oboe. possible to pick this instrument on your own?

[jinglets]

Is it possible? Its really frustrating, its almost impossible to find anyone willing to teach me oboe over my location.

Right now I am considering between 2 instrument, the saxaphone and oboe. I do know that oboe is a very hard instrument, but deep down my heart, no.1 instrument is always oboe. Do you guys think i should go with my heart or just go for the saxophone route simply because its easier to pick up? Well its not that im not interested in the sax but i really do prefer the sound of oboe. Whats stopping me from learning the oboe is the fearful description i seen over the net. I would expecting myself to sound like some sort of duck for a couple of years before i could obtain the legendary oboe sound?! Thats is pretty sick . . I do have pretty good discipline (considering back then i could just pratcise scales and scales for 2 hours daily excluding other exercises for guitar and the piano) but sounding crap for afew year will crippled my motivation alot i guess . .

Do you guys think i should try go for it? How steep is the learning curve if i practise like 3 hours daily? Any estimation how long will it be until for a average person get out of the duck stage? About making own reeds, i guess i would do really fine after i understand the whole mechanism behind? I studied alittle guitar lutherie back then and being a poor fart i chisel routings instead of using routing machine, i guess my woodwood arent bad? Not too sure would this wood experince aid in making my own reeds.

Any good website for more information on the oboes? I yahooed "learn oboe" for quite sometime, but sad to say i have yet to find any great links that deserve a bookmark =(

Oh yeah, i NEVER played any woodwind instrument and right now im looking at a double reed instrument, oh mine . . I played the guitar, piano and some drums, nt too sure will it helps in learning the oboe

One more thing is that, any idea why oboe is so expensive? :? whats the mechanism in it that make it so costly? Is it gotta do with the low demand instead?

[Simon Weiner]

I love the oboe. It is harder to start, but if youe starting from scratch, then your in the same boat. If the sound is something you love, then go for it.

As far as pricing, it mostly has to do with the delicate manufacturing that oboes require. There are different models that have different keys or key setups. Some are all wood, some are plastic and some are plastic and wood.

[jinglets]

hmm ic. I guess after all i might start with the oboe instead.
any idea is the yamaha 211 oboe good to start out? Right now there is one new one going over the ebay for about 400, left 7 hours till it ends. From his past rating, it seems that most is from selling the same oboe -_-? isnt something fishy going on? dont they retail for a grand or something

[Simon Weiner]

hmm ic. I guess after all i might start with the oboe instead.
any idea is the yamaha 211 oboe good to start out? Right now there is one new one going over the ebay for about 400, left 7 hours till it ends. From his past rating, it seems that most is from selling the same oboe -_-? isnt something fishy going on? dont they retail for a grand or something



Good choice. The Yamaha 211 is a discontinued model. I don't know waht condition it is in but $400.00 seems a little low. The new model 241 would retail for around $1900.00. Is the one on ebay new??

[jinglets]

indeed, something fishy is going on! nt too sure if it is allow to post the ebay link but i guess i will just pm ya. Its listed as new

[bandmommy]

DO NOT BUY AN OBOE OFF FROM EBAY!!!!

Unless you really know what you are lookin for and at, you are only asking for trouble.

Go with a reputable dealer. Try as many different oboes as you can get your hands on. Not all oboes are created equal. It's better to start out on a quality oboe that will allow you to grow with the instrument and not have to be upgraded within a couple of years.

You also hae to take into concideration the amount of maintainence the oboe requires to keep it in top playing condition. Plastic are easier to care for, but for some of us, wood is the only way to go. Either one will require yearly checkups to keep the keys in alignment.

Then you have the reed issues to deal with. Factory vs Hand Made.
Buy or learn to make your own. This is a frusteration in itself.

As far as finding a teacher, Check your local college or university. There are always students of oboe looking to earn a little extra money by taking on a student.

A good oboe will start around $1500.00 US new.

[Simon Weiner]

indeed, something fishy is going on! nt too sure if it is allow to post the ebay link but i guess i will just pm ya. Its listed as new



Honestly it looks ok to me. The price is not listed and is a Bid. So it could sell for $900.00 I think it is safe to bid on.

[Razzy]

I found a Conn oboe on here for like $200 and it is amazing after I took it to a good tech and purchased some decent reeds custom made by a member of the Orchestra. Half the battle with the oboe is having good equipment and a fine reed.

