I play the alto saxophone during marching season, and symphonic is coming up in a few months. i was planning playing my main instrument (oboe) in symphonic band, but my band teacher has informed me that there are 3 (including me) oboists signed up for symphonic. to me, it seems as if 3 oboists are a bit too much. so i was thinking of taking up bassoon for symphonic. i want to play oboe, but i already play that in my church community band, so should i stick with oboe or try to learn bassoon?

Why not get so good that you will be first oboist in your symphonic band? Then you can let someone else wonder if 3 oboes are too many. If your band director has talked to you about it, however, it may be that he is secretly wanting you to do something else. Do you think that might be it, or has he talked to all the oboes?

Many people play both oboe and bassoon. I don't, however, so I don't know how easy it would be. The embouchures are a bit different. You might talk to your teacher also, and if he feels you would be shoo-in for the symphonic orch., he might put a word in with the director.