Marcel Tabuteau First-Hand

MT era oboe

The Tabuteau System

The ‘Tabuteau System’ (his term) is Tabuteau’s unique method of teaching musical phrasing by first breaking down phrases into their smallest components and then rebuilding them using special mental techniques. The individuals listed below had direct contact with Marcel Tabuteau in a music-specific capacity and conveyed various aspects of the Tabuteau System in writing, orally, or by means of a tape recording. Upon clicking a name, you will be brought to a webpage containing a brief biography of that person, the Tabuteau connection, and specific information about the Tabuteau System.* If you know of others having first-hand information about the Tabuteau System who should be added to this website, please click Submissions.

*Note that there is some variance of understanding as to what Tabuteau meant in certain instances. The reader will need to determine what Tabuteau intended.

Written Notes

Concepts notated at lessons or immediately thereafter

Concepts remembered and notated at a later time

Concepts notated by Marcel Tabuteau

Tape Recordings*

Marcel Tabuteau himself

*It is important to hear Tabuteau demonstrating along with his explanations in order to fully grasp the concepts he is teaching.

**Much credit goes to Laila Storch, Donald Hefner, David McGill, Melissa Stevens, Laurie Van Brunt, and Sarah Wetherbee for their forethought in gathering direct information about the Tabuteau System from Tabuteau students and colleagues through insightful interviews, and much appreciation for allowing extracts to be presented in this section.

Sections

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What's New!

With the passing of Wilbur Isaac Hilles in August 2023 and now Martha Scherer-Alfee in February 2024, no oboe students of Marcel Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute are still living.

A letter sent to the Curtis Institute by Laila Storch’s mother about Tabuteau not teaching at Curtis–and the reply.

See the older model Lorée oboe now pictured on the website masthead.

An important video of Laila Storch speaking about Marcel Tabuteau at the 1996 IDRS conference.

New family information from Guy Baumier, Tabuteau’s grand nephew.