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Oboe Studio

Oboe Studio

Greetings on behalf of the Ohio State oboe studio! WE are more than a group of classmates; we are a tight-knit community taught to support one another and help each other grow as both musicians and people. Explore our pages to learn more about the studio, professor, how to apply/audition, and locate pedagogical resources.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to hear Ohio State students performing in a variety of ensembles and programs across the School of Music. Follow the School of Music on Facebook, Instagram, and X.com (formerly Twitter).

Abby Yeakle Held, oboe and English horn

Abby Yeakle Held

Assistant Teaching Professor of Oboe
held.119@osu.edu

  • Alma Maters: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA), University of Colorado at Boulder (MM), Baylor University (BME), Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (Vienna, Austria)
  • Areas of Expertise: Oboe and English horn • Viennese oboe • Chamber music
  • Recital appearance:

Be a Buckeye Oboe for a Day

Your visit can include a prospective student meeting, complimentary lesson with Professor Held, lunch with members of the oboe studio, class observations, sitting in on an ensemble, and tour of the music facilities. Request a visit.

Connect with our undergraduate admissions coordinator, Tanya Sparks, at sparks.348@osu.edu.

Stay up to date! Receive notices about events for future students by submitting our Future Student Information form. We will not share your contact information.

Outreach and Admissions Opportunities

* Not all events occur each year. All events subject to change. Visit Outreach. 

About the Oboe Studio

What it’s like to be a Buckeye Oboe

A typical lesson with Dr. Held will have four components:

  1. Fundamentals (scales and exercises)
  2. Etudes (Barret, Sellner or Ferling)
  3. Solo repertoire
  4. Reeds

While lesson time adheres to this basic structure, each student’s instruction is catered according to their degree/major, specific goals and needs.

Students rotate through different art eras of repertoire based on their year and current semester to ensure that they are experienced with a variety of performance practices, genres and styles by the time they graduate. Each semester, students are assigned a minimum of 2 selections of solo repertoire. They perform their first assignment on a mid-semester studio recital, and their second assignment for their end-of-semester jury. In doing so, a tangible goal related to lesson time is established, and students are given the opportunity to not only demonstrate but also celebrate their hard work.

Outside of lessons, students also attend oboe studio and reed-making class weekly. Studio time is run in the traditional masterclass format where students practice performing solo repertoire, etudes and orchestral excerpts for peers, and receive and respond to constructive feedback. However, studio time is also treated as an opportunity to prepare students to become diversely skilled musicians. As a result, studio assignments are often geared toward topics of professional development, entrepreneurship and arts administration; certain studio days are dedicated to these topics. Throughout the school year the studio hosts 1–2 special guest artists. This is a great opportunity for students to learn from artists and master teachers from across the nation, and experience differing styles of pedagogy and artistic approach.

With a foundation of strong fundamentals instilled, the ultimate goal is to foster a student’s creativity and help them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Buckeye Oboes are prepared to be organized, professional and empathetic individuals who will be effective educators, skilled musicians and kind colleagues.

Pedagogical Resources

For pre-college oboists, private teachers and band directors

The above links are to PDF files requiring Adobe Reader. If you need them in a more accessible format, contact us.

Apply and Audition

Oboe applicants for all degrees and levels are encouraged to email Professor Held with specific questions about audition music. 

Graduate students should email Professor Held with their questions about the graduate program and assistantship opportunities.

Oboe student in lesson with Abby Held
Oboe students in reed making class