Kristen Cooke

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About Kristen Cooke

Kristen Cooke has been teaching the oboe privately for over ten years. Her students have ranged in age from 9 to adult, and she is confident teaching pupils from their first notes to professional audition preparation. Whether you are inspired by the oboe solos in your favourite film score, have dreams of playing in an orchestra, or want to challenge yourself with a new hobby, Kristen will help you to make meaningful progress towards your goals.

Training and Background
Kristen holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Music degree in oboe performance from Boston University. From 2017-2020, Dr. Cooke developed and taught the Oboe Pedagogy curriculum at UBC. She formerly worked with the Sistema-based Saint James Music Academy in Vancouver, and is now a peripatetic woodwind teacher in Scottish schools in addition to running a private studio.

Kristen has performed professionally with orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria. She is a passionate chamber musician who is comfortable engaging with all styles of music, from early Baroque to 21st-century commissions. She particularly enjoys discovering and teaching music by lesser-known or underrepresented composers. Kristen has worked directly with living composers, including as Artist in Residence at Simon Fraser University's School of Contemporary Arts, to create and premiere new compositions for the oboe. As a member of the International Double Reed Society and the British Double Reed Society, Kristen equips her students with the most up-to-date knowledge of oboe technique and repertoire.

Teaching Philosophy
Kristen strives to help her students find technical ease while they develop their own musical voice. No matter the level, Kristen creates a friendly and supportive learning environment in which students can thrive musically with confidence and focus.

A typical oboe lesson could include:
-Breathing exercises
-Body and posture awareness, to reduce tension
-Musical goal-setting
-Physical coordination
-Music reading skills
-Repertoire suggestions based on the student's interests
-Technical exercises for finger agility
-Guided improvisation to improve musical imagination
-Sight-reading practice
-Exam or performance preparation
-Strategies to comb...

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