Basic Oboe Courses
Oboe Courses for Children and Adolescents
The oboe course at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole introduces children and adolescents (even those without prior experience) to the expressive possibilities of this evocative instrument, known for its sweet and refined sound. The oboe is valued not only in solo repertoire but also in chamber music, bands and orchestras.
The distinctive expressiveness of the oboe’s tone comes from the vibration of a double reed, which channels air through the instrument’s conical body, which is typically made of wood.
At the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, oboe lessons are offered in small group settings or as individual sessions. True to the school’s educational philosophy, students start learning to play with others from the very beginning in collective courses like the S-bandiamo! ensemble and in chamber groups.
While the pre-academic oboe course includes assessment exams for each of its three levels, students may also enroll in a non-curricular oboe course, without proficiency exams, that aligns with the school’s high educational standards.
The teaching of the oboe starts with early practice: gradually essentials elements of setting are introduced, such as breathing (correct usage and increase in lung capacity), sound quality (starting with pitch and later developing flexibility and dynamics), posture, and instrumental technique.
At the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, even students with no prior musical experience can learn to play the oboe through the Suoninsieme program, a two-year course of shared oboe lessons with peers (in small groups), or through individual weekly oboe lessons.
In both cases, students take part in group activities such as the beginner’s theory course, Cantare il Solfeggio, which uses games to build sound production skills (covering sound, silence, duration, and pitch), motor coordination and social interaction.
Equally essential are the first orchestra experiences, through which children and adolescents learn to play together from the very beginning of their oboe course.
As students advance in their oboe curriculum, they improve their breathing techniques and master specific exercises to control sound production, while always maintaining natural gestures and correct posture.
The pre-academic oboe course also deepens students’ knowledge of instrumental techniques and reed preparation (the double reeds that set air in motion). Students improve their control over breathing, posture, and emotional response and study key oboe repertoire.
Progress in oboe studying, which also requires dedicated individual practice, enables students to join the Fiesole Harmonie ensemble, chamber groups, and the Youth Orchestra.
Through consistent study, students in the pre-academic oboe course gain practical and theoretical skills, which are assessed in certification exams for the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. They learn to perform more challenging and rewarding oboe music and participate in ensembles, with ongoing support and encouragement from teachers.
Each level of the oboe course curriculum includes complementary classes (such as chamber music and collective lessons on music history and theory), equipping students to handle increasingly demanding repertoires and potentially pursue academic-level oboe studies.
The Scuola di Musica di Fiesole also offers a non-curricular oboe course (minimum age 11), with no formal exams.
From the beginning of their oboe studies, the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole organizes recitals, concerts, and various performance events for its students, offering solo, small ensemble, and orchestra experiences. Performing in public is integral to musical growth and provides a valuable educational experience for children and adolescents.
Before enrolling in the oboe course, the school recommends preparatory programs to facilitate a natural introduction to the instrument: Musicami is a music course for ages 0 to 6 based on E. Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, while rhythm-choral activities are available for children aged 3 to 9.
children and adolescents
from June 1st to September 1st
from September to June
variable based on ISEE. Please click “Fees” button for details
if places are available, it is possible to enroll during the course of the year