Breathing

When struggling with stamina, as many oboists do, first look at your breathing rather than your other concerns. I find that if you can find suitable breathing spaces in pieces and breathe in the correct way, then most stamina issues can be resolved and longer pieces are easier to play. Breathing exercises are essential to any wind instrument, non more so than the oboe as it is one of the only that requires you to occasionally expend air before playing as having too much stale air inside you can be more tiring. To work on this try breathing out before playing a note... the sensation will be very odd but quite exhilarating! Warning - please sit down to do this exercise as for the first few times one may become a little dizzy. Most importantly breathing exercises can be practiced anywhere at any time! on the tube, in the car, walking to the bus stop.... nobody will notice and it is a fantastic way to use and strengthen your abdominal muscles!