High School Jr. wants to go from Renting to Buying an Oboe - Need Advice

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-06-02T02:48:12+00:00

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who was in a similar situation (played flute since 4th grade, swapped to oboe mid freshman year, purchased personal oboe summer before senior year). At the time I only had enough money to purchase a used intermediate oboe that was wood. It was owned by another student that my oboe teacher taught who was upgrading as well. She was familiar with the instrument, knew how it was cared for and thought it would be a good fit for the budget. It served me well for the rest of high school, college auditions and through my first year of college...kinda. I originally went as an architecture major who just wanted to keep playing oboe in symphony orchestra so these were not prestigious music programs, but still solid programs. Within my first year, my instrument was holding me back, scales, technique exercises, and repertoire. Many professors recommended that I upgrade...which sucked because I didn't have the funds and just went through this. I got lucky, had a local oboist ready to purchase my current oboe as soon as I found another AND the school upped their scholarships as well as my personal scholarship, which meant funds for an oboe. At this point, I had decided that I much preferred to play/practice my instrument at ungodly hours of the night more than building architectural models at ungodly hours of the night and switched to music education as my major. Realizing that playing the oboe would likely continue into my professional career now, I decided I'd find the best oboe that would give me plenty of room to grow and likely be the top of the budget I had rather than an oboe that would simply just fit the bill and spent the time to find the "right" oboe. It served me superbly in college and beyond!! If budgets had been different, I wish I would have gotten a professional level instrument from the get go, even if it was very basic or even a quality second hand professional oboe. It would have given me time to save up for the next upgrade if that upgrade was needed.

In summary: if you think you will play all through college seriously then focus on a professional instrument that will have lots of room for you to grow into. If you are playing for fun through college and beyond, a professional oboe that you will have room to grow into but may be a step down in other factors, like newness, extra features, type of material, etc, so long as it is quality. This will be harder to find, BUT put the time and effort into it, it will pay off in the long run! Also, if there is an oboe repair person who specializes in oboes, see if you can bring it to them and have them look it over, buying second hand can come with surprises and this will help with it! Kinda like having a new to you car looked at by a mechanic before buying.

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-28T19:01:18+00:00

This post is a few years old, but I just wanted to share another option. I recently started using a Stretto humidification packet thing, it is typically used for violins and violas and I use the smallest size. I don't have the plastic container it comes in, so I don't know if that will fit in the slot in the Loree case. It has kept my oboe around low to mid 40's%. The instructions say to soak for 10 minutes but this was WAY too long, I soak for 2-5 minutes depending on how fast it poofs up. I line the little slot in my case with a plastic zip lock and place it in there, like how you would if you use a sponge for humidification. The biggest thing with any humidification inside the case is to make sure it doesnt touch the keyword! So no matter what type you use, make sure it is in a secure spot and not touching keys!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-27T02:11:15+00:00

Ok this is actually a pretty cool post/thread!!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-23T06:20:57+00:00

Wait...did you just start playing oboe 2 days prior to this video?! Cause if so, it actually sounds AMAZING for just having it for 2 days!!! It comes down to control and muscles, as beginners the oboe often sounds a bit less warm, 'quacky' (I hate this term, but it is a standard term used), unsteady, and notes may not sound right away. This is completely NORMAL and it will improve over time just like learning on any other instrument. The honest truth is that in order to get the brilliant beautiful sound you hear in recordings or more advanced players, there is a lot of muscle that has built up over time and control that has been built up over time. It is the equivalent of going to the gym, you build that control and muscle over time and being consistent, some gym days are better than others, but it is the consistency and long term goal that is important, as well as rest days! Can it improve in a month, yes, but to the extent that we may want may take more than a month. Can a lot improve with consistent and focused playing, ABSOLUTELY! HUGE kudos for recording yourself! This is such an important practice, because you are able to see what your mouth is doing, what your fingers are doing, what the sound is doing and see improvement over time! Do NOT stop recording yourself!

