Recommended Technique Books

Gekeler Book One
Gekeler Book Two OR Barrett Method Book
Ferling 48 Famous Studies for Oboe/Saxophone Book One
Vade Mecum of the Oboist
Weber Reed Making Manual
Galamian Contemporary Violin Technique (Rhythm Book)
Gillet Studies
Evelyn Rothwell Difficult Passages
Rubank Oboe Methods

Required Practice Tools

Metronome
Tuner
Swab OR feather
Pencil
Recorder
Music Dictionary
Screwdriver
Notebook

Reed Making Equipment

Double Hollow Ground or Beveled Knife
Flat BLACK Steel Plaque (NOT SILVER)
Small billot (cutting block)
FF Nylon Thread - any color
Beeswax - 1oz
Mandrel
Staples (Tubes)
Shaped cane 
Metric Ruler - any
*India Sharpening Stone OR Ceramic Sticks- not required but encouraged

*fully detailed list can be found on Reed Classes page

Important Oboists to know

Marcel Tabuteau- Philadelphia Orchestra, deceased*
John Mack- Cleveland Orchestra, deceased*
John DeLancie- Philadelphia Orchestra, deceased*
Ray Still- Chicago Symphony, retired
Wayne Rapier- Boston Symphony, deceased*
Elaine Douvas- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Juilliard
John Ferrillo- Boston Symphony, New England Conservatory
Robert Sheena- Boston Symphony (English horn), Boston University
Richard Woodhams- Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute
Thomas Stacy- New York Philharmonic (English Horn), retired
Patrick McFarland- Atlanta Symphony (English Horn), retired
Louis Rosenblatt- Philadelphia Orchestra (English Horn), retired
Richard Kilmer- Eastman School of Music
Robert Atherholt- Rice University, Houston Symphony, retired
Eugene Isotov- San Francisco Symphony
Alex Klein- Chicago Symphony, retired
Robert Bloom, deceased*
Nancy Ambrose King- University of Michigan, solo oboe
Kathryn Greenbank- Minnesota Orchestra

Listening to Recordings....

With so many recording readily available online and elsewhere these days, it's EXTREMELY important to know who you are listening to, and the background of the musicians. It is important to develop a good ear for the tone and phrasing you like from an early age.  Please do not listen to random recordings, without any knowledge of the musicians.  Every recording is not a great recording!!  Also, try to listen primarily to American Orchestras as well, as European oboe playing is a different style, even using different instruments at times.  European recordings, while great resources, should be  a last resort.  Some of the recordings that I recommend listening to when preparing your pieces are:

Orchestral
Cleveland Orchestra
Chicago Symphony
Philadelphia Orchestra
Boston Symphony
New York Philharmonic
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Chicago Lyric Opera 
Atlanta Symphony
Detroit Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
LA Philharmonic
Berlin Philharmonic 
St Louis Symphony
St Paul Chamber Orchestra

Solo Repertoire
John Mack
John DeLancie
Ray Still
Elaine Douvas
Frank Rosenwein
John Ferrillo
Robert Bloom
Wayne Rapier
Nancy Ambrose King
Heinz Holliger
Louis Rosenblatt
Philadelphia Quintet

Conductors
Szell
Ormandy
Bernstein
Ashkenazy
Levine
Solti
Maazel
Muti
Toscanini
Dohnanyi
Tilson-Thomas
Ozawa

Vocalists
Leontyne Price
Kathleen Battle
Birgit Nilsson
Renee Fleming
Placido Domingo
Andrea Bocelli
Delora Zajick
Fredrica Von Stade
Grace Bumbry
Kiri Te Kanawa