Personal Statement

BIO

I am a professional oboist based in Pittsburgh, PA. I teach beginner, intermediate, and advanced students on oboe, English horn, and reed-making.

I received my Bachelor of Music in Performance from Duquense University. In my time there I participated in band, orchestra, chamber music, master classes, and solo recitals.

I have extensive performance experience and have played with a number of local ensembles, from symphony orchestras to opera companies to small freelance gigs. I've been trained in Alexander Technique and have studied music theory, conducting, composing, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. I also play English horn, French horn, and piano, and teach reed making for those who are interested in learning.



TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

It is my belief that expressing oneself through music is a truly special experience, and it is my goal to assist students in mastering this challenging instrument in order to achieve that. In particular, I emphasize forming good practicing habits, mentally (focused, attentive practice) and physically (hand placement, posture, etc.).

If you want to learn how to make your own reeds, I would be happy to devote some of our teaching time to this, but I recommend that only more advanced students who are already very familiar with the oboe begin to study reed-making.



APPROACH

Beginner:
We will concentrate on forming good practice habits and introductory technique. Lesson materials include method books, scales, and work on school band or orchestra music. Beginning oboists greatly benefit from instruction from an oboist to supplement at-school lessons, as we will cover oboe-specific issues in addition to basic musical training.

Intermediate:
We'll begin to shift the focus of lessons to style, building solo repertoire, and reed-making (if the student has an interest in this). Materials will now include etude books such as Barret and Ferling.

Advanced:
Once you've become confident in your playing, lessons will be more concerned with audition preparation. Whether it's for PMEA, a summer festival, competitions, college auditions, etc., we will generally be refining material to build a strong repertoire for auditions and performances. Materials will include more difficult solo pieces, etudes, and orchestral excerpts.



Please contact me by phone or email to set up a free trial lesson, and with any questions.

Liz Reeder

CONTACT
Phone: 570-764-0037
Email: lizreeder1827@gmail.com

Education / Training

Performance Experience
Undercorft Opera Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA 2012-present
Edgewood Symphony Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA 2011-present
Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA 2008-2010
Butler County Symphony Orchestra – Butler, PA 2008-2009
Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA 2007-2008
City Music Center Chamber Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA 2006-2008
Catawissa Military Band – Catawissa, PA 2001-2007


Festivals
Advanced Chamber Music Seminar – Pittsburgh, PA 2009
Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts, Music – Erie, PA 2005
• One of two finalists selected statewide


Education
Bachelor of Music, Oboe Performance, 2006 - May 2010
Duquesne University – Pittsburgh, PA
• graduated cum laude
• Dean's List, GPA of 3.7
• Music Scholarship


Oboe Teachers
James Gorton, Co-Principal Oboe
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Pittsburgh, PA
Randall Wolfgang, Principal Oboe
New York City Ballet and Opera Orchestra – NY, NY


Master Classes
Pedro Díaz, at Duquesne University
Louis Rosenblatt, at Duquesne University
Laila Storch, at Carnegie Mellon University