Fredric T Cohen, oboe
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Syllabus for Oboe Study
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MUSAPP 116, 117, 217, 218, 218, 318-13, 417, 418, 516, 517,618
  • Academic Year, 2021-22
  • Fredric T Cohen, Professor
  • ftc@umass.edu
  • ​http://www.fredrictcohen.net
  • Auditions
  • http://www.umass.edu/music/ensembles_wind.php
  • Auditions for band/orchestra seating and placement will be held during the first week of classes. These auditions are intended for players who are interested in both band and orchestra, or who aren’t sure. You will play only the excerpts provided in the order given. It is not necessary to prepare anything else.

In order to be a member of the oboe studio, you are required to play in a major ensemble. Auditions for ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester.

  • Audition music will be sent to you, be picked up in the Music Department office, or found at the ensembles web page -
http://www.umass.edu/music/ensembles_wind.php

Lessons will officially begin during the second week of classes – the week of September 9th. 9th. In order to schedule your lesson time, I will send out a Doodle poll but you need to bring me a schedule of your classes on Thursday September 2nd at the first studio class. Blank forms are available in the Music Department office. Take one, fill it out, and bring it to studio class. Please don’t just mark X’s where you have classes; indicate what the class is and its location. Also be sure to indicate times of other regularly occurring events: work, extra curricular activities, etc. Each student receives one 50 minute lesson per week. If there is a cancellation, it must be made known 24 hours before or it will not be made up. If you are not able to come at the agreed upon time, lessons will be made available at our mutual convenience. Due to my performing schedule at certain times of the year, it may be necessary to miss a week, however, it will be made up at the end of the semester. We will also schedule a reed making class on that Thursday.



A reed making class will be offered each week. . We will schedule the reed making class at the first studio class on Thursday September 2nd.. Please purchase the web book "Making Oboe Reeds"as the text for the reed class.

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Oboe pedagogy material will be interspersed throughout the year. It will be a survey of oboe techniques and printed material that you will need in order to be a thorough teacher.


The 11:15 hour on Tuesday is set aside for department recital. DO NOT sign up for any classes during this time. The Department of Music will block registration during this hour, but other departments may not, so be careful. All students are required to attend this recital hour.



Attendance and Grading Policies
Students must attend all studio classes and area recitals as part of their oboe studio requirement. New undergraduates should familiarize themselves with the concert attendance policy. This can block graduation if not adhered to.

There is a weekly oboe studio class every Thursday at 1:10 -2:15 pm. The class location will be announced as soon as possible. Plan to have the first meeting on Thursday September 6th. Attendance is required and subject to the rules listed below.

Attendance at all student, faculty, and guest oboe performances is required. A detailed schedule listing all required events will be made available as early as possible during each semester. If you have an unavoidable conflict with a required event, you can get credit by attending the dress rehearsal.

  • Unexcused absence from three or more required events during a semester will lower your semester grade by one full letter. The attendance requirement includes area recitals, studio classes, and all required events announced during the semester.

  • I will be happy to discuss your grade at any time.

Each lesson will receive a grade.

  • A grade of “A” is given for outstanding effort reflected by outstanding performance. A grade of

  • “B” is given for good effort and performance, and should be regarded as describing normal progress.

  • A grade of “C” is given when there are problems or areas of concern, and should be regarded as unsatisfactory.

  • “D” and “E” are failing grades and should never occur.

  • A studio class performance will be graded also, counting as one lesson grade.

  • All students are required to perform in at least two studio classes each semester; a sign-up sheet will be provided at the beginning of the semester.

  • An unexcused absence from a lesson will receive a grade of “E” for that lesson.

  • At your private lesson, the previous week’s assignments will be reviewed. Reed making and finishing reeds will be done at the end of the lesson.

  • Do not come to the lesson without a reed that works.

  • Lessons will follow this sequence:
  • Warm-ups, scales, technique exercises, etude, solo piece, music you are currently performing in ensemble or orchestra, and reed making.
  • Always call in advance if you are ill or have a problem making your lesson.