Ninety-year-old Edwardsville resident Vivian Raffaelle's fingers have been keying the oboe for 80 years — but they're just as limber as ever.

"Most people say, 'Why do you have to practice, you've played so long?'" Raffaelle said last week. "You have to keep it up or you lose it. You have to keep moving. I've never been one to sit still."

Raffaelle proves that by playing the oboe in the municipal bands of three cities: Edwardsville, Troy and Granite City, practicing for and participating in dozens of concerts a year.

"I guess it just keeps me going and I enjoy it," she said. "I never feel like I know enough. I'm always learning more so I just keep practicing and trying; you always feel like you can improve on something."

Raffaelle said making the extra effort for music comes from her father, George Raffaelle, who played clarinet for the St. Louis Symphony and started teaching her how to play the piano and other woodwinds when she was 8 years old. Their shared love of music influenced her career. Vivian Raffaelle retired as a band director for the Granite City school system in 1986.

"When I was a band director, I played with my students at school, but I didn't play my oboe as much because I gave most of my time to my students," Raffaelle said. "But after I retired — Mary and I were good friends — and she asked me to come and play in the band."

Rafaelle is referring to Mary Ann Davis, the director of the Edwardsville Municipal Band, who was a trainee under Rafaelle while they both worked as music teachers for Granite City.

"She was my mentor-teacher that showed me the ropes," said Davis. "She's talented and a very good friend and a reliable person. When she says she's gong to do something for you, she gets it done."

Davis said she relies on Rafaelle to serve as her music librarian, preparing materials for the 65-75 band members before every concert by copying and collating each song that will be played.

"To say she's valuable is an understatement," Davis said. "Without her I would be lost because people have to have their materials for the next concert."

Raffaelle, who has never been married and has no children, celebrated her 90th birthday in October with a big blow-out organized by her two nieces. Although she's surrounded by extended family and loyal neighbors, she continues to live independently and does all of her own housework and occasional cooking (she said she avoids cooking because she doesn't like to do dishes). Most days, when she's not practicing, she can be found walking her 6-year-old companion, a Shih Tzu named Dumbledore.

But Raffaelle said it's following her passion that has kept her alive — and healthy — for so long.

"If you do something it will keep you alive," Raffaelle said. "It doesn't have to be music but you have to have some kind of hobby. I hate to see people so much younger than me that they just don't do anything. It's a shame, because I think if they found some kind of hobby or pastime they would be so much healthier."

Contact reporter Ramona C. Sanders at 618-344-0264, ext. 136