Author: Contrapuntal Antonym
Date: 2008-08-03 22:53
I decided about half a year ago that I wanted to learn/teach myself the oboe - and now exams/music tours are over, I intend to do just that!
Just so you have an idea of my musical experience, I'm grade 8 standard on clarinet, piano and theory. So I'm not new to music or wind instruments.
I've never played the oboe before, except trying a friends very briefly. My experience was that the lower octave was very easy to play, and I could get a surprisingly nice tone out of it. The octave up from that was a mission to sustain though...
Anyway, the main point of this is that I need to get myself an oboe if I intend to play it! I'm obviously not going to go for a professional instrument, but I'd rather not get the most basic student one that I'd want to replace in a year. So I'm looking at the intermediate range, (hopefully) less than £2000.
Aside from that I know next to nothing. What would people suggest I go for? Any particular makers, or specific oboes which you think would suit my circumstances?
Also, as I don't know how to play it yet, how useful is it for me to try out the instrument before buying it? If I were to buy a new clarinet, I wouldn't even think of buying an instrument without trying multiple first - not only different makes, but if possible 2 of the same make. But I wouldn't know what to look for...
Next thing: Reeds. I'm not going to be making them, to start off with at least. What makes/strength reeds would you suggest? If there are any clarinettist/oboists out there, I use Strength 3 Vandorens on my Bb clarinet, if that helps? I know double reeds are meant to be far more tricky, but I don't know how they classify them strength wise.
To anyone who actually read this far down, thank you! I ended up making a bit of an essay of that. I would greatly appreciate any replies to any part of that!
Thanks,
Anthony.
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