Hi.
I would like to know if it is easy to switch from clarinet to oboe and other double reed instruments. I have wanted to play oboe for a while, and I thought it would be a good idea to see if I have a chance on it before convincing my mom to get me one.

Thanks.

Once you learn how to play any instrument to a certain level, it becomes "relatively" easier to switch because you understand what it takes to succeed...the important little things.

With that said, the oboe and bassoon are particularly challenging in the band setting. IF you really want to do it though, you can. Just get involved, listen to oboe music and commit.

Good luck.

It's all about embouchure. Apples & Oranges. After that it's fingerings and the usual stuff. And oh, the reed problems don't go away--imagine they just get worse.

With the oboe, you will have way more opportunities than with the clarinet (that being said, you could be the greatest clarinet player in the world, I don't know you, and still have a million opportunities) but there are so fewer oboists out there, that you'll be a staple. The transition isn't that bad. From a fingering standpoint, the oboe is way easier. You don't have to worry about the break or making sure all of your fingers are covering all of the holes. I learned oboe first then switched to clarinet and noticed that the break and making sure all my fingers were covered was my biggest downfall. As for the embouchure, it really depends on how your mouth is. When I play clarinet a lot, my oboe embouchure always suffers. I played both senior year of high school and my private oboe teacher hated it because she said I had a clarinet embouchure on the oboe. Now (I am a college graduate) the same teacher hates that I once again play clarinet in a concert band because my embouchure, which I spent the last 4 years perfecting, it back to how it used to be. But the oboe is a lot of fun and I would always advocate playing it!