oboeinsight

Is the french horn or oboe the hardest instrument to play?
theres this whole debate going on in band about which one is hardest. i understand that bot are very difficult to learn but im sure that there is some factor which would lead to one being harder than the other. facts, opinion, and experience please! thanks!!!

The answer? Yes. They are. ;-)

Asked here.

Read online:

Is the oboe’s low range good for melody?
I’m a pretty experienced composer (if I may say so myself), but I still have things to learn about woodwinds. Is the oboe’s lower range (around D) ok for melody, or will it sound too “honky” and awkward. Thanks.

The first answer was this:

For the oboe’s best sound, stay in or above the staff and out of the bottom range.

Truth be told, a low oboe can sound quite lovely. I do hate it when we have to start on low B flat or B. Go figure.

Read Online:

How do you make an oboe?

literally how to carve out the dimensions it should be and such or if you have a link and would like to give it to me that would be amazing. its for a competition thing for science Olympiad at my school and i want to make an oboe. if you have any for making oboe reeds that would be great too. please and thank you!

… I always warn parents about the reed issue. I want them to know right away, in case they decide they can’t handle the expense.

Will a broken oboe reed prevent playing it?
I recently started to learn the oboe a week ago, and the reeds i have been using have now got chips in them, small and along the top edge. Will this affect the way it can be played future or are they still useable? It would be very inconvenient to have to get new ones, as they are quite expensive and hard to get where i live.

Is it too late to learn oboe in 9th grade?
I wanna learn oboe next year, i’ve had 2 years of experience on the clarinet and i’ve had half a year on violin and have musical experience, especially in music theory, and i want to joing my school’s symphony but the teacher told me they only accept the best, could i be good enough by 11th grade?

Fortunately the answers were positive. I remember having a student ask me if she was “too late” for oboe when she was even younger. My answer? If you’re still breathing it’s NEVER too late!

What does the cor anglais (english horn) sound like?
Please explain

Okay … so one person did answer in a nice way, but I love this answer:

To me, a flat trumpet.

Okay, I know people ask crazy questions but …

Marching Band: Trumpet, Oboe, or English Horn?
Hey, I’m considering in trying Marching Band for my Junior year, and I’m deciding what instrument I want to play: Trumpet, oboe, or English horn. (I think I’m leaning a bit towards oboe but I want to be sure :P)

I already play guitar, bass, violin, keyboard/piano, and drums. I can barely read music but I’m learning how to for violin since I’m taking orchestra, and I’m learning Jazz chords on guitar for Jazz. I’m hoping to learn a bit of sheets for bass and a bit more for piano :P

Anyways, I was wanting to see if anybody reading this could give any insight and input on any of these instruments, whether they be positive or negative, or any other suggestions :)

I considered clarinet but I’ve been hearing so many bad things about them. For flutes, people say that they can contort your face and everything is awkward to play and everything, or something. I don’t know, I’m not a blown-instrument specialist, I have never played one in my life lol

Notes:
-It has to be fairly portable.
-Obviously it has to sound pleasant but that’s my own personal preference, and I enjoy all instruments :)
-No to sax.
-Percussion seems kind of boring to me since it’s just repeatedly hitting a single drum :/
-It has to be fun to play!! :D

Some of the answers were pretty good. But some …?

you should definately play the oboe!!!! i think it would be easy to laern. my friend plays the oboe in his marching band and he absolutely loves it. he told me it was really easy to learn how to play.

If it has to be affordable, Oboe is not for you. A good oboe can be VERY pricey, most around $1000. Unless your school provides school owned instruments, I wouldn’t invest in oboes. Considering your a beginner to reed instruments, it’s not the best starter as well.. Also..in my opinion it sounds like a duck inhaling helium.

If you are going to get a woodwind instrument- Try for the Yamaha and Buffet brands, those are highly rated and you MIGHT be able to get one used for around 200.

Get you dear child oboe lessons!

