We’ve just put the finishing touches on our new book, “Play It Right the First Time: The Oboist’s Guide to Becoming a Master Sightreader in Just 10 Minutes a Day.”

In the book, I talk a lot about rhythm and pulse, and how very important that is to being a great sightreader. When it really comes down to it, having great rhythm and a rock solid (yet flexible) inner sense of the pulse is half the battle.

To really get a good idea of what pulse feels like, I always turn to the music of Bach. For me, there is no composer better at creating that sense of constant, effortless rhythmic motion.

Here’s an example of my husband on the organ accompanying some trumpets in an arrangement of a Bach Cantata movement.

The piece is in 3 so the pulse is a bigger, slower one. But you can almost picture the “big wheel” spinning around and around. Of course the wheel is a bit lopsided, which gives you that added emphasis on the downbeat.

Developing your own inner sense of this idea is key to becoming a master sightreader.

Take a listen…

Last Sunday, my daughter Talula Skye was born.

Here’s a little picture of the cutie.

She came right on time and was born into a quiet corner of our home. My husband caught her in the water and we haven’t let her out of our hands since. It was a miraculous experience - one that I will always remember very, very, well.

One of the most amazing things about having children (in addition to being able to hold them and love them) is the magic they have to make what you thought were problems in your life just melt away into unimportant details.

Talula’s already done that for me.

And I’d like to share a little bit of that “magic” with you:

The next time you run into an oboe problem, something that has really got you down, just remember this…

It will pass. In fact, in two or three weeks you’ll probably look back and wonder why it got you so upset in the first place. Enjoy the moment you are in, right now. You never get it back. This is your only chance to appreciate it.

Just some random thoughts from a happy oboe mom.