TEACHING & RESEARCH
Bettina Simon is a passionate pedagogue and researcher, dedicated to guiding students towards an informed, expressive, and individual approach to historical performance.
© Sophia Hegewald
Teaching
At the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, Bettina Simon offers a comprehensive and practice-oriented training in baroque oboe, centered on the full spectrum of historical oboe instruments — from the shawm to the baroque oboe, oboe d’amore, oboe da caccia, and extending to the classical and romantic oboe.
A particular emphasis is placed on historical reed making as a foundation for both sound authenticity and personal artistic expression. In addition, her course Orchestral Practice focuses on core orchestral repertoire, preparing students specifically for historically informed ensemble work. Chamber music, spanning from the Renaissance to the Romantic period, forms an integral part of her teaching.
Her pedagogical approach encourages students to engage critically with historical contexts, to develop stylistic awareness, and to cultivate an independent artistic voice. The goal is to support the development of versatile, technically accomplished, and artistically reflective musicians.
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Research
Bettina Simon's artistic doctoral project, "Improvisation of Cadenzas in Classical Oboe Concertos: Historical Research and Performance on Period and Modern Instruments", explores historical sources, original cadenzas for woodwind concertos, and interdisciplinary perspectives, including aspects of neuroscience, in order to re-integrate improvisation into contemporary performance practice.
As part of this work, she has developed pedagogical models and practical tools for historically informed cadenza improvisation, combining performance with scholarly inquiry. Her research connects historical knowledge with contemporary musical practice, contributing to current discourse on historically informed performance and artistic research, and aims to re-establish improvisation as a living and creative element within classical music. Upon completion of her doctorate, a practical workbook focusing on cadenza improvisation exercises is planned for publication.
Her research has also resulted in the first modern edition of Giuseppe Tartini's improvised cadenzas. Based on a manuscript preserved in Venice, this edition offers new insights into historical improvisational practice and serves both as a scholarly resource and a practical collection of melodic and harmonic models for performers. It includes a modern edition as well as a facsimile.
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In addition to her work on historical improvisation, Bettina Simon is currently engaged in research on the transformation of the oboe in the nineteenth century, focusing in particular on the development from the romantic oboe of Carl Golde to the modern Viennese oboe, and exploring continuities as well as changes in construction, sound ideals, and performance practice.
