I recently toured Spain and Portugal with the West Valley College Band. During the trip I performed 4 times, and 3 of those performances were outside in different conditions than I usually play.
(Photo: the West Valley College Band playing on an outdoor community stage in Peniche, Portugal under guest conductor Alberto Roque)
Luckily I have a lot of experience playing outside, so I wasn’t surprised by any of the weird things that happened. Today’s newsletter will discuss my best practices of playing outside. (Some of these apply to all musicians!)
The Elements
When you’re performing outside, you are exposed to the literal elements of weather in ways that you probably aren’t used to! The first element to consider is the temperature.
Summer days aren’t as cool as the theaters you’re used to. It can get really hot, especially if there’s a high humidity index. Playing when hot is uncomfortable, but safe as long as you bring plenty of water for yourself to drink, and salty snacks to help you stay hydrated.
You may or may not be sitting in the sun for long periods of time. You’ll need to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and maybe even a personal fan to stay safe from the sun. Your oboe should be fine in the sun for a little while, but take care not to leave it in its case in direct sunlight for too long.
Another unwelcome element you’ll encounter when performing outside is wind. The wind will try to blow your music away, so the experienced outdoor performer will bring some kind of clips to hold their music on their stand. You could also use plexiglass placed on top of your music to hold it down.
If your performance is an evening concert, you’ll probably start while the sun is up and finish after sunset. In this case you’ll notice swarms of bugs (depending on where you are in the country), so make sure to bring and apply bug spray preemptively. You’ll also notice that the wind picks up at sunset, and brings cold air with it, which can cause you to get water in your keys.
The Oboe
As long as the temperature is above 65 degrees, it’s safe to play your oboe outside. You may need to play outside when it’s colder than that. When it’s cold outside, the biggest concerns are the instrument cracking (wood instruments only) or water collecting in your tone holes.
Wood oboes crack because of the difference in temperature and humidity between the inside of the bore and the outside. The colder it is outside and longer the instrument is played, the more likely it is that the oboe will crack. If it’s cold outside and you must play, use an instrument that is plastic or has a lined top joint for the safest experience.
The issue of getting water in the tone holes is something we commonly experience. Playing outside in the cold can make it more likely in my experience. So, to avoid getting water in your tone holes keep the top 6 inches of the oboe warm by cuddling your top joint, or at least keeping two hands around the top of the oboe.
Your reeds might dislike outdoor playing as well. Depending on the relative humidity, you might find that they dry out faster than when you play inside. Reeds will also dry out faster when it’s windy. Keep that water cup readily accessible!
Last, we have tons of stuff to take with us onstage. If your ensemble doesn’t let you have your case at your seat, I would recommend that you acquire a small black bag to place all your gear in. So far you need: reeds, reed water, cork grease (if your corks need them), cigarette paper, swab, pencil, drinking water, oboe stand, clothes pins (to hold your music on your stand), bug spray, sunscreen, and maybe a personal fan. Plus your oboe and your music.
The Sound
You may not be ready for the difference in sound that you experience when you play outside. The first time I play outside in a while I’m always struck by the feeling that my sound is smaller than I expected. Since there aren’t walls and ceiling to reflect your sound back at you, it travels away and can seem smaller and quieter than expected. You may need to play your solos louder, or you may need to play softer to blend more with the ensemble.
Depending on the size of ensemble you play with, you may need to bring sound-dampening earplugs. The volume you experience can vary based on the material of the stage you play on (concrete, wood, plastic board), whether there’s a roof above you, and how closely the ensemble has to squeeze in together.
One of the venues we performed in was formerly a convent (in Seville), so we were halfway underneath a brick portico looking out into a small courtyard. The sound was so loud that I needed to use my noise-dampening earplugs for comfort! In contrast, another venue was a town square of sorts with brick or marble paving and nothing overhead. In this case I was comfortable playing without earplugs.
Hopefully this gives you some things to think about before your next outdoor performance so you can be prepared and play your best!
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