Page 13 - 2018-BMR-September

Beginning Oboe: Fundamentals for Your Future Oboists

High D has several options, as a beginner it is best to stick with one. As the player advances, switching to a fingering
that is more stable with accurate tuning is best.

General Pedagogy Book Full High D Full High D Opt. 1 Full High D Opt. 2 Full High D NO Half-Hole
Fingering - tendency is
quite sharp

High D#/Eb and E

High D#/Eb - LH Pinky is High E LH High E RH High E Combo - Not High E Short - Used
most commonly on the • Use in the F Major scale • Use in Chromatic Scale often utilized! Use as in fast passages and
wrong key! Attributes • Use when approaching • Use when approaching a last resort! pinky changes
to pitch issues. or descending to a C#/Db or descending to a D#/Eb

Oboe is not an easy instrument to teach or learn. Therefore, be patient and willing to go slow. The goal is to prevent

bad habits that students will need to overcome later in their playing.

Serena Finnigan is a middle school band director in Central Texas and recently joined the faculty at Wiley Middle School in Leander ISD. Mrs.
Finnigan’s teaching responsibilities include teaching the Symphonic Band, Beginning Double Reeds, Flute, Euphonium and assists with the Wind Ensemble
and Concert Bands. In addition to teaching, she coordinates the woodwind curriculum for the Rouse HS Band Cluster, sixth through twelfth grade. Mrs.
Finnigan holds a Master’s degree in Oboe Performance from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas, Austin and a Bachelor’s degree in Music
Education and Oboe Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She began her teaching career as a private lesson instructor in
the Austin area during her time at the University of Texas, Austin and then continued teaching after moving to Guadalajara, Mexico. While in Mexico
she was the oboe professor at the Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco and also taught elementary music and middle school band at the International
American School Foundation of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Once returning from Mexico, Mrs. Finnigan taught at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville
as the adjunct professor of oboe. Wanting to be closer to her husband she decided to stay in Austin and began her Texas teaching career in Austin ISD.
Most recently she taught at Canyon Vista Middle School in Round Rock ISD. Mrs. Finnigan is a current member of the TMEA, TBA, International Double
Reed Society and alumni of Sigma Alpha Iota, Sigma A Province. She also just completed her 13th year as second oboist in the Corpus Christi Symphony.

Bandmasters Review • September 2018 11 Texas Bandmasters Association