Going Solo: Oboe: Oboe & Piano Book

This collection moves beyond the typical oboe method by pairing substantial baroque and classical repertoire with accessible contemporary pieces, giving students real concert material to work toward rather than exercises. The mix of baroque air and dance forms alongside romantic character pieces and modern originals keeps practice sessions musically varied without sacrificing pedagogical coherence.

A curated concert recital in your practice room. The baroque works settle into elegant conversational lines while the romantic selections invite lyrical, introspective playing. Grant's own pieces inject modern energy and character without demanding virtuosic technique, keeping the overall arc rewarding rather than overwhelming.

Oboe students at the intermediate level who are ready for genuine solo repertoire beyond one-page folk arrangements. This book works equally well for students building solo performance confidence and for ensemble players looking to develop their musical voice as individuals.

• Shape the Purcell and de Fesch movements with period-appropriate phrasing: lean into the natural arch of baroque lines rather than treating each phrase as an isolated unit.
• Let the piano part guide your interpretation of texture and harmonic color, especially in the Grieg and Heller pieces where the accompaniment sets the mood.
• In Grant's original compositions, trust the rhythmic independence of the oboe line; it's written to sit naturally against the piano rather than double its patterns.

Ideal for spring solo competitions or a chamber recital where you want to program a cohesive 20-minute set; select 4-5 pieces that show range from baroque formality to contemporary idiom. Individual movements pair well with other woodwind solos if you're building a mixed instrumental recital that showcases different periods and styles.

• Baroque phrasing conventions and stylistic articulation
• Balancing independence with accompaniment awareness
• Long-phrase breathing across complete musical statements
• Lyrical tone production in the upper register
• Confidence in contemporary idioms with mixed meter and syncopation