From: bobdavis@mighty.viewlogic.com (Bob Davis)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
Subject: Re: Advice need on buying a REAL oboe (long)
Keywords: oboe
Date: 11 Oct 92 20:25:01 GMT
Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Originator: bobdavis@mighty


In article <1b46ffINNald@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, be726@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Joseph A. Ellis Jr.) writes:
|> In a previous article, gpr@midiline.la.ca.us (Gary Richardi) says:
|> >A co-worker wants to buy an oboe for her son. She was floored to find 
|> >that a good USED oboe goes for about $2k. I only have experience buying 
|> >...
|>...
|> Heh heh heh... Welcome to the world of REAL instruments. That IS a good deal on
|> a _good_ used oboe. You ought to see the price of a NEW one... or any other
|> professional grade wind instrument. $5k isn't unheard-of, and they can go
|> higher... MUCH higher.
|> 
|> You didn't say how OLD her son was. I wouldn't even consider letting a
|> less-than high-school-age student play oboe. It's too big an investment, 
|> and too
|>...
|> 
|> Now, if the boy _IS_ older, and still wants to play oboe, then great! Your 
|> best bet to find a reasonably priced used instrument is to contact your local
|> college music department, talk to their oboe instructor, and ask him/her to
|> put out some feelers for you. They will ALSO be able to examine the instrument,
|> and make sure it is in good condition. This will also be a good time to line
|> up private lessons. Oboe is NOT an instrument you can learn on your own!
|> 
|> If the college teacher doesn't have the time to take on another student, then
|> perhaps he/she can reccommend one of their students as a teacher... most of
|> the kids could use the money, and would be MORE than happy to teach a beginner.
|>...
|>Joe Ellis

I basically agree with these comments.  I'm a practicing oboist/english
hornist in Boston, and have taught for a considerable length of time.

Like Joe says, a student should not attempt to play oboe without private
instruction.  Period.  Exclamation.

The instrument itself, plus "reed issues" make it virtually impossible
to succeed without regular instruction.  Ask any pro oboist or conservatory
student.

Regarding age of starting oboe, I started when I was 12; that's slightly
young.  Commitment and involvement is really more important than age, but
for physical reasons younger than 12-13 is a very bad idea.  Have em play
recorder and/or clarinet to learn to read music and breath properly, etc.

For selecting an oboe for a student one must consider where the student
is at, how committed the student is, and how limiting this or that
instrument is to the person.  Even "great" oboes aren't perfect, and
some "student" instruments are OK.  This should be done with the private
teacher in order to make a reasonable judgement of the instrument's
playability vs. the student's present and future abilities and aspirations.

I would also get away from looking for "a deal"; instead look for an
appropriate instrument.  Saving 10% on the wrong instrument isn't a
savings.

Nutshell new oboe summary -- every oboe is different, so try them out
first -- then as a rough intro guide...

best professional instruments: Loree(FR), Lauben(NYC) cost 2.5k-3.5k or
thereabouts depending on the instrument and $/Franc exchange (for Loree).
Loree is pronounced LOR-AY, by the way.

acceptable but variable instruments: buffet, selmer.  These can range
from poor to very good, sometimes close to the poorer Loree's.

usually bogus instruments: bundy and unknowns.  You can still try them
out, but do many double-takes before buying any of these.
-- 
Bob Davis -- bobdavis@viewlogic.com
"Gumby for President (Write-in candidate, No-Bogosity[tm] Party)"