Wow Jimmy! Congrats! What made you decide to pick up the oboe at age 30?

Hi

I started the oboe at 43, am now the grand old age of 44, so I have been playing for less than a year, 10 months nearly.

I am just about to upgrade my oboe, because whilst I will never be really good, I want to be the best I can be.

I have a really wonderful teacher, and if I could get halfway to her standard, I would be delighted.

Do not let anyone put you off of this wonderful instrument, it is hard to learn to play it, but definitely worth it, although the cat complains about the racket I make, but I reckon she is probably tone deaf.

Karen

The idea of a tone deaf cat really made me chuckle! Thanks!

It sounds like we`re all pretty much beginners or so. That makes it easy to bounce ideas and such off each other!

I`ve a question: I started developing problems in my right thumb, coincidentally about the same time I started oboe again. I suspect it has to do with balancing the entire weight of the instrument on one little joint. Any one have the same issues and/or any ideas of solutions?

To usolduns re the sore thumb.

I too had this problem, and the only thing that helped me was to not play for a week or so, and then to play for a little less time to start and build it back up again.

Alternatively, try breaking your playing into smaller sessions, so twice a day for half the time each session, other suggestion is to get a sling that goes around the neck like clarinetists use, not sure where you would attach it though.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Karen

Thanks Beany!

I have noticed that if I don`t play for awhile (like during our last 2 week hiatus) it felt better when I started back up. My lips blew out far more quickly however!

I`m a 58 year old ex-saxophonist who bought an oboe over ebay, began taking lessons, resold the clunker and bought a Buffet Greenline and am LOVING it. I`ve only been playing for 5 months, but it is a treat. It`s difficult, compared too the sax, but with maturity, patience and the discipline that comes with adulthood, it`s all manageble. One thing I`d like to be able to do is adjust my oboe, but don`t know of any good books that teach this complex task. How does one learn to troubleshoot and adjust an oboe?

Hi Suzanne! Even though I have been playing for just under 2 1/2 years, I still leave all reed making and oboe adjusting to my teacher, but I DO have a book called "The Oboe Revealed" by Carl Sawicki that I purchased from the Charles Double Reed Company a year or so ago. It comes in binder form and is pretty extensive. You can try and contact them to see if they still offer it. (www.charlesmusic.com) Hope this helps!