Author: oboi
Date: 2012-05-21 07:53
Samuel, sorry if what I wrote came out sounding like I played clarinet. I have never played clarinet, nor I think I even held one in my hand. I did have a short stint trying out a saxophone for fun but that's the extent of my knowledge of single reeds. I was an experienced musician before taking up the oboe, though, having played piano most of my life and 6 years of flute in school band, taking up the oboe in my mid-20's (I did almost no music between the end of high school and taking up the oboe). Therefore, I had all of the musicianship and wind ensemble background, just lacking the actual knowledge of the instrument, before I took up oboe. I just wanted to say that with a good wind background, you can probably pick up the oboe pretty fast. I went from beginner to university level in less than 4 years. Around the same time I started taking oboe lessons, I also took harpsichord lessons, and I managed to keep up both instruments at a level where I could play both in university groups. My aim, which isn't what I'm doing now, unfortunately, is trying it get in about 3 hours of oboe practice a day. Perhaps with the time I tinker with reeds and do rehearsals it is an average of 3 or more. I would like to do 3 hours of just playing, though.
But rushing really quickly (January you say?) the oboe probably isn't a good idea. You have to really build a tolerance for the air pressure, which will take months. For flute, I don't feel it ever stressed my system, other than just being constantly out of breath, but the air pressure of the oboe can really do a number on your head and sinuses. And to learn to breathe out was something new to me (yay, I have more than enough air!). So I say play both, but keep clarinet as your principal instrument, and then at some point switch. Many people in university play multiple instruments. Not sure how easy it is to officially switch principal instruments, but if you show an aptitude and skill in the oboe I don't see why they wouldn't let you. You know best your situation, but just be realistic in what you can accomplish under a deadline. I pretty much fasttracked my oboe training, and it has taken me a few years to say that oboe could be my principal instrument (as opposed to piano), and worthy of auditioning to a university if I wanted. I can't imagine having done that while I was in high school or while working on my Bachelor's degree. It's a bit different in graduate school.
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