises to help oboists improve their intonation and of course, the more you practice, the more stamina you'll acquire. Great book
 Wish I had seen the real title August 21, 2009
K. Urban
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The title provided by Amazon did not distinguish that it was Book Two. I did not want the second book, but rather the first. It was misleading, and I didn't get the book I wanted. I'll drive to the music store next time, to make sure I get the one I want.
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