Marcel Tabuteau is considered one of America's foremost oboists and teachers of the twentieth century. His students, and subsequent generations thereof, continue to occupy many major chairs in the symphony orchestras of the United States. Tabuteau's students agree that he not only revolutionized American oboe playing, but he also had a significant influence on other wind, string and brass players. Marcel Tabuteau's ideas endure mostly through those he taught. Many of these students are now in their seventies and eighties, thus justifying the importance of recording Tabuteau's concepts and teaching practices through oral history.
A broad range of Marcel Tabuteau's students were contacted to see if they had an interest in being interviewed for an oral history about Marcel Tabuteau's pedagogical concepts and practices. Live interviews were conducted with John de Lancie and John Mack, oboists; Felix Kraus, John Minsker, and Louis Rosenblatt, English hornists; John Krell, flutist; Mason Jones, horn player; Hershel Gordon, cellist; and Abba Bogin, pianist.
Questions were asked regarding specific musical concepts such as the "number system," as well as how Tabuteau was able to express his ideas so well to so many people. The interviews that follow are rich in explanation of Tabuteau's musical concepts including phrasing, "the number system," inflections, and playing on the wind. Also discussed are his pedagogical practices that gave rise to a whole generation of exceptionally outstanding musicians. Tabuteau's students referred to him as a fabulous communicator, and a colorful personality whose presence was revered and feared at the same time.
Tabuteau was exceptional in that his pedagogical concepts had a lasting effect on the musicians who studied with him. His teaching was organized in the sense that he had definite and concrete concepts which were taught to all of his students and which all of the interviewees talked about. He did not "spoon feed" these concepts to his students, but rather he expected them to learn by listening and example. Marcel Tabuteau gave the students the tools necessary to play any piece of music with conviction.