Greetings and salutations,

I currently play the flute and the clarinet. I am thinking of quiting clarinet and switching to oboe. The reason is because I hate the sound of clarinets, to me they sound like ducks (No offence meant to any clarinetists here). I only chose it because my parents like it. Anyhoo, I LOVE the sound of the oboe and would realy like to play. My music teacher tells me that when I start it will sound so bad I will hate it and want to stop (she played oboe for a year.) Could someone tell me if this is true? Also, how much does a decent beginner oboe cost? And finaly, how much do reeds cost?


THANKS!!!!!

It`s kinda funny that you think clarinets sound like ducks when most people think that oboes sound like ducks. Well beginning oboists sound like ducks. A fox beginner oboe costs about $2400.00 dollars for one of the good ones and that kind is really popular now in schools. You will definetly NOT want to stop playing oboe after your first year, in fact you will love the oboe `cause it sounds so cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool. Oboes are one of the most important instruments in all the bands and orchestras because they lead the band and tune it. So I really think that the oboe is a good choice.

Thanks! In that case, does anyone know of a good oboe teacher in montreal? I was thinking that I might teach myself, but I would rather at least avoid bad habits by starting with a teacher. Thanks in advance!

A teacher would be good for a beginner oboist, to learn to make the nice sound. Really, do clarinets sound like ducks? Because I play the clarinet and it sounds far away from ducks, and oboist, I think about 99% of starters sound like dying ducks or geese, ok, fine, about 80%. Oboes cost alot, and the reeds are pretty expensive and are hard to handle as I have heard and seen. I love the sound of oboe, but only the sound from professionals... I love the sound of bassoons, they`re a deeper and kind of richer sound of the oboe, and the oboe is supposed to sound like a violin when played correctly, and the bassoon as cello.

Oboe=Violin
English Horn=Viola
Bassoon=Cello
Contrabassoon=Contrabass

Whoohoo just thought of making that.

I am not sure of what I put up there ^ but just a thought.

Double reeds rock! Right now I only play a single reed and no reed, (clarinet, flute) but I will be a double-reeder soon, at least I hope so.

Hey Kosh, I`ve seen your name on some of the other msg boards and thought I`d say hello. Have you just started playing at music? I would suggest that whatever you decide, you shouldn`t give up any of your instruments. Keep playing around with the clarinet even though it`s not a favorite right now. You might be surprised to know that many woodwind players learn to play multiple instruments. In musical theater, it is necessary to know upwards of five different instruments. In fact many of the reed books for Broadway musicals will list flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet and alto sax as played by the same musician! Just a thought...Good luck with your playing!

Hi feadog41,

I would never give up flute, because I absolutely love playing it. Clarinet I may continue or I may not, I haven`t decided yet. I do know I don`t particularly like it. Thanks for the advise.

I have come up with yet another question. Could someone please dedcribe the sound a begining oboist makes. I am starting over passover break and I hope to be prepared. (BTW I have no idea what I dying duck or goose sounds like, that just makes me thing of clarinet) Thanks alot!

Well, a very horrific honking sound, like a kazoo that has a bit more sound. It`s like when you get a leaf and fold it and blow at it it makes a vibrating sound, kinda like that. Hard to explain. Perhaps sounds like a higher version of when a goose honks.

I found your comparisons interesting Riki, as they seem to be true. I nearly took up the english horn when I was thinking of playing a wind instrument. Also, I`ve found that quite a few violists like the english horn too ( unisons are not uncommon in the orchestra ).

PS; bad clarinet playing always reminded me seagulls, and bad oboe playing geese

I don`t think that the oboe should sound like anything other than an oboe! Even Baroque oboes don`t sound like violins-they have their own distinct tone. As far as saying that the double reed family when played properly is to sound like the string family is ridiculous. The English Horn may sound like the viola because of its range, but even then it is nowhere close to sounding like a viola.

If you take away the attack of the sound, oboes and violins can sound identical. But it`s the attack of the sound that gives instruments their unique qualities.

Obviously, it`s not gonna sound exactly the same, it was just a close comparison. Different types of violin, different sounds. Different types of oboes, different types of sounds. Different types of reeds, strings, and players, different sounds. It was just a thought.

Hey, I`m in the same boat as you, only I don`t play flute at all. I play clarinet, but I don`t want to completely quit it. I fell in love with the oboe at a band competition when I listened to some other school. Our band currently doesn`t have an oboe and I would like to give it what it doesn`t have.

I just started oboe a few months ago and I think I`m starting to get out of the duck/goose/honk phase.

I distinctly recall and incident about 2-3 weeks after I started playing. It was the only time that I almost considered quitting because of the horrible sound. Have you ever filled up a balloon and then let the air out of it slowly by holding the end a little loosely. THAT`s how my oboe sounded for about a week or two. But I always keep the beautiful sound of the professionals in my mind and I knew that it wouldn`t always sound like that. I practiced as much as my mouth let me for the next few weeks and pretty soon it started sounding more like music than honks or deflating balloons.

Go for it! I`ve tried several other instruments (in fact I played clarinet for a few months before switching to oboe) but now I am absolutely in love with the oboe. Plus if you get good at the oboe you`ll have an easier time finding groups to play with. There are soooo many good clarinetists out there!

i don`t know why, but ALL my oboe reedds keep cracking down the side!
have any tips for keeping my reeds better? (i already have a reed case)

the guy up at the top of the page is right. if you start the oboe, then after your first year, you will NOT want to stop! itz such a fun insturment. BTW, it really helps if u get a GOOD teacher.lol. when i used to paly violin, (not anymore. im obeo girl now!) i had a half-bad teacher. i had subtitudes for like, half my lessons. if that ever happens to u, then find a new teacher, `cause you`ll end up hating ur instrumen ti f you don`t!