Is it true that playing the Oboe can cause blindness!? If it is that`s horrible. My flutist friend said her private instructor said so. Please, tell me whats true so I don`t quit the Oboe for nothing.

I heard it was because there was so much pressure because the hole which the air passes through is so small.

It can, in certain freak cases, cause blindness. It can also cause aneurism; several professional oboists have died that way over the years. The air pressure from the small reed receiver is the main culprit; that`s why it`s easy to get dizzy when one plays as well.

Of course, that sort of medical issue is extremely rare and caused by poor breathing practices. It`s really nothing to worry about at the student level--ask your oboe teacher to give you breathing lessons. The oboe requires very special breathing techniques unlike any other instrument, but it`s not going to make you go blind if you`re doing things even in the BALLPARK of "right" as far as breathing.

I don`t take Oboe lessons. My band teacher says I`m the only one in town who doesn`t. He would know because he`s a district music coordinater. I don`t take because I already take $30 piano lessons. I wish I could do both.

well i think im very lucky cuz im taking $52/hr piano lessons and have two $30/hr tuition for maths and english. Im also going to learn the acoustic guitar with lessons soon but i dont know any good brands to look for. Any help?

can cause blindness, eh? well, maybe that`s why the later in the year i got last year (my 1st year in high school band) the harder it was for me to see the music. well, what instrument causes better eyesight?????? hehe. byebye

But Corinne, maybe your eyes are just deteriorating due to natural causes. Perhaps you should get your eyes check by the eye doctor.

yeah...probably oh well!

I also heard you shouldn`t start playing Oboe until you`re 16 `cause your loungs haven`t developed fully until then.

now that`s just silly. and kinda crazy. it seems oboe could kinda help develop your lungs. but i started when i was 12, and i know a lot of people don`t wait that long....but who knows...?

You can actually take both piano and oboe lessons....there are people who give you 1/2 hour lessons for only $15 (I`m one of them) and are highly certified to do so.

As for this...consult a doctor if you are this worried...I`ve never heard of it before but I do know it`s a hard instrument to play.

hello all,
I play trumpet, and I think trumpet uses more pressure, and I never heard of anyone became blind because of this.

It`s nonsense that you shouldn`t play the oboe before age 16. It`s in the same category of old wive`s tales as "asthmatic people shouldn`t be on the track team". Playing woodwind instruments often helps people with lung conditions and helps kids develop great lung capacity. The oboe, which requires almost NO air to play (lots of muscular diaphragm support but very little air) would clearly not hurt a child`s lungs. I`ve met many people who began playing between ages eight and twelve, and they`re healthy as horses.

I agree that starting an instrument as a child can greatly help there lung developement. As for Oboe lessons, $15 for a half hour?! The oboe teacher here that teaches full time is VERY good and charges $10 for a full HOUR. It`s just that my brother is in his first year of college so we cant really aford to do both kinds of lessons, if you know what I mean.

oh wow, $10 an hour!?!?! that`s crazy! it costs me $30 an hour oh well, i`m happy for you.