I just read this online (ignore the spelling, grammar and missing word issues, as I’m sure this must be a younger student!):

Oboe questions!?!?! please answer!!!!?
i just an oboe 3 days ago and my mom said no private lessons for a while until i know a little bit, b/c there is nobody that offerss completbegin erer so i need to know notes and stuff. ok so here are my ????s

1. what notes should i learn first? i know G,A,B,C. i learned them from youtube.
2. i having a problem with my breathing control. when i play 1 note it sounds like i am playing 2 b/c my pitch is wrong.
3. i play the clarinet and i am 1st chair. and de desided to swich to oboe and sometimes when i play my top lip doesn’t want to stay curled under and it makes a weird sound. i stopped playing my clarinet but i do plan to go back after i get mexperienceance. is there anything else i can do to stop this?
4. what is a good brand of reeds? i am a total beginner so i know i need soft soft or mediumediem bdon’t dont know any good brands.
5. just wondering, how often do you break reeds?

thank you so much for taking the time to read this! no rude comments. constuctive critisium only.

Oh Mom, and all parents, please please please (get it? I’m begging!) get your beginning oboist lessons. The bad habits and incorrect fingerings we oboe instructors have to correct are so darn frustrating and take a long time to correct. A good teacher is essential. Really.

Answer the child here.

Asked online:

How to season an oboe reed?
My new oboe reed is quite raw and hard to blow through, any ways to make it seasoned and easier to blow through and vibrate it?

And the answer someone supplied?:

I have been playing the oboe for four years, and what helps me a lot is let it soak A LOT in you mouth before you play. When you start playing, make sure that there’s not a lot of spit still stuck in the reed. Another helpful thing might be to LIGHTLY bite down on your reed with you front teeth before you play. It will help the two reeds be closer together which will make the sound a lot clearer and not as annoyingly loud. I really hopes this helps you.

Someone want to go over there and supply a better answer?

Asked online:

How Do I Become a Professional Oboist?

I would love to become a professional oboist, and I believe now is the time I need to get my head in the game. All I’m asking for is some assistance on how to reach my goal. I attend Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, I’ve played oboe for 3 years [7th grade to 9th] and I’ve joined local bands, such as the Augusta Wind Conservatory & District Honor Band & All County Band. I believe its time for me to become more serious. The question is, how?

I am so very thankful I moved into this career when I did, landing my symphony job in 1975. It was easier then; there were fewer oboists, and there were orchestras that were newly formed, others that were moving from an amateur status to professional, and a good number of groups seemed to be improving and growing. It was just an easier time.

Now there are a lot more very fine oboists and a lot fewer jobs. It’s a tough time!

How would you answer this young oboist’s question?

What is the oboe’s role in the classical orchestra? Furthermore, winds in general?
I’m trying to compose something for a small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, timpani, and strings), and I’m a bit lost on the wind instruments, particularly the oboe. I have so far arranged my main theme like this: strings, bassoon, clarinet, and flute, state the ‘masculine’ ‘question’, followed by a lighter, ‘feminine’ response from the strings alone. I want oboe in that response, but I’m unsure how to incorporate it. Should an oboe double the melody the violins are playing? Should the oboe play a high pedal tone above it? Should I leave the oboe out for now?

Read on Yahoo Answers:

Can you trade in a used flute for a used oboe?
im in band and my teacher gave me the option to switch from playing the flute to playing the oboe but i don’t know if i want to have to buy a new oboe so would i be able to just trade in my used flute for a for a used oboe?

What are the parts of the English Horn/Cor Anglas?

Parts, not pieces. No music, just parts. Like for example, the parts of a trombone are the bell, the mouthpiece, the spit valve, etc.

So, someone can go answer, okay?

What should i do to make my oboe reeds not flat(in pitch)?
I’m a young oboist, you could say I am a freshman in high school. I have constant problems with my oboe reeds always being flat, and my band teacher is always saying I should fix them. What does he know!!! Anyways, I don’t know if you can physically fix a flat oboe reed, but if you can, I would like to know how.
13 hours ago – 3 days left to answer. Report Abuse
Additional Details
I have already buying new ones, and they are like 15 dollors!!!

Answer here.

Some things about this really made me smile, like the “you could say …” line … but really, what to do for these poor oboists who must not be able to get a private instructor.

The first answer was pretty funny:

You can try getting a new reed. I think its sold in music classes. And maybe its around th the price of a clarinet reed.