[monzamess]

First advice, go where your heart lies, especially if you're just doing this for fun.

Second, maybe there isn't much online, but when I started oboe, I found a couple of method books at the local music store and at least one started with the very basics like forming an embouchure etc. I also had to learn a lot on my own since my director really wanted me to play oboe but couldn't offer instruction and my parents couldn't afford lessons.

The reeds are very frustrating to me and are the reason I gave up. I just couldn't keep one in good shape very long and never figured out how to make or adjust them properly. Before I was asked to play oboe, I was doing pretty well on clarinet, so I just went back to that.

[bluesaxgirl]

----Sublimenal Message-------
Jinglets.....
This is your conscious speaking to you, Jinglets.
You know you want to play the sax.
This post will self destruct when you scroll to the end of the message.
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[zxcvbnm]

Most important thing when starting oboe? LONG TONES!!! You have to do purely long tones for at least a week or too.

[hakukani]

Actually, I did pick up the oboe on my own when in 7th grade, and played it through High School. So, yeah, it's possible.

Of course, I had already played sax for 3 years by that time...


As for the expense, the oboe has a very small bore, and must be made fairly well to be at all playable. That, and the fact that there is less demand for oboes makes them more pricey.

Whatever instrument you choose, it is imperative that you find a good instructor. It's much easier to develop good habits than to develop bad habits to be corrected later.

[jinglets]

ahh i have decided to go with the oboe route. anyway i won the auction on the brand new yamaha 211 oboe for 680 excluding shipping, do you guys think its worth it? well i was prefering to fork out a grand for a "brandless" one, pretty suprise purchase for me, hopefully every works fine when it arrive =)

heres a picture of it listed on the ebay.

http://i23.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d4/eb/fb01_12.JPG

i also got myself a full set of reeds making tool, method books, factory made reeds from forest

[Chris Peryagh]

You got a bargain there. You should easily get your money back when it comes to part exchanging it much later on.

When you get it, check the top fingerplate for LH 1 barely moves at all (as C# is played as oxx|xxxC# instead of an open note as in sax or flute), if it opens more than 0.5mm, then you'll need to have it closed down (on these oboes there's no screw adjustment, so you'll either need a thicker cork, or build it up with small pieces of tape stuck on the underside of the cork to reduce the venting) and when you close the low C key, it almost closes the RH middle fingerplate - there's a screw adjustment for this which you can adjust easily enough.

If you're not sure about anything (adjustments, reeds, fingerings, etc.), you can always ask on here as that's what we're here for.

[jinglets]

hey guys, do you tongue the reed when u change note? or you only tongue the reed when u want to repeat a same note?

like u only tongue when u like to hear A A A, but you dont tongue when u play A B G? How would it sound if you just blow constantly and change note?

[hakukani]

It depends on how it is written in the music. Tongue all notes that don't have a slur over them.

[gary]

jinglets - do yourself a BIG favour and get a teacher, please, please, please.

If you can't financially sustain regular lessons at least give yourself a good, sound beginning with a teacher and start off correctly. The oboe is difficult enough in and of itself to form bad habits in the beginning that will take you at least twice as long to unlearn as to learn.

[hakukani]

jinglets - do yourself a BIG favour and get a teacher, please, please, please.

If you can't financially sustain regular lessons at least give yourself a good, sound beginning with a teacher and start off correctly. The oboe is difficult enough in and of itself to form bad habits in the beginning that will take you at least twice as long to unlearn as to learn.

^what he said.

[Dr G]

Most important thing when starting oboe? LONG TONES!!! You have to do purely long tones for at least a week or too.

<groan>

What do you think "long tones" means to a beginner? I'm wondering what, if anything, they mean to you. Just playing a note for half an hour will NOT guarantee improvement or success.

OP - Seek a professional, or, at least, someone that plays double reeds, for help.

[jinglets]

I guess with concentration? heard that we are suppose to keep it even during long tones, no vibrato no accent etc?

yeah i will be constantly looking for a teacher, been sticking up some poster on boards near the train station haha

[bluesaxgirl]

If you do play oboe, you have to do what Hak and Gary said. So that's three for the teacher.

