I am a flute teacher who has decided to learn the oboe. I got my oboe today, it's an old open holed rudell carte/louis, I believe it's a post world war 2 Italian (Orsi) import by B & H. Not quite conservatoire fingering but nearly (I think thus far). Too close to xmas to locate a teacher right now.

My top lip is not very long and only just slips under my top teeth. Thus far I have to place the reed at 90 degrees to my mouth to make a sound, as my lower teeth have to jut right forward or my top lip just slides out. I've been pivoting from the hips (sitting on the floor), keeping my upper body straight but forwards to slant the oboe down so I don't crush my diaphragm.

Is this a rookie mistake? Am I screwed? Is there something I can do? I figure my top lip will stretch with time, it has already grown today. Will it grow long enough to put the oboe below 90 degrees?

How long am I looking at to stop sounding like a tattoo gun being waved around, and start sounding like a musical instrument? Any tips how to make a vaguely respectable sound?

I've got a medium reed, is hand made (bit rough) and came with the oboe. It only fits half way into the aperture despite an ample supply of grease. The hole at the mouth end is about 1.5mm. Awaiting soft ones in the xmas post.

Any exercises/tips? My mouth didn't tire while playing earlier, guess from playing the flute.

I also played the flute before I started with the oboe, and even if I don´t have my lips in the correct positions (according to my teachers), that has never been a problem for me. The angle of the oboe is important, it should not be held down as a clarinett, about 45 deg. compare to the floor works for me.
Best is to start with playing long notes and buy a knife so that you can correct your reeds even the ones you buy.

I started with the oboe, not flute, and it took me two-three years of dedicated practicing to sound more like an instrument and less like a duck...
I do not know if this is typical or not, but if it is that's what you're looking at for tone, anyway.

I agree with Trombi about 45 degrees, that's what I had to learn (the hard way, there was no one to tell me until my 2nd year, and by then it was a hard habit to break!)

Yeah, you definitely need to bring the oboe down. It really shouldn't be any higher than 45 degrees. Could the reason you're having so much trouble with your upper lip be that you're worrying a lot about "rolling" it over your top teeth? Because you don't actually have to do that (at least, not if you're learning American style. I don't know about European.) As long as your teeth aren't near the reed, it's fine. It should be like whistling. Pull your upper lip down to the reed, but don't worry about trying to roll it in. See if that helps.

Hi, thankyou for your replies, it turned out the reed was old and fractured. Once I got a nice soft unbroken reed, I was able to sustain notes, and play it at 45 degrees.

Yeah, still sounds like a duck! I watched my neighbour cringing on the front while I was playing! Never-the-less, it's now a duck with vibrato and a happy range!

Question: is it a common fault to lock the ring finger on your left hand? I've been fighting it so I can still reach the Eb key but it seems to want to. My bad.