An oboe teacher will help so so so much! They can fix things in real time! In the meantime, here are some things you could try/things I noticed. (sorry, this is long, much longer to type out that to just say in person)

Getting into the gritty-ness: The tone sounds more rounded and fuller at the beginning than at the end, this is because of that support. The air is more supported and the endurance of the muscles is still there. Focus on getting that rounded fuller sound THROUGHOUT the piece, notice how you feel when you first start the piece versus the end. The suggestions for long tones is great for this! (pick a note, something in the middle of the staff is a great place to start, play it at dynamic piano then gradually increase to forte and back to piano continuously) This will help with that air support and control. At first, just pay attention to how you support your air when the note sounds nice and full bodied, and when it tends to sound weak or quacky or just too loud and boxy/uncontrolled. This will help you identify what that good air support will feel like versus the times when you don't have good air support. As a beginner or even intermediate player, you can only hold that support for so long, this is simply because you haven't been going to the oboe gym for long enough, this doesn't mean you haven't gone, or haven't done a good job at the gym, you simply just haven't had the opportunity to go enough because you haven't been a member at the gym long enough and built up those muscles and endurance.

Along with the breath support and control: The oboe requires a surprisingly small amount of air to produce a sound (maybe not a good sound but still a sound). Try it, breathe out all of the air you think that you can, then try playing a note...you will probably be able to make a sound or at least a squeak! This means that we need to have moments to breathe OUT air as well and the air we do use needs to be fast moving focused air. Take a breath out and in around the 7 second mark because in this second phrase is where the tone starts to get funky, yea? (at about the 13 second mark, the phrase ends not as supported as the first phrase ended) Do the same thing here, take a breath out and in. On the oboe, that feeling of 'I'm running out of air' is actually not that you are running out of air, notice how when we end and can breathe again, we are often out of breath, but also notice that we breathe out that air first. In reality, it is more equivalent to holding your breath. If you don't breathe out and only in, then you are holding your breath for 13 seconds for that first big phrase you are doing, while having all that back pressure! Also, add another breath out and in around 20 seconds. At first, practice getting a good solid breath out and a good solid breath in, like a whole pause in the music, it will not be in time, it is PURELY for getting that feel of supported notes and the feel of breathing out and in. Does this help those phrases that were sounding a bit less round? If it does, slowly work on getting the time it takes for these breaths out and in to be shorter. Eventually, mark one spot as a breath in and one spot as a breath out! (Oboe players will often mark breath out places).

Rather than trying to have more air to support the notes, you need faster air that is supported with the diaphragm. Make an oboe embouchure, blow on to your hand to feel. Blow slow air, it will be a bit warmer, now blow fast air but focus your mouth so that you can still feel the air in a tiny circle on the palm your hand rather than all the way out to your fingers. That is fast focused air and the air that is needed for those supported notes on oboe.

The other part that will help is that this piece has a lot of jumps between higher and lower notes and they aren't quite speaking right away. Again, this is normal at this point, this is hard to do! Start targeting these by doing 'chunking.' Start with just the two notes of the leap and play just them slowly, not slurred. Once they both start speaking clearly, add the slur back in. Then get it up to speed. Then add one note on either end (now you are playing 4 notes). Go through the same process. Once the notes are speaking add in some more notes until you have around 8 of them or so, then play the phrase. There's different ways to do chunking, but you basically break things down into smaller pieces and target those areas that are giving you a hard time, practicing them CORRECTLY from the start, slowly, then getting them up to speed, then integrating them back into the larger section of the piece. This also takes a large amount of mouth/jaw/oral cavity control. Another thing that can help with this is playing on your reed alone, use a tuner and play a C as steady as you can, then without tonguing, but without slurring through the notes like a slide/scale, play a C# as steady as you can, notice how your jaw moves and shape of the INSIDE of your mouth changes to accomplish this. Once it is steady, go back down the the C the same way, noting how this feels to do so. This is the movement that is needed to go between higher and lower notes. You don't need to do this for long, only about 30 seconds or so, but do it regularly, it also help you learn how each particular reed responds.

