Author: SilverHare
Date: 2006-04-23 19:27
Hello, all!
I'm interested in taking up the oboe, but...if you've got a minute or 10, listen to my tale.
I'm in my late 40's. Just sold my business of 25 years, but retained as consultant. So I find myself with time to do things...at last!
I've tried learning a musical instrument before, but with poor results. First time was trumpet in 7th grade. I wasn't 100% thrilled with being assigned to trumpet (I wanted to play a woodwind) but I gave it at honest try. The band leader benched me mid-semester and asked me to drop the class. My teacher said he'd never had a student try so hard and do so poorly. He even offered to keep teaching me for free! Next time was when a friend of mine wanted to form a rock band in high school. I was handed a bass guitar. Same thing--I practised my brains out...and rapidly fell behind everyone else in the band. My teacher was nice about it, but opined that "You know how some people are born with musical talent? Well, you weren't." He felt that if I kept at it, however, I might someday break through and become "okay." I was a frustrated teenager, so I quit! Final attempt was piano during a slow period in my business about ten years ago. As always, I found it very hard to read music and transfer it to my hands--the business with it being read vertically but played horizontally (does that make sense?) still caused me problems. I practised in two sessions each day to the limits of good concentration, usually running 2.5 hours total. One day after about six months my teacher told me she didn't want me as a student any more because I obviously wasn't trying and wasn't practising. Embarassing, but a fair assumption on her part, considering my poor progress.
I know that many geneticists consider musical ability to be the most heritable of traits, after height, so the fact that it is an innate ability is not much disputed. A friend of mine is a musical prodigy and pro who is the type who can pick up an instrument and be picking out songs in a couple hours, so I've seen the gene in action (and been hideously envious).
Therefore, it seems probable that my bass teacher was right and I really am lacking any musical ability. So I know I have a tough road ahead, I've been down it three times! (I do know I'm not tone deaf, my piano teacher tested me on that.) But I love music so much...I have a good stereo, and over 2000 CDs, and I very often just sit and listen with eyes closed. Listening to music has always been an important part oif my life. I do have a good memory for music, that's one thing--"Name That Tune" is fun for me.
(So, it anyone is left reading this epic....)
I've always loved the sound of double-reed instruments, and I have a huge collection of CDs with them. In fact, buying the hard to find ones from specialist woodwind stores was what started me thinking about taking up the oboe--all those beautiful instruments beckoning to me. When I thought about trying to learn an instrument again, I considered the bassoon, but two things stopped me. First, it may be never that I get good enough to play with others and the bassoon seems more of an ensemble instrument. Second, a hang-gliding accident several years ago damaged my four top front teeth which are now three caps and one veneer, and I've heard bassoon playing puts tremendous stress on those teeth, and my replacements probably aren't up for it (my dentist doesn't even want me to eat bagels!). I really like the sound of English Horn and oboe d'amore, but it seems those are more of an "upgrade" to exisiting oboe-playing skills (guess I like those "bassier" instruments!). So I arrived at the oboe, which has a lot of teaching materials and music available for it. That's a good thing, and oboes have a wonderful sound (which alas, I will probably not hear coming from mine for a long time, if what I've read is correct). I'm perfectly satisfied to give it a try.
(Now that more of you have drifted off into what Peter Schickele calls a "confused slumber".......)
I've read a lot of threads here on the forum and I know you're all a enthusiastic bunch. You've welcomed many a "fallen oboist" back to the fold. But I'm a bird of a different color. Vestigial music-reading skills, demonstrated lack of musical talent...is it really wise for me to take up the oboe? Yes, I know some of you are thinking "If you want to do it, what's the harm?" And that's true. I live in San Francisco, so I should be able to burn out several teachers before word gets out to "avoid the old guy." ;-)
But are any of you teachers with experience in (trying) to teach someone like me--willing to try, but very, very slow in progressing? Am I just wasting a teacher's precious time?
I did well at my business and can afford a good teacher and a quality conservatory instrument, so I don't need to experience those hassles. I've also agreed to limit my practising to when my wife is out walking the dog so she needn't hear the terrible squeaks and squawks.
I know it may be hard for some of you to grasp what it's like not to have musical ability (anyone who can play two or three instruments with skill seems absolutely god-like to me) but try to imagine it, if you will, and let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading this ramble!
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