Lessons
Alex Klein has been teaching oboe for over fifty years, in universities, conservatories, schools,
music festivals, privately and in collaboration with other teachers. Oboists who received Klein's
guidance have won international competitions and auditions to major orchestras in several
countries.
Alex Klein has been featured as a guest for master classes in some of the world's most
respected music schools, such as the Juilliard School, Paris Conservatory, Lyon Conservatory,
Beijing Central Conservatory, UNAM-Mexico, Eastman School of Music, Schola Cantorum
Basel, University of the Arts in Berlin, Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater „Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy“ in Leipzig and many others in Asia, Americas and Europe.
Klein's unique approach to oboe technique and musicianship has earned
him accolades worldwide, being the most internationally awarded oboist
and the only one with top prizes in Japan, Europe and North America. Klein
won the Principal Oboe chair of the Chicago Symphony twice (1995 and
2016), the coveted First Prize in the Geneva Competition, the First Prize in
the New York International Oboe Competition, the First Prize in the IDRS'
Fernand Gillet Competition, the top prize awarded at the Tokyo Competition
and the prize of "Best Interpreter of Czech Music" at the Prague Spring Competition. Klein has also earned five Grammy awards, being one as a soloist (only oboist to be so awarded) and four as a member of the Chicago Symphony. These significant career conquests are fruit of an unique approach to oboe playing, launching his technical dexterity, sound production and musical
structure to an incomparable status.
Klein's artistry can be reviewed through over 60 CD recordings in orchestral, solo and
chamber music works, or through live recordings also available online.
This knowledge and experience is available to a select number of private students online.
Klein regularly works with oboists in Canada, United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, Russia,
Europe and Kazakhstan through online lessons in several platforms as is convenient. Klein
works with professionals, amateurs, pre-professional audition-bound students, as well as
mid-range and near-beginning oboists.
Alex Klein performed for a decade as Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the artistic leadership of Daniel Barenboim and also working the world's top conductors and soloists as in Pierre Boulez, Sir Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Lang Lang and many others.
How to study with Alex Klein:
Admission to classes ir via audition/interview. Audition/interviews take 15 minutes. Be prepared to play short slow and fast works of your choice and/or to discuss your objectives with lessons. In order to request an audition please click on CONTACT in the above menu and describe your intent to play for Mr. Klein.
Costs: single or sporadic lessons are charged at US$200. Regular/repeated lessons, whether weekly or by-weekly, are US$125. Scholarships, economic differences or circumstances are understandable and can be discussed during the audition time.
Venue: a link will be provided through an agreeable platform (Zoom, Microsoft or other).
Topics of study:
- General oboe playing
- Orchestral excerpts
- International Competition preparation
- Audition preparedness
- Surviving and thriving with Musicians' Focal Dystonia
- Learning Le Api at 126
- Understanding and thriving in upper level technical proficiency
- Bach Etudes and the supremacy of form and shape to oboe playing
- Paganini Caprices and the opening of potencial
Master class in Seoul, South Corea
Master class at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia
Master class in Montevideo, Uruguay
Master class in Fort Worth, Texas, USA
A fresh, untraditional approach to practicing, learning and performing often makes all the difference for artists looking an edge in a highly competitive field, as has been the case with dozens of Klein's students around the world. Listen to the full Klein interview for The Wise Musician here.
TESTIMONIES
"You’ve been such an amazing teacher, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. I’ve appreciated and enjoyed all the time spent learning with you, and your teaching has made a meaningful impact on both my music and my life. Thank you so much for being my teacher and a great person to look up to."
Student, Canada
"He is an incredible human being. He has always treated me with nothing but kindness and pure respect. There has never been a sense of superiority. He advocates that all he’s accomplished is feasible for all his students.”
Student, USA
"And thank you again for your encouragement to her. I’m so happy that she’s still willing to try new things and works so hard. Thank you so much for teaching her to be responsible! She has practiced more even without our request."
Mother of young student, USA
“Alex Klein is characterized as one of the hardest-working professionals and artists I have ever met, and from whom I have also received help in the fight against discrimination. Discrimination against female and adult musicians still persists, and thanks to him I was able to begin my oboe studies at an advanced age, challenging the norms established by society. Despite being discriminated against because of my age and sex, Alex always evaluated my dedication and years of study, not my circumstances.”
Student, Argentina
“I have had the privilege to know Alex Klein not just as a gifted oboist and dedicated teacher, but also as an outstanding and extraordinary human being.”
Student, Mexico
"Professor Klein possesses a deep understanding of the oboe, both in technique and performance, and shared this knowledge to his students. His teaching methodology is clear, and tailored to the individual needs of each student, ensuring that all can progress at their own pace while mastering the complexities of the instrument.”
Student, Russia
“Always respectful and humble, Alex showed us that the oboe can be played in different ways regardless of social context, gender and nationality. In 2022, Alex performed a concert for a fundraiser in order to get more scholarships for low-income students. It became more evident to me that his concern for social inclusion was his main goal; through empathy and understanding showed that everyone, regardless of their social context, can be able to perform and make music. FEMUSC is the perfect representation of Alex Klein as a human being, it is a great example of his dedication and struggle to bring music to the most unexpected places, regardless of gender, age, or socio-cultural context.“
Student, Costa Rica
“He … helped me in processes of maturation and personal and academic growth. Making me feel included and important within a society and which previously made me feel excluded.”
Student, Brazil
"I owe you everything, teacher. Don't feel this as a debt, feel it as a source of pride. Knowing that one of your students, one of those you selflessly helped, is doing everything to change the reality for the children and the culture of his country, I want this to be something you can be proud of. I've always been your follower and admired you. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Thank you being a good human being."
Student, El Salvador
Thank you Professor. She was very excited to have your lesson. On the way to school yesterday, she was thinking alone about what happened during the class and kept a diary after school last night. We appreciate a lot for what you have done for her."
Father of young student, China