Hello everyone!

I just discovered this fantastic forum today, and thought I'd ask a question which has been niggling at me a lot.

I used to play the bassoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and got to a reasonable standard - but that was years ago.

Thing is, I've always adored the oboe, and I'm wondering how difficult it would be for a mature-age (ie. 40-something) ex-bassoonist to start the oboe from scratch! (And yes, I still have all my own teeth!)

I'm sure I've forgotten most things about bassoon-playing - my "bassoon embouchure" must be totally flaccid by now

Just wondering if I should I embark upon this oboe-playing adventure - or should I wait until my next life-time?

Thanks in advance!

Angharad. xxx

Go for it!

Don't let age hold you back from what you want to do.

It doesn't matter how old you are, you should be able to enjoy music and the oboe =].

I played the oboe before switching to bassoon. Everyone told me that I would ruin my oboe embouchure by playing bassoon, but I don't know. I think (unless you are at professional level) the muscles are the same and they are either strong or not. I picked up an oboe again after not playing either instrument for years, and within 10 minutes of practice, my embouchure was so tired I was practically spitting. That will probably be your biggest challenge. But by the time you become proficient in fingering the notes, you should have most of you embouchure back. Good luck with it. I am just now trying to pick up the bassoon again after 14 years of not having one. But truly I love both instruments, you will enjoy the oboe.

Just remember that oboe reeds are much more finicky than bassoon. My brother who is a bassoonist says that bassoon reeds are like planks! He used to take reeds that other bassoonists were throwing away and make then work beautifully.
I played oboe in high school and only sporatically since. Got the urge to play seriously again about 2 years ago at the age of 48.
I much harder on myself than I was as a teenager but much more willing to work on improvement.