Ok, so I seem to have got myself into starting oboe relatively soon, as my current clarinet peri teacher is actually a first study oboist and this would be the only chance I get to take up such a lovely instrument. Basically, I was wondering if there are any problems from swapping from clarinet to oboe - is embouchure likely to be a massive problem? (I play flute, piccolo, and trombone also...)

pikkoloflautist

Congratulations on being given the opportunity!

I teach oboe, and other wind, and play flute and clarinetto a lesser level, and don't encounter many issues, though some on here may disagree. My big issue would be your tromboning, having hasd serious issues with trying to teach brass players the oboe before...

Well, I only play the trombone because this peri teacher also runs our school orchestra and wanted me to play it So technically, it is her own doing....

Gosh, this question - and similar- seem to be repeated every few weeks!

I always say there's no problem whatsoever, because they're so very different, and I've been doing both for about 2 years now. The way of holding the instrument, elbows out, oboe up, rounder hands, lips, breathing etc are all different enough to make any mix ups very rare. If anything the oboe embouchure seemed to strengthen my clarinet emb. The only problem I ever have is sometimes confusing the F/F# which is the opposite way on each instrument. But this is only for the first minute.

The oboe started out just to satisfy my interest, but it's starting to overtake the clarinet more and more! I still play the clarinet in our wind band rehearsals, concerts and marches, but rarely do any practise these days.

But that's because I'm fascinated by all instruments. If you talk to someone who's fanatical only about one instrument, they'll tell you not to play both!


Steve

Hi I'm a relatively new oboist myself!

Having gone the opposite way to you, oboe to clarinet within short space of time because of persuasive teachers ( ), I found the biggest problem was holding my embouchure perfectly still for the clarinet, where the oboe has very mobile one.

I don't know if you'll encounter this problem going your way, possibly your flute playing could help with the movement thing(I don't know anything about the flute)

You shouldn't find any problem with it if you have a good enough teacher though. They should anticpate any problems you have before you start, or if you've started.

Hope this helps!

Wow! Thanks so much for all the replies I think that I'll be able to deal with the whole 'mobile embouchure' thing, as this is a necessity for brass. I know what is meant by the matter of 'not mixing up instruments' as I seem to not think of the instruments I play in any relation to each other - they all have their own embouchure, fingerings, and playing position

Best of luck with your oboe learning!

I also made the switch from clarinet to oboe, although in my case there was a gap of five or so years between the time I last played the clarinet regularly and the time I started oboe. The biggest thing for me was fingering. Sometimes I'll start to play a particular note (usually A these days, not sure why) and my hands will be in the clarinet fingering before my brain kicks in. (Which it usually does before I actually play the note - thankfully)