Getting students started playing oboe can be a daunting task, but isn’t as hard as one might think. Oboist and studio teacher Alli Gessner will demonstrate how to teach the most important concepts to get new oboe students playing quickly and confidently.
This participatory clinic will cover embouchure, reeds, hand position, and sound production. Attendees are invited to bring their own reed (and oboe) if they wish to participate. A few reeds and oboes will be available for a limited number of attendees to use as “students” to demonstrate the techniques firsthand. Reed soaking cups and digital handouts will be provided.
Target Audience
Middle and High School Band Directors, or those who need to start oboists
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Alli Gessner
Performer and teacher Alli Gessner specializes in oboe and English horn. She maintains an active teaching schedule of students aged 8 to adult, and her students are her inspiration for her Oboe Auntie videos on social media. Alli launched her first online course “Switching to Oboe” in 2022. Switching to Oboe takes over a decade of experience helping students start playing oboe to an online format. Alli is also on faculty at West Valley College.
Since her move to San Jose in 2017, she’s performed with many Bay Area groups including the Berkeley Symphony, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Sacramento Symphony, and One Found Sound ensemble. Alli holds an M.M. from DePaul University where she studied with Jelena Dirks and Eugene Izotov. When not playing or teaching the oboe, Alli enjoys yoga, hiking, fiber arts, and watching or reading science fiction. www.OboeAlli.com @OboeAlli