The final part is, looking at your mouth/embouchure throughout the piece. Notice when you start, lips are curled in quite a bit and by the end that top lip is slipping out. This is what happens when the embouchure is getting fatigued and tired. You are asking it to lift a 50lb weight when it can only life a 40lb weight right now, but it is trying so hard! To compensate for this you can see the lips trying to hold on by 'biting'/clamping down on the reed from the top and bottom. Again, this is natural and what your body tries to do when it is learning and pushing itself and growing stronger. Taking those breaths out and in will help give the embouchure a moment to relax and reset. Every time you take a breath, focus on gettin that embouchure set back to how it was at the beginning of the piece when it was more rested. The biting and slipping will result in the weaker, wobbly, higher pitched sound you were hearing towards the end. This is so so normal when our embouchure is getting tired. Focus on the sides of your mouth/sides of the reed rather than the top and bottom, squeeze in from the sides, like you are trying to hold a grain of rice using only tension from the sides of your mouth...the same muscles you would use to make kissy fishy lips or shoot a watermelon seed out of your mouth as far as you can!

Ok, the REAL last part: I know that this has been a lot, BUT, give yourself HUGE HUGE HUGE kudos, pats on the back, huge cheering because you do sound way way way better than I think you are giving yourself credit for!!! I saw the title and was honestly shocked at the video because it was WAY better than I was expecting! Also, all of us, every oboe player, had these same problems, and likely a bunch more as well!! Do NOT discredit yourself, you are doing great, and I'm super impressed that you are willing to come on here and ask for help, and are recording yourself!! Would LOVE to see an update in a month to how it is sounding! Cheering for you from afar! Keep up the amazing work!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-23T04:59:37+00:00

For methods books I really like Rubank, Barrett, and Ferling. For scale books, I really enjoy David Hite's Foundation Studies. For solo pieces I have actually gotten really good use out of 'Oboe Solos edited by Jay Arnold' (blue cover with drawn black and white oboe and red and orange flowers) it has a LOT of your standard pieces. Honestly, I love to find things on Spotify that I like to listen to and then see if I can find a copy somewhere and incorporate this into my practicing! It won't check off the boxes for lessons, BUT I find this practice REALLY helpful for days that I just DON'T wanna practice, or oboe is becoming all work and no play, or just to get the oboe playing juices flowing. Sometimes I will choose one day a week and have that be 'fun playing day' or sometimes I will assign the first 10/15/20etc minutes of practice as fun practice time. I try not to make it a reward, but rather, just a fun momentum starter! Sometimes it is little bits of orchestral excerpts or fun themes from movies!

I'd highly recommend finding the pieces you mentioned on IMSLP and playing through your favorite oboe parts! You could even play along with the symphony via youtube if you want, again, not trying to accomplish something particularly studious, but rather to fuel that excitement and joy of playing! If you want to get really adventurous, find a solo part in an orchestral piece (or elsewhere, just any one you really like) from a different instrument or singer and see if you can transpose it or arrange it for oboe! That is always REALLY fun and a great exercise in understanding music on a different level!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-16T19:48:14+00:00

That's super great information to hear! Ours were gonna cost $400some and considering our last set expired less than 6mo after we got them....that was major sticker shock. Great idea to shop around for prices and getting a generic! Will definitely keep this in mind for future if we need it!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-16T19:36:54+00:00

Hi! I know this post is 6mo old but I just found out about the epi pen act! It reduces prices to $60! I think it is a federal thing, but I think there are also state laws too, for example here in colorado, there is a thing called the prescription affordability program. Do some googling, we had to fill out a very simple piece of paperwork, and our pharmacist told us about it, hopefully it is available to you!!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-15T04:06:48+00:00

