Just went to "try/pick" instrument meeting w/ band director for daughter. She has had her heart set on the flute. Band director said she would be fine w/ flute but got very serious and said she should try oboe and would even start w/ a free private lesson. He made it sound like oboe is a prized instrument...said he only picks 3 max to start w/oboe. Any advice?

I am a big supporter of the child should pick an instrument they want to play. How old is your daughter, does she have any muscial experience yet? And most importantly, did the director say WHY he thought she would be so good on oboe?

Traditionally many directors start oboe players on clarinet and then offer a second or third player the opportunity to switch over to oboe later. If she never thought of the oboe but is interested now, great. But, if she likes the sound of the flute and that is where her heart is she is more likely to enjoy and practice the flute. If she doesn't like the sound of the oboe she is not going to practice and she will have a miserable time if she is forced to. Oboe may be the most difficult woodwind instrument to play, if not the most difficult wind instrument. Music is fun and enjoyable - even when practicing boring long tones. If it were my daughter, I would let her choose what she wants. Then there is no excuse not to practice. Lately I have seen more and more band directors picking instruments for students not so much for the student, but for what their personal needs for their band are.

Did he say one free lesson?! What is that? He should give free lessons all year each year if he wants her to play oboe so badly. Actually, if you can afford it, you should try and get her private lessons whichever instrument she chooses. The learning curve in the school system is quite lengthy. The one on one you get with a private teacher is worth so much.

Here is a bad analogy but hopefully it gets the point across - having your daughter play oboe when she wants to play flute is like taking a kid who wants to play baseball and having him or her play center on the football team. They are not going to be happy. Let her switch to oboe later when and if she wants to.

Again - music is supposed to be fun. Yes, lots of work, but it's good challenging fun work. Because you want to do it.

The oboe is a wonderful instrument, but yeah, if your daughter wants to play flute, she really shouldn't play oboe. The oboe needs commitment (plus money) so if her heart isn't into it, I don't suggest playing it.

I started with the flute, but I hadn't heard an oboe yet, and when I did I fell in love with the sound. Quick question, is the band director an oboist? If not, I would not take his recommendation for your daughter to play oboe too seriously. Any oboist will tell you it is a time and money-consuming instrument. In regards to the flute, it is a much easier to learn than the oboe, but on the downside is much more popular. If your daughter has not heard the oboe before, take her to a music store and have her look and listen to all the instruments there. Who knows, she might want to play trumpet after she sees and hears different instruments!

Double reeds are extremely tempermental and expensive. Are you prepared for that? I started on flute, added oboe, dropped oboe, added bassoon, and added piccolo. In all honesty, oboe was a great instrument (so is bassoon) but is extremely hard.Flute, however, is an instrument that provides almost instant gratification, while double reeds do not. Let her learn flute, you'll be glad you did. If she wants to add on oboe later, then let her. Double reeds ARE prized instruments, and it is much easier to get a college scholarship playing a double reed then playing flute because there are so few players, and they are such difficult instruments. Plus- oboe can't be used in marching band...and nobody wants to miss oit on that experience. It is NOT advised to start directly on oboe, let her grow musically first.

P.S. ONE lesson? To learn oboe you're going to need much more than that! It is definately not a fair trade, considering the money you would already put into getting an oboe for your daughter to play in the first place.

I actually started on oboe (granted I'd had 4 years of piano before) and so I don't think it's necessary to start on another instrument before oboe. BUT if she doesn't want to play oboe and thinks of it of a chore its not even worth it. She needs to play an instrument she loves.



<Added>

actually 7 yrs of piano. oops

it sounds like the band director just wants more oboes, if your daughter wants to play oboe let her, but it takes a lot of time commitment and money,but if she wants to play flute then let her play flute, flute is awesome to play and hear, oboe is also good but is harder and more expensive. but your daughter needs to play what she wants to not what the band director wants.

I was one of the few students who actually started (my wind instrument career) on oboe. I already knew piano- and so I could read music, plus I had a natural knack for it more than flute or clarinet so after swearing to find a private tutor, my director let me. They have very good parts in the vast majority of good literature. It's rare to have a surplus until you reach the pro stage.
For most people oboe is more work than flute or any of the single reeds. Reeds can be very expensive once the basics are down, and usually high school/college age students are deeply encouraged to make their own. Oboe is very much a committment.
Ultimately leave it to your daughter. Even if it comes easier to her than another instument, which could explain the director's enthusiasm, she would probably feel compelled to work on a more difficult instrument she enjoyed than an easier one she did not.