Advice for parent of would-be oboist Options

[soccermom]

Damn - just managed to delete the reply I had just typed.

Thanks all for your advice.

I like the idea that the oboe might suit stubborn children. Mine is very stubborn!

Things I am clear about:

- we'd need to wait until she has stopped wearing a brace
- she'd need to prove to me that she could do 2 decent practices a night
- she'd need a specialist teacher. That won't be a problem. Her school appears to have one (I assume she's a specialist as she doesn't teach anything else) and I know of two other places locally where I could find one (piano teacher has already recommended someone he knows)
- we'd want to rent in the first instance (though I'd probably want to buy, probably 2nd hand, if she decided that she was enjoying it.
- It will sound pretty hideous to start with. My older daughter plays the violin and that was pretty dreadful for the first couple of years. This will no doubt be worse as it will be louder.
- It will be expensive!

I remain undecided about the recorder idea - I might suggest it next time she mentions the O word, just to see how she reacts.

[Splog]

That'll be the one which includes these gems:

"In the hands of an outstanding professional musician?..the oboe can sound exquisite. Played by most children who are learning, the sound is unpleasant and rasping?. If your child is thing about playing the oboe?. there is only one word of advice: Don't"

"The aperture between the two pieces of reed is so tight that the player has to force the breath through. Children may experience headaches from the back pressure which this causes, even a healthy teenager".

"The oboe is not for generous extroverts: determined, tight-lipped, stubborn children do best".

All of which is misleading at best and drivel at worst.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif) It was a few years ago; I did enjoy reading it...... and it said that trombonists were intelligent.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[gwyntdi-enw]

It's a bit off the wall, I know, but how about just getting one soft student reed, and no instrument at all? When my daughter first started learning at school, that's all she was given for a couple of weeks. It seems they'd discovered that just trying to get a sound out of the reed was enough to deter those who turned out not to be genuinely interested in putting in the effort.

[soccermom]

It's a bit off the wall, I know, but how about just getting one soft student reed, and no instrument at all? When my daughter first started learning at school, that's all she was given for a couple of weeks. It seems they'd discovered that just trying to get a sound out of the reed was enough to deter those who turned out not to be genuinely interested in putting in the effort.

That sounds like a brilliant idea. Thanks!

[Barry Toner]

It's a bit off the wall, I know, but how about just getting one soft student reed, and no instrument at all? When my daughter first started learning at school, that's all she was given for a couple of weeks. It seems they'd discovered that just trying to get a sound out of the reed was enough to deter those who turned out not to be genuinely interested in putting in the effort.

That sounds like a brilliant idea. Thanks!

A word of warning, though. If your daughter does get on with just the reed and can make a decent crowing sound from it, it could then be much harder to say "no", if that is your intention.

[Norway]

[quote name='soccermom' date='Jun 10 2012, 08:19 PM' post='1152820']
For the last couple of years my 12 year old has been keen on learning the oboe. So far I have been resisting. She already plays the piano and cello and has singing lessons and she's not doing enough practice on those, without adding another instrument. But if at some point she can convince me that a third instrument is viable, I'd like to know a bit more about the various pros and cons of the oboe. I know next to nothing about the oboe - or indeed any woodwind instrument - though I do love the sound of it when played well.

I have a teaching diploma in the oboe and it is my favourite instrument. However, I neither teach nor play it anymore due to reed problems which I never really overcame, and also the physical effort involved in playing it.

I think that 2 instruments are enough, what with school, homework, and all the other things which life brings. I play alot of instruments, but did the piano to grade 8 first, then the flute, then the oboe etc etc. If I'm honest, even as a teacher, I would not have the time, motivation or self discipline to practise more than one instrument at once...I know we are all different but.....I would definitely play the "braces" card! And if she's still keen when she's 18, then she could do it then (that's the age I started).

[Hubicka]

When I was her age I managed to get to grade 8 oboe whilst also playing clarinet, saxophone, flute piano and singing lessons :|
Definitely possible!

However I now study none of the above and am studying violin in a conservatoire (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) !!

[soccermom]

When I was her age I managed to get to grade 8 oboe whilst also playing clarinet, saxophone, flute piano and singing lessons :|
Definitely possible!

I know it is possible for some - but the amount of practice she does now suggests it is not possible for her!

[sbhoa]

When I was her age I managed to get to grade 8 oboe whilst also playing clarinet, saxophone, flute piano and singing lessons :|
Definitely possible!

I know it is possible for some - but the amount of practice she does now suggests it is not possible for her!

Unless it's that she's just not found the 'right' instrument yet.
Would it have to be a 4th or could it be instead of one or two of the others if lack of practice is down to lack of interest?
Tricky (and potentially expensive) to work out if this is the case though.