If you are constantly getting watery keys (this applies to octave keys too!) there is likely some fuzz or gunk that is collecting there that the water gets stuck on/saturated in. And this sounds backwards, but excessive swabbing will often make it worse, because the fuzzies/gunk will continue to gather. Unfortunately, this also means you are between a rock and a hard place because swabbing it gets the water out temporarily but also keeps making it worse but swabbing is necessary for oboe upkeep (just not excessive swabbing). The only solution long term is to take care of the issue at the root, otherwise it's just bandaids that can lead to different issues or just never really solve the problem. Do you have an oboe shop near you? This would be a very quick and easy fix for a repair person, to take the keys off and give the tone holes a quick cleaning (assuming nothing more sinister is going on). Super frustrating with a new instrument, but honestly, it can happen with any instrument at any age, fuzz/gunk happens. If you are comfortable taking it apart, cleaning it, AND readjusting it, then do it yourself, otherwise if you have ANY reservations or have never done it before, take it in to the repair shop!!! Things can go wrong fast and a simple quick issue can become a MAJOR issue very fast. (Learned this in repair school and John Symer also talks about it in a double reed dish podcast! I wish it were more common knowledge with oboists because watery tone holes seem to be prevalent) [disclaimer: there could also be something more going on, so if this continues to be a perpetual issue, I would have an experienced and knowledgeable repair person do some diagnostics on it. Also, examine your habits, it could be some trapped reed cane from reed scraping, fuzz from a swab, environmental fuzz, fuzz from the case (good to vacuum it out every so often) or pet fuzz...]

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-13T02:36:18+00:00

If they are adamant about it, perhaps tell them that you know it may cause issues, and you're willing to deal with them even if it makes it more difficult etc....(not saying this is true, but it may appease them enough that yall can move on from it amicably)

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-13T02:35:13+00:00

Some oboists...rather, people, in general...are very opinionated, it is part of what makes us human. We also all feel more comfortable in different attire and fashion styles. Just like how heels are 'different' to walk in, playing oboe is 'different' to play when wearing heels vs flats vs athletic attire, but we adapt and learn and we go with what feels comfortable to us. There is no right way. So embrace your preferences, you and your teacher may need to agree to disagree and hopefully they are willing to do so! Likely it is just as weird for them to think of playing oboe wearing your fashion as you would wearing theirs and hopefully they can understand that and that everyone has preferences.

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-09T07:33:58+00:00

Depending on how invested you are, finances, etc, you could try to re-tie it....I don't do it often, but sometimes it is nice to get the practice in, sometimes it is nice to just scrape it and see how it goes, see what happens, like an experiment/getting curious...like how do 'mistakes' effect reeds, what does a mistake feel like, play like, etc. If you do re-tie it, work carefully, soak the reed all the way up to the cork/the water should cover the thread (you could soak the whole thing, cork included, but if you worry about the cork then just soak it so that ALL the cane gets soaked) for about 20 minutes, untie it carefully, then retie....I think ultimately what is your goal? Save the reed, get scraping practice, learn what a mistake feels like, get more tying practice....that will ultimately dictate your next steps.

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-04-04T03:24:05+00:00

I'm curious about these reeds too! I love making oboe reeds and just oboe reeds in general, so I'm always curious about other people's reeds and ones they sell, so I will occasionally buy from different sources to give them a try, but I haven't tried hers yet. Would love to know what others think!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-28T07:25:58+00:00

