Author: OboeAgain
Date: 2005-12-06 17:54
Good for you! As my nickname implies, I went through the same process a few years back. I suspect partly out of ignorance, I just started playing my old Gordet. It is 1960s vintage, and I hadn't played it in years. I found no problems.
My first playing, like others who have already responded to your post, was in a summer band which played ten concerts in an outdoor band shell in July and August. That was actually kinda good because I could hardly be heard over all of the brass. It gave me courage. Of course, there were some small solo passages which made it fun. That was about eight years ago.
Initially, I bought reeds from various sources, but I eventually got back to making my own. There are lots of sources for reeds online these days, a lot more than when I started up.
A couple of years ago, I found a teacher and have been working with her ever since. These days, I'm still in a wind band, but also play in a wind quintet, a double reed trio (2 oboes and bassoon) and this year also a double reed quartet (add an English horn to the trio).
Playing is one of the joys in my life. I've made some great friends and have a blast playing all sorts of music. My biggest problem is having a enough time for it all: I'm still a working stiff.
So, go for it. I don't remember that much physical pain when I started up, but you might want to take it slow at first. Buy some good reeds, try to find a group of other players who are playing just for fun and enjoy!
Walter
Walter
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