[bandmommy]

I hate to be the mean one here sweetie, but if you want to play the oboe, and play it well it is VERY and I mean VERY important that you have a teacher. Not one that plays clarinet or sax, but one whos' primary instrument is oboe.

You can learn the fingerings and get a basic feel for the instrument on your own. The rest requires one-on-one, hands on, work with a teacher.

I'm a private woodwind instructor that has a daughter who plays oboe very well. This is because I sent her to someone who KNOWS the oboe.

[jaysne]

I think you should go with your heart and pick up the oboe... but ONLY if you have a teacher to help you.

The saxophone is worlds easier to begin than oboe. If you just want to knock around on a horn, then saxophone will give you more satisfaction much more quickly. There will be a point, however, where you will need a teacher to help you advance, as with any instrument.

But with no woodwind background, you will be sure to be immediately frustrated with oboe if you go it yourself. You have an incredible amount to learn about embouchure, air support, breathing, and tonguing. And I haven't even talked about the instrument itself yet.

Don't worry about making reeds--that will come down the road. Why are oboes so expensive? A) They are an extremely delicate instrument to manufacture and B) Not as many people buy them as other instruments.

If you can't find a teacher, then go with the saxophone and save the oboe for later. I began on sax and later learned oboe. Much saxophone knowledge can be applied to oboe. So starting on sax can be considered preparing yourself for the day you find an oboe teacher and begin the instrument of your dreams!

[jinglets]

Any idea what problem will arise when the reed im using is too sound? I am currently using a soft reed, im not too sure if it is too soft for me or nt but my oboe kind of scream (sort of like pinch harmonic?) in the beginning of almost every other note and only turn normal after i sort of lighten my blowing force and sometimes it dont -_-

are oboe reeds that fragile? i have one soft reeds and it splits in like less than a week

[HUIBO]

Hallo Jinglets,
I can play a year on one reed, sometimes shorter, accidents happen (teeth :)
My teacher makes them for me and the other students and fixes them when they are getting harder/tougher. She makes them Dutch (Stotijn) style with a metal 'ring'.
I have tried once a hand made reed from the shop: it was not as good as hers, and I have bought 2 plastic reeds, they are awful. (I don't throw them away, because I am hoping for a miracle. I think I will strike oil in my garden sooner :)
Before you start on a reed soak it in water, it will live longer. When the aperture is wrong, first soak it and wait, then squeeze gently to open or close.
When you blow only the reed, it has to squeak like a rooster with throat problems.
Some reeds are sturdy and perform for hours, others seem sturdy, but soften and collaps after 20 minutes, sometimes the cause is the metal 'ring' that needs to be fixed.
Keep your lips over your upper and lower teeth and blow. You will not use much air, so exhale and inhale again.
Only for the reeds I would say you need a teacher once every 2 weeks for at least a year.
Good luck, Huibo

[soybean]

I don't know if you are a young person, but playing the oboe is a big advantage for getting scholarships and grants from colleges and universities.

[Eeviac]

Yeah oboe can be a real ticket out, I wish I'd known about it as a kid. I'm just weird enough that if I could have been convinced it was cool, I'd have stuck to it like glue. I've heard basically, open call-outs on NPR radio in the SF Bay Area for oboe players.

It intrigues me because it's not any bigger than a clarinet that I can tell, and has a cool sound.

Definitely get a teacher.

In the US for most people to have a chance at college, you have to be really good at a sport (I was too small and underfed for that, although strong for my size, malnutrition kept my size small) or a musical instrument, or join the Army and get shot at. So if you're good at, or eager to get good at, an instrument you should jump on it and stay on it, make it for yourself and for all of us who didn't get that chance :-)

[And7barton]

I started on oboe after playing sax and clarinet for a decade. I found it very easy to learn. The fingering (it was a simple system oboe), was so near to the sax that it was no problem. The blowing wasn't so easy...... This thing about putting your upper and lower lip over your teeth..... I couldn't do that. My upper lip can't go over my top teeth without a lot of discomfort. After trying for a while, I decided upon a different ruse..... I put my top teeth on the reed...... and blew it like you'd blow a clarinet. Surprisingly, it worked perfectly, and I've blown oboes that way ever since. The life of the reed doesn't seem to be compromised in any way. Yes- I know it's not "The proper" way to do it but I don't really give a damn about that - I get a good strong and clear tone, and can blow right down to the bottom with no burbling or splitting.

