I am a male playing the oboe in my middle school band. I have no problems with anyone, but I just wondered whether the oboe is a neutral instrument.

you mean like which sex plays the instrument more than not??? i don`t think there`s anything, oboe`s an instrument that you see different people on all the time, there`s nothig strange about seeing a guy playing oboe, nothing strange about seeing a girl play oboe...just sometimes it`s strange to see an oboe at all in middle school and high school bands. but someone playing an oboe - that`s a thumbs up in my book.

I recently attended an oboe Masterclass (as an audience member) given by an exceptionally talented young man. I don`t see it as predominantly female instrument at all.

I agree, it definately is not a instrument that really can be stereotyped except most oboists are crazy. haha REEDS!

No, I don`t think that gender has any role in any musical instrument. I am a male and I play the flute, clarinet, and oboe.

I have heard of stereotyping before, but I think it is stupid!

Well, I`ve only seen like..... five other oboists in my life, but one of the best I ever met happens to be a guy in high school concert band. So yeah, it`s probably neutral. And in any case, if your seating`s like in my band, you probably get to sit next to all them flute girls and flirt, eheh.

Some of the world`s best our male oboe players.....John Mack, Alex Klein, Richard Woodhams, Heinz Hollinger, etc. but there are also many good female oboists Laura Griffiths, Evelyn Rothwell, etc.