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Oboe versus clarinet as a personal instrument for home use

Author: bechstein
Date: 2010-07-17 22:25

I am trying to envision and quantify the musical potential of being able to play the oboe versus the ability of being able to play the clarinet.

What instrument might offer a more versatile musical experience for a child? By versatile, I was thinking of an instrument that a child might desire to play throughout his/her life at home for relaxation and enjoyment rather than as a professional job in an orchestra. Thats why I love the piano and I am thankful my parents gave me piano lessons as a child. I'm not professional but I play every few days just for enjoyment outside of my professional life.

I can see the clarinet being a nice instrument a child might desire to play in the evenings after a long day at work for relaxation but I am not so sure about the oboe.

Can you see this with an oboe? or is the oboe too awkward of a sound for personal at-home use and more suitable to only ensemble or orchestral playing in a professional environment?

You see, I am not sure if my daughter will become a professional musician and I just want her to have the opportunity to be able to play a second instrument (she already plays the piano) for leisure and simply for the enjoyment of playing music.

If you were to choose between an oboe and a clarinet for such reasons what would you choose?

I can see an oboe being useful if as an adult you would like to join a community orchestra because there would likely be a greater need for an oboist because there are fewer oboists. But I was thinking of an instrument for enjoyment at home as well.

My wife and my other daughter already play the flute and piano and so I thought it would best for them all to have different instruments instead of all playing flutes - besides they all like their individuality and like having "their own" instrument.

Personally I love the oboe and so does my daughter but she also likes the clarinet and the clarinet is more affordable - although I do not want cost to be the reason for such an important decision as choosing an instrument that could potentially be for life. The reed issues of the oboe are a challenge and because of this I am not so sure it is a good instrument of choice as a second instrument because you likely should devote much time to reed production and practice whereas the clarinet seems to be an instrument that you could just open up the case and start playing for fun. Isn't that what music is all about anyways? She will be starting in a high school band (and she's really looking forward to band class) and if she takes to it and likes it we could offer oboe lessons but that may conflict with her current piano lessons. Personally I hope she chooses the oboe because everyone plays the clarinet and she likes to be unique but as a parent I don't want to steer her down a road that she cannot handle and simply may not be practical or sustainable if she already plays the piano. I will let her decide after we consider all the pros and cons. Before we go out an buy and oboe I need to be sure this is even a practical idea considering our reasons for learning music.

There is more music written for the clarinet isn't there? Thats probably an advantage if you play the clarinet.

Any thoughts?

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