 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: eefer ★2017
Date: 2017-05-07 03:19
My friend, who lives in England, has a newly 9yo daughter who desperately wants to play oboe. The problem is that my friend is a single mom living in council housing and she doesn't make a lot of money. I live in the US and am willing to help out. While I don't want to throw money at this, it IS expensive to purchase an instrument. I am looking at the Yamaha 211, 241, and a Cabart Special that is full conservatory minus the left F key. I am a clarinetist mainly, but do play a little oboe. If you had to choose from these three instruments, which would you pick? I am leaning towards the 211...it is really light, is free-blowing, has good intonation, and will accommodate small hands (this child is on the small side). I also don't know how long the desperation will last once she finds out about the "work" involved.
Cabart - $380
Yamaha 211 - $620
Yamaha 241 - $799
Thanks,
Nancy Buckman
<nebuckman@gmail.com>
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-05-07 03:48
One problem she may find is a teacher who plays or teaches conservatoire system as the majority of teachers in the UK are primarily thumbplate system players. There are some conservatoire system players - my teacher is and I know a few others and some that can teach both systems, but most are thumbplate system players first and foremost.
Thumbplates can be added to conservatoire system oboes - if that is required, then best get Howarth to fit one as they do dual system conversions on most oboes from the continent and their own if a customer wants one fitted to a particular instrument. I've seen thumbplates fitted to instruments sold by other companies in the UK and quite honestly, they aren't great to put it politely.
Provided their teacher is able to teach conservatoire system, then that will make things much easier all round and much easier to buying oboes straight off the shelf in the UK and nearly anywhere in the world later on down the line.
For a beginner and a 9 year old, then the Yamaha is the best option - plastic, lightweight and will take them to around Grade 5 or any grades not requiring a low Bb in the repertoire or scales and arpeggios.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: matt_lin18
Date: 2017-05-07 21:10
The Yamaha could be a good option. Hannah's Oboes (theoboefairy.com) has a lot of the Yamahas for sale/trial and many other similar beginner instruments. Students do usually grow out of the Yamaha 211/241 in less than a year but the nice thing about Hannah's shop is that she will buy back the oboe within a certain time frame and give you credit towards a purchase of a more advanced oboe.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-05-08 00:42
UK spec Yamaha 200 series are both dual system (conservatoire with added thumbplate) and built to low Bb, so maybe look for a used one listed in the UK as that way you wouldn't have to ship it (which will incur import duty) nor have the uncertainty if their teacher may not be open to the concept of teaching conservatoire system.
The previous 200 series oboe to the current model also had a forked F vent - they've omitted that from the current model from what I can see. The UK spec Yamaha 200 series will take anyone beyond Grade 5 whereas the US spec one will be limited without the low Bb.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-05-10 03:06
I have tried a few Yamaha student oboes over the years, and whilst they appear well made, I have not managed to make them sing, and found them quite characterless. Selmers, from my experience tend to go out of adjustment quite quickly and frequently have intonation problems - but on saying that, I have not tried one recently. Perhaps a good Howarth student model may be the go, and they are quite often sold second hand as a young player moves up. Ebay frequently has second hand older Howarth B models, and as long as they have been looked after well, and have been well maintained, could be a good solution as they are often had for around $500 US and usually thumb plate. However they are open ringed oboes and if the finger pads of the child are very small, covering the open holed instruments can be a real issue. My first oboe was an open holed simple system instrument and I did grade 8 and my first year of university studies on it, but I was 16 when I started the oboe.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-05-14 03:14
I would strongly suggest a trial of a used low level Yamaha. She may find it is MJCH more difficult than ever she imagined, and this way she has a low-guilt exit should she need one.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-05-14 16:55
Definitely rent an oboe to start with - that will be much better than buying one and finding out they don't get on with it and end up stuck with an instrument until the time a buyer is found.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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