Oboe Care Book

Too often, oboe students, teachers and even professional performers are afraid to do anything in the way of oboe maintenance. The purpose of this book is to help alleviate those fears. OboeCare is not meant as a repair manual, but as guidance for the daily maintenance of the instrument that every oboist should be able to do themselves.

Written in clear and easily understandable steps, with over 90 full-color pictures, Valarie Anderson explains how to do the fine adjustments to the oboe mechanism on a daily basis. Learning to do these basic adjustments is a critical component of oboe performance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CARE TIPS

• “Breaking-In” a New Oboe

ADJUSTING THE MECHANISM

• Equipment

• Disassembling the Upper Joint: The First Group of Keys

• Cleaning and Lubrication

• Reassembling the First Group of Keys

• Disassembling the Second Group of Keys

• The Octave Vents

• Reassembly of Second Key Group

• The Lower Joint

• Springs

WHY DID IT CRACK?

• Wood and Humidity

• The Effects of Humidity on Wood Instruments

• Tips to Avoid Cracking

• What to Do If It Cracks