Author: oboesax
Date: 2010-07-21 21:23
Lots of good comments. I'll try not to repeat them.
I am both a former youth musican (flute) and mother of a young serious musican who plays the oboe, sax, and bassoon very well and clarinet well enough to perform in musicals. As of right now (age 14) she would like to work as a professional musician.
First of all, what does your daughter sound like? Does she get a good oboe sound, even early on? Some people are better suited for particular instruments than others. Perhaps she could play both oboe and clarinet and decide later. Clarinets don't cost very much.
How seriously will she practice? From the perspective of where we live (very competitive area), starting oboe and lessons only in high school is very late. Times have changed. Oboeists around here can already play the oboe concertos at this age, and are expected to to be able to enter a youth symphony. There is a LOT of competition even among oboes in the United States and your daughter will need to take any instrument seriously.
Taking an instrument seriously doesn't mean one needs to become professional however. I never intended to work as a professional flutist, yet at one time I was principal flute in the Seattle Youth Symphony.
I think you should buy a good instrument and not worry about whether it might be a waste of money. The better instrument she has, the easier it is to sell later if you want to. I have sold three professional-level instruments (from other children) at the same prices which I paid for them.
Only if your daughter gets very serious about music should you worry about there being too much competition. My daughter is now thinking of switching from oboe to bassoon as her major double-reed instrument. She gets a better sound on bassoon than on oboe, even though she's been playing oboe for over five years, and bassoon for only 5 months!
Most important--let your daughter pick her instrument(s), support her, give her lessons, and don't hold her back.
Post Edited (2010-07-21 23:28)
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