Oboe teaching

Alongside my work as a performing musician, I thoroughly enjoy teaching oboe to both children and adults, from curious beginners to more advanced players. Whether you’re picking up the oboe for the first time or have been playing for years, I’m happy to support you in your musical development. In lessons, we work on building a solid technical foundation, with plenty of attention to breathing and breath support, essential to really make the oboe sing. There’s also lots of room for musical expression, exploring repertoire, and above all: enjoying the process of playing.

An essential part of playing the oboe is the reed. An oboe reed is a double reed, made from two thin blades of cane that are carefully tied onto a staple with thread. This reed is then precisely scraped and adjusted to suit the player — and it has a huge influence on tone, sound, and ease of playing. While beginners can start with store-bought reeds, it becomes increasingly important to learn how to make and customize them yourself as you progress. After all, what makes a reed “play well” is highly personal! That’s why I also offer reed-making workshops, where you learn step by step how to craft a well-functioning reed — from the basics to the fine details.

I teach from my private studio at home in Leiden, and I’m also affiliated as an oboe teacher with the BplusC music school in the city.

Would you like to know more or schedule a trial lesson? Feel free to get in touch via the contact for, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!