Glad to hear you are pleased with the Fox.

Good choice!!

I really liked the 300 I had on approval a few weeks ago. Very well made, and it played nicely.

Very nice, I myself was looking into the 330 as a second oboe (for outdoor performaces). I also suggest you attempt to make your own reeds, I used to play on Maesons (sp) and Jones reeds, but since I started to make my own reeds, I have only been playing on those. When making your own reeds, you get the chance to make them the way you want so they will play the way you want. If you have any questions about reed making, or random Oboe questions, feel free to email me, and I will do the best I can to try to help you out. Good luck with your new oboe!

Dont blame EVERYTHING on the reed just yet. Most of the time that is my first instinct too, but over the years and learning from my private teachers, it is not just the reed. Embouchure is a key factor. Also, no one has mentioned OBOE ADJUSTMENT! If there are one or two pads out of adjustment on the top joint, the entire oboe can play incorrectly. I have gotten my oboe adjusted at Gilbert`s in Los Angeles, but since you live in a small town, you may want to order The Oboe Adustment book by Pat McFarland. Excellent book for any oboist to have. Reeds... hmm, if you want to buy reeds, I really dont know where since I make my own but you may want to get a reed book and read up on how to make a reed, then use that to adjust the reeds you buy.

Well, it`s been a while but I thought that I`d tell ya`ll what`s going on with my oboe studies at the moment.

I`ve been taking private lessons from an instructor at a University that`s about a 1 & 1/2 hour drive from my home. I go once a week. The lessons are $15 a lesson, but this guy is sooo understanding about everything!! You pay $60 a month, and if that month happens to have a fifth Thursday I get a free lesson!! Not to mention the fact that I am his last lesson of the day and he usually runs a full lesson over time!! I don`t like to take advantage, but it`s working out great for me. He makes reeds for me AT COST. $8 people!! And the reeds are made specifically for me and my instrument, so I can`t go wrong!! It`s totally kool. I love it. Not to mention the fact that I think I`m getting a lot better!! Advancing quickly because I was already skilled at the saxophone...The oboe is sort of coming naturally to me!!

Well, that`s all for now. We`re started marching band AND school starts soon, so I`ll have to postpone my lessons for a while, but I can`t wait to go back!!

I WOULD RECOMMEND PRIVATE LESSONS WITH A PROFESSIONAL TO ANYONE!!

*PEACE*OUT*
molly

oboe lessons by aprofessional do truly make a difference.

I started taking them two weeks ago and i`ve learned alot.
Also, my teacher makes reeds for me personally for free. Befores taking lessons with her i was always SHARP in my band and i didn`t know what i was doing wrong. i thought maybe it was my embouchure (sp?) my reed or my instrumentm, so i kept pulling my reed out. doing that it made my notes bad, because your spposed to have the cork pretty far in.

well it found out that the problem was that my oboe was made a half step sharp! no wonder the judges and band competitions were like OBOE IS OUT OF TUNE!!!

but now i have special long reeds tthat enable me to paly in tune! thats a huge difference. i don`t know what i have done without a private teacher.


I am switching from flute to oboe and soon have to drop my beloved flute teacher. im asd abouit that but oboe is waay fun.

also, im interested in purchasing a Fox 300 oboe. but i have a question, does the fox 300 oboe come with a left F key?

thanks,
Kaity

Congratulations on your new oboe!

I just rented an oboe this morning, because learning to play the oboe is on my "life list of things to do". I played for half an hour and I can see it`s going to be a challenge!

I`m transitioning from French Horn. Quite a difference.

Hi Molly. I think you should continue playing storebought reeds, because you could get splinters I play the oboe too, and that has happened to me several times. I have played for 4 years, and I still play with soft or medium soft. I strongly advise against starting out with medium, but since you already have, it can`t hurt right. Tips: Don`t puff your cheeks out. It makes the flute/clarinet players laugh at you. And you look like a chipmunk. Tip2: Make sure your`e playing the right notes. If you halfhole on the low Eb, it will come out as the staffed Eb. Blow harder, and the notes won`t sound as airy. I hope I helped somehow. Bye!

That`s so funny! I went from Alto Sax to Oboe too!

So--I think it seems typical.

Good luck with the Oboe!

There is a really good site for learning to make reeds.

If you are planning to make reeds, go to woodwind and brasswind or any other reliable music place and you will need:

-Knife
-Cutting block
-Sharpening stone for the knife (also, good idea to take it to be professionaly shapened every couple of weeks)
-mandrel
-gouged and shaped cane. (I personally like "Rigotti" brand. It vibrates good.)
-Thread. (I heard dental floss works good too.)
-A ruler
-A plaque

I think thats it, but I might be forgetting something.

Also, this is a great sight to help you out:

http://www.public.asu.edu/~schuring/Oboe/oboeinfo.html