Hi woodwind people, I am thinking of taking up either oboe or clarinet, does anyone have any opinions as to which is the best/easier instrument to learn? I've got experience of playing piano and classical guitar, but I haven't ventured into the "woodwind" area before! Also, how much would you typically expect to pay for an oboe or clarinet, and how difficult is it to co-ordinate breathing techniques etc with playing??....Thanks very much for your help!!!
Frankie82

HEY
Great Choice coming into the brave world of woodwind!!!
The clarinet is MUCH cheaper, & reeds are cheaper too. There is more teachers & music fro clarinet.
The oboe is MUCH more expensive - reeds cost a bomb, & it is much harder to learn. Having said that, they are an endangered species, so are needed in bands & orchestras.
I play clarinet - its great. there sloads of music, but its hard to get into bands & stuff, as they're so common. I just bought an oboe - its a real challenge.
If you can afford an oboe - go for that - but look for a teacher.
GOOD LUCK
keep us posted

Jonathan

Personally i would pick the oboe (even though i play cl.) i think its much more unusual and it ~can~ sound really beautiful....
its also more rare like piano dude said!
diz

Oooh, nice to see another newbie oboist here!

I've replied to your PM Frankie Oboes are expensive but amazing. Clarinets sound gorgeous too though.....and you can play jazz on them. It's a difficult choice!

Clarinet!!!

I started about four years ago and have had great fun with it.

Can't you try both?

Clarinets are everywhere. There are so many that half don't manage to get sold on Ebay. Why pay 200 quid for a plastic B12 in Britain when you can buy a fandabbydosy wooden Noblet/Normandy/Couesnon clarinet for half that but with a tone that will have you transfixed?

Can't you borrow, hire or steal an oboe for a few weeks?

It's a big decision. I play clarinet.

But oboes sound soooo cool!

Take the plunge. Get one of each. In any case you'll be able to sell the oboe for the same price that you paid, so why worry?

Life's too short. Try everything once! *

Steve

* As long as it doesn't cause intense embarrassment and gets your name in the local paper!

Oboe! And find the very best teacher than you can. Much more expensive, and harder by all accounts, but so beautiful when played well, it will probably make you improve your sense of pitch beyond all reasoning, and you will always be in demand for orchestras and bands if you are any good at all!

Oboes have their good points but I'd say clarinet every time. The clarinet is easier to learn (at least to begin with), it's several hundred pounds cheaper and it's far less difficult to find a teacher. Most importantly, though, the clarinet has the most beautiful sound - all those lovely, dark notes in the bottom register and that wonderful brillance in the higher ones. Having said that, there are far fewer oboists than clarinettists so, if you want to play in an orchestra, the oboe might be a better option.

Although I don't particularly like clarinet, I'd say that over oboe

As an oboist I can tell you that a good 'student' oboe will cost around £1000 (a 'professional' one will cost 3 times that and differs in the amount of automated keywork, durability, fingering system &c. Certain trills on a student model are difficult). Even so a student one would cope with most orchestral work.

Reeds.....it's probably the same with all woodwinds, the reed is at its best for quite a short time. You'll pay around £6-£10 per reed which some suppliers will finish to suit you. Otherwise they can be got in about 5 grades of hardness. Eventually you may choose to make your own reeds.

The clarinet has a bigger compass and wide dynamic range, capable of great expression. It's also more adapted to jazz possibly because more jazz has been played and written for clarinet.

If youre after a place in an amateur orch you stand far more chance with oboe (or bassoon or horn) than clarinet or flute. But research availability in your area. Some areas it's easier than others apparently.

Not true, at least where I live (SE England).

Most orchestras won't even hear you play if they have their quota already - irrelevant whether you might actually be *better* than their existing players...

But the oboe is admittedly rarer than the clarinet - in 20 or 30 years time, it might be really true that any oboist can walk into an orchestra, they'll be in such demand, but it's not true now.

Claire21,

I can't claim to know the whole situation and - above all - I don't want to send this thread off topic so I won't debate availability here. Another thread perhaps?
Therefore I edited my post to suggest Frankie researches if wanting to play in an orchestra, is that ok?

The oboe was included recently in a list of "endangered instruments" together with the bassoon, trombone, French horn, viola and double bass. Imagine an orchestra made up entirely of violins, flutes and clarinets...

I love clarinet, it's a great instrument to learn, and I would say that it is easier to learn than the oboe. But the oboe is sorely needed in orchestras, bands etc.

It really is up to you, take up the one that appeals most!