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Writer's pictureErin Brophey

Improving Oboe Intonation

Hello, fellow oboists! I'm excited to share with you some valuable tips that can help you improve your intonation. My name is Erin Brophey, and I’m the Principal Oboe player of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as well as a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan. Today, I’m here to guide you through three essential tips to help you navigate the sometimes tricky world of intonation on the oboe.


Understanding Intonation as an Oboist

As oboists, we often find ourselves in the spotlight when it comes to tuning the orchestra. It’s easy to think that once the tuning ritual is over, our job is done. But in reality, intonation is a shared responsibility within the ensemble. We need to be able to adjust our pitch to blend seamlessly with others, and it’s not always as simple as adjusting your reed. So how do we achieve this? Let’s dive into the tips.


Why I’m Passionate About Sharing This Information

Before we get into the specifics, I want to share a bit about why I’m so passionate about these presentations. Growing up in a remote area of Northern Ontario, Canada, I didn’t have access to the resources that many musicians take for granted today. I struggled with an unreliable instrument, poorly made reeds, and no guidance from other oboists. There were times when I felt like giving up because I just didn’t sound the way I knew an oboist should.


This experience has fueled my desire to share good information with others so they don’t have to face the same struggles I did. Fast forward 20+ years of teaching and performing, and I’ve learned that my journey didn’t need to be that difficult. Today, with the power of the internet, I’m committed to making high-quality oboe instruction accessible to everyone.


I’m also the director of a program called "The Oboe Path," an online platform that combines group masterclasses, personalized plans, and one-on-one feedback to help oboists play with joy and ease. It’s all about breaking down the steps to make oboe playing more enjoyable and less frustrating.


Tip 1: Shift Your Mindset


When it comes to intonation, the first step is a mindset shift. Whether you’re working with a youth orchestra or performing in a professional ensemble, it’s important to understand that intonation is a shared responsibility. If a chord or interval sounds out of tune, it’s not about who’s right or wrong; it’s about finding where the other person is and adjusting accordingly. Intonation isn’t about being perfect on your own; it’s about collaborating and making music together.


Tip 2: Develop Flexibility in Your Embouchure


One of the biggest challenges we face as oboists is the ever-changing nature of reeds. A reed that played perfectly in tune yesterday might behave completely differently today due to factors like age, temperature, or even your own fatigue. This is where the flexibility of your embouchure becomes crucial. Your embouchure needs to be adaptable, allowing you to move around the reed and control your pitch as needed.


Notice that while the basic shape of my embouchure stays consistent—chin down, corners of the mouth in—I’m able to adjust as necessary depending on where I need to fit within the ensemble. Building this flexibility into your embouchure allows you to use your ear as a feedback loop and make real-time adjustments to your intonation.


Tip 3: Incorporate Intonation Practice into Your Daily Routine


Consistency is key when it comes to improving intonation. Our bodies, reeds, and oboes might be unpredictable, but our reference pitch or drones remain constant. I find it incredibly beneficial to practice with a drone every day to remind myself of where my pitch should sit. This daily practice not only reinforces good intonation habits but also prepares you for rehearsals so you can play confidently and in tune with your colleagues.


For example, I might play a simple F major scale against an F drone to help solidify my sense of pitch.

This is just one way to incorporate intonation practice into your daily routine. Of course, these tips are fairly general since I don’t know exactly where you are in your oboe journey. If you’re interested in more personalized guidance, I’m offering a free call where we can chat about your specific situation. 


I hope these tips help you become the oboist that everyone wants to play with—someone who plays with joy, ease, and impeccable intonation. Take care, and happy practicing!






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