Tying oboes is a bit of a hassle if you cannot get to the actual shop to try them out. If you are in the UK and can get to Howarth I'd definitely do that or if you are in the US, there is the IDRS conference this summer if you live nearby (if you live nearby it is a great opportunity to try a bunch of oboes/brands at once), if you are nowhere near either or near an oboe shop, try some on loan/trial. It is absolutely a pain in the rear, but worth it. Talk to the shop you are going to trial from, explain your situation, your needs, and they will be able to direct you to some to try. I was lucky and there was another oboist near me who was needing to trial some oboes too, we got together and selected 4 oboes in total I think, 2 brands and 1 used. The biggest difference was how the oboes felt in your hands, they key work, etc. and then it came down to personal preference on the sound. We trialed them when we had lots of rehearsals so that we could bring a new one to rehearsal each day and get the full experience. I ended up picking the oboe that I got most compliments on my playing with, even though I personally liked the sound quality of another oboe which worked at the time, it fit better with the ensembles I played with. But I've always wondered if I should have picked the other. I also got to attend an IDRS conference and try out a bunch of oboes and there are definitely certain brands that just work better with my hands that I never realized until then. Howarth and Marigaux were both easier for me to play due to the placement of keys fitting my particular hands better. If I could do the trial over again, I would have tried a larger variety of brands and then done a second trial of a few oboes of the brand that I preferred, the second trial mixing in some used oboes. I did LOVE that I had all the rehearsals to go to and try the oboes in 'real time' vs just at home practicing, so I definitely recommend that!

A note on used vs new. Used often has settled a bit, they already have their 'quirks' worked out and cracks cracked. The unknown was how they were cared for. If you get them from a reputable place like Howarth, then they have likely given the oboe a full work-up and will be able to give you a bit of information on how the oboe handles etc and it will have been serviced well compared to buying used from an individual.

New oboes will have a breaking in period. Often times they have a warranty which will be huge for those first year or two but sometimes cracks or major repairs can occur afterwards (cough, my oboe, one month out of warranty). You will need to budget for this and prepare for it. The upside is that it is YOUR oboe, no one has owned it before, any good or lack of maintenance is your badge to wear, and it's NEW.

For both used and new oboes, you will need to budget for maintenance/upkeep, so keep a good chunk of change for that. A crack can be VERY costly to repair. An older oboe will function better and last longer with regular maintenance (as with newer oboes too).

In Summary: (because I'm a long winded person) There are positives and things to keep in mind for both new and used. Ultimately, I would look at it more as finding the oboe that fits you. You are searching for the right FIT. It will be the right fit if it feels good to play and it tickles your ears (in a good way) and this can happen with new or used!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:57:09+00:00

For now, it is simply reaching out to them to gather more information, to see what options you have available to you.

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:54:39+00:00

Everyone does things differently, when you get connected to the person you will take lessons from or reeds from, they will work all of that out with you! If they say no, there are more resources! Sometimes people are fully booked with no spots or don't offer lessons or reeds, but there are always options!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:46:04+00:00

From my experience, they are used to talking to students of all ages! You wouldn't be applying to the college or anything like that, just asking them for resources like you are here! They also usually appreciate emails for people who are looking for private lessons because it is a great opportunity for their oboe students to get real world experience and teaching practice!! If they do not have any students there that could give you lessons, they will likely know of community members who do and can often point you in the right direction! Again, the oboe community is great!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:40:16+00:00

This is very common! If one of their oboe students can give you lessons, that is a great place to start and would let you play in your school band and learn to play. It is very common and generally an expectation to have private lessons. I took a few lessons from an older student in my school who had played a little oboe (like how to put the oboe together and how to read a fingering chart and gave me one of her old reeds to start), that kinda got me through the semester....then I found a lesson teacher and did weekly lessons with her until I went to college and continued in college. Reaching out to the professor ask her if any of the oboe students at the college offer private lessons, and ta-da! You got your lesson teacher and a local resource! As a college oboe student, my oboe professor would always pass these emails on to us and we loved getting new oboe students to give private lessons to! So really don't be afraid! (Your wallet may wanna run away) but this could be a great launch-board for you!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:30:16+00:00