[Simon Weiner]

Any updates?

[dmead]

Is it possible? Its really frustrating, its almost impossible to find anyone willing to teach me oboe over my location.

Right now I am considering between 2 instrument, the saxaphone and oboe. I do know that oboe is a very hard instrument, but deep down my heart, no.1 instrument is always oboe. Do you guys think i should go with my heart or just go for the saxophone route simply because its easier to pick up? Well its not that im not interested in the sax but i really do prefer the sound of oboe. Whats stopping me from learning the oboe is the fearful description i seen over the net. I would expecting myself to sound like some sort of duck for a couple of years before i could obtain the legendary oboe sound?! Thats is pretty sick . . I do have pretty good discipline (considering back then i could just pratcise scales and scales for 2 hours daily excluding other exercises for guitar and the piano) but sounding crap for afew year will crippled my motivation alot i guess . .

Do you guys think i should try go for it? How steep is the learning curve if i practise like 3 hours daily? Any estimation how long will it be until for a average person get out of the duck stage? About making own reeds, i guess i would do really fine after i understand the whole mechanism behind? I studied alittle guitar lutherie back then and being a poor fart i chisel routings instead of using routing machine, i guess my woodwood arent bad? Not too sure would this wood experince aid in making my own reeds.

Any good website for more information on the oboes? I yahooed "learn oboe" for quite sometime, but sad to say i have yet to find any great links that deserve a bookmark =(

Oh yeah, i NEVER played any woodwind instrument and right now im looking at a double reed instrument, oh mine . . I played the guitar, piano and some drums, nt too sure will it helps in learning the oboe

One more thing is that, any idea why oboe is so expensive? :? whats the mechanism in it that make it so costly? Is it gotta do with the low demand instead?

don't play oboe unless you're willing to learn to make your own reeds. i played in music school after picking it up in high school... it's very fullfilling but it's so costly and unreliable i'd say just go with sax cause you'll spend more time playing and not fiddling around with piles of bamboo :)

[And7barton]

Yes , the Sax is easlier to blow. I'd go with that. I had been playing sax for five or six years before I took up oboe. The fingering is no problem - I figured out the fingering for coping with two octaves, in about five minutes; a lot of it is the same as the sax fingering. The blowing took a little longer. I never bothered about trying to make the reeds. They don't cost a fortune and like a sax reed, you soon learn not to bust them.

[dmead]

well, a from my experience a focus on what sound you want to produce comes much sooner with oboe than with other woodwinds hence the emphasis on reed making.

[joethemusician]

I know you posted this a long time ago but I thought I might add some information if anyone is looking through these threads.

Yes it is *possible* to pick up any instrument on your own but I strongly discourage it. I studied saxophone without a teacher until i was 16. I had good technique, a decent sound, and I had a basic understanding of what vibrato should be. However, I developed so many bad habbits learning from ear. My "vibrato" needed to be completely changed, I was anchor tonguing etc... It took a lot of work but I did improve. I think skipping out on a teacher held me back by a lot. I went to undergrad and studied saxophone/clarinet and then to my masters where i picked up oboe. Now I had played oboe before and thought I was doing a good job "winging it." I was generally in tune, i understood the technique, and I even had the common sense to buy hand made reeds. After two lessons I improved more than I had in 3 years of playing, considering I already held a degree in two other instruments.

Now, everyone is different. Perhaps you have a lot of natural talent (i wish I did!) and perhaps you are just a natural oboe player but I *strongly* suggest getting lessons. You may have success without a teacher (most likely limited at best) but you will surely blossom with a teacher.

I hope things have gone well so far. If oboe is what you prefer, no matter what the obstacles you should play it. I wanted to play oboe my entire life but always stuck to saxophone because i was "better at it." And then it become "well i already have a degree in saxophone so why switch." Well at 24 I just flat out decided enough is enough and I'm making a complete switch. I wish I had listened to my inner voice at 16/17/18 when i though "hey, i prefer oboe."

It is never too late to do anything...but it sure helps not to be making up for lost time!

[stitch]

Yeah, you should be able to pick up an oboe on your own - they're not THAT heavy :D

[BASS SAXMAN]

If oboe is what you desire to play, play it. I started on alto sax (almost picked bassoon) in the fifth grade; one of my friends in fifth grade started on oboe. :angel4: