Flute & Oboe? Options

[Andy1]

i already play the flute grade 7 and have the opportunity to take second study lessons on the oboe, i already know someone who does this with no problems what do people think-bad idea?

[dacapo]

i already play the flute grade 7 and have the opportunity to take second study lessons on the oboe, i already know someone who does this with no problems what do people think-bad idea?

I also know someone - performer and teacher - who plays flute and oboe (and clarinet and alto sax and bassoon and French horn...) successfully. I believe she is Grade 8+ on all. Would you be learning oboe from an oboe specialist? Many wind teachers these days have to teach all woodwinds without necessarily having a solid grounding on all of them themselves. As a flute specialist and accompanist I sometimes see sad results of non-specialist teaching of flute beginners - very poor stance and hand position, incorrect fingerings etc.

[july]

It might not be good for your embouchure, and your flute playing might suffer. That's not to say it actually will, but there's a possibility. I notice that I find it harder to find my correct embouchure after having played the recorder. It takes a while for me to make the change. Many people play both and have no problems, though.

[kenm]

Have you considered the implications for your later playing? There are Classical works in which this doubling is required, but they are very rare. I can only think of an early Mozart symphony (there may be a few others from the same period). I know or knew several flute players who took up bassoon, giving themselves many more playing opportunities, including great works, like the Mozart Serenades and the Gran Partita, which have no flutes. From the point of view of range of musical styles, the clarinet is more complementary to the flute than the oboe is: in chamber music with strings or piano, both oboe and flute are well served by the 18th C. and by French music from 1890 to 1920, while the clarinet covers the period from 1770 to 1890* when flute chamber music is of lower quality. As you can see, my second instrument is another that is in short supply, and extends even further the range of ensembles in which I can play.

OTOH, this doubling is a very good one for a teacher of woodwind. One of our local teachers has Grade 8 on each of the four instruments she teaches, plus a teaching diploma. I first met her as an oboist, and she also plays saxophone, horn (which she doesn't teach) and clarinet well.

Finally, woodwind players in pit orchestras for late 20th C. musicals are expected to play several instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet and a saxophone or two are quite likely to be demanded in the same part.

* e.g. Mozart Trio (Cl, Va, P); Quintets (Ob, Cl, Bn, Hn, P; Cl, Str 4); Beethoven Trio (Cl, Vc, P), Brahms Trio (Cl, Vc, P), Quintet (Cl, Str 4), two Sonatas (Cl, P)

[Kflute]

You'll be fine I'd say, as long as when you play the flute, you have 'flute head' on, and remember exactly what to do with your lips etc when you play the flute. You must be able to distinquish between the two in order not to play both instruments with a half oboe half flute embouchure.

Doubling for shows is always needed, though I've not come across amny so far where flute and oboe have to double. I've played in many shows, and I've had to play flute picc, clarinet and sax.