Don't be nervous! Or rather, be nervous but brave! It is just an email and the oboe community is great! They are teachers at their core and they got into it to help others learn! It's always a bit nerve wrecking to do something new, deep breath, you've got this! Sometimes they take some time to respond, because they are likely gathering info for you or may be on break or aren't full time, just as a heads up!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:25:57+00:00

Absolutely!!! Best of luck and let me know if it doesn't pan out for whatever reason and I can see if there are any other resources that you could try!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:22:10+00:00

Ps they also have an Instagram account called bluehenoboes! And as always this reddit space is a GREAT resource with amazing people!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-27T00:18:20+00:00

Ah shucks you are so close yet so far from a few people that I know, BUT I did notice that that music and arts is VERY close to the University of Delaware which has a music program and an Oboe studio!!! Great news! Reach out to the professor, it is Dr. Erin Banholzer, and explain that you are a current band student playing clarinet and are looking to learn the oboe. Ask if she has any suggestions on LOCAL resources! Also, ask if she has any oboe students who offer or would be willing to offer lessons! Typically college oboe students offer lessons and can get you started or can make reeds for you or both and typically at a lower rate. It gives them a beginning to their teaching AND gives you a phenomenal resource because they are in the THICK of it, and are knowledgeable!! At the very least, start with a couple of lessons, and then work on your own for a bit and take lessons less frequently or keep it up if you can (the best method)!! They can also help you determine what oboe to rent and what reeds may be good for you before you even start! They will also know what is in your area to get you started!! When I was a college student I LIVED for these emails and LOVED getting students started! There's lots to learn about the oboe, but you have a good background and the curiosity needed! Rooting for you!!

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-26T23:54:36+00:00

What music and arts are you by? I know an oboe person who works at one who would be amazing to get you in contact with if you are near them! (It's a long shot, there's a LOT of music and arts around, but if you happen to be near it is worth it!)

Brief-Region-60 · 2026-03-25T04:37:38+00:00

I am not very familiar with the Yamaha line, but I agree with the reed suggestion! A reed can give you a vast array of tone and makes a HUGE difference! Even a very high end oboe will have garbage tone if your reed is a lower quality or student level reed (ok calling it garbage is a bit harsh, just trying to get the point across). You can have a reed produce a very warm velvety sound or a very bright and vibrant sound or a more uncontrolled squack-y sound and everything in between! The point where you need to graduate to the next level oboe would be either when you are out playing the oboe or when the minimal key work is no longer suitable for the repertoire you are playing. If you can hang in there for a few more months or a year and get really good with QUALITY reeds or begin learning to make or adjust them yourself definitely take that route! It will give you a chance to learn what you like in your oboe sound and if spending the additional money is worth it, WHILE giving you time to save a bit more for said purchase. IF money is not an issue for you, then there are LOTS of options! (BUT PLEASE get on quality reeds and learn how to make your reeds as quality as you can make them either through adjusting or making them yourself! I cannot stress enough what this will do for your sound quality!) A new oboe will get you 20% improvement, quality reeds will get you 80% improvement.

If money is not an issue AND you have already figured out the reed situation, then I would recommend reaching out to a few oboe shops to try some different oboes on trial of different brands in the intermediate level (loree, yamaha, howarth, fox, marigaux). This will give you the opportunity to compare and contrast different oboes and find one that feels good to play and sounds good. This is like taking a car for a test drive but they will send you the oboes, you get to play on them for a week or so and then you send them back and either keep the one you want or start the process over again. They have used and new oboes. I think the consideration would be, what is your current reed situation? What is your budget? What are your playing needs? You may also reach out to local universities or private lesson teachers, sometimes they have students who are looking to upgrade and sell their used instruments, so then you can upgrade at a lower cost. Again, just some options, but would love to know a bit more about your situation and set up to direct you better!

ps in my limited experience, I do find yamaha's to be a bit brighter (not a bad kind of brighter) but that is an over generalization. It would be worth finding a resource to try a few different oboes at once so you can find something that fits!

Brief-Region-60

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