Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-09-03 05:44
Since I was a clarinetist for many years before taking up the oboe, I think I have some insight into this question.
The oboe embouchure is VERY different from the clarinet embouchure. In fact, about the only thing the embouchures have in common is that there is a reed and you wet it and put it in your mouth. Other than that, it's different. An oboe doesn't have a mouthpiece, for one thing. So, that means nothing to lean against or rest your mouth on. The use of the air is quite different, as well.
The fingering of the oboe is a great deal like the fingering of the clarion (normal high register) of the clarinet. The oboe overblows at the octave (while clarinet overblows at the 12th). This means you don't have two different sets of fingerings to learn, which in my book makes the oboe somewhat easier in that regard.
Is it hard to play? No, not really.
Is it hard to play well? You bet. There are many more variables in producing the tone and staying in tune with the oboe than with the clarinet. I'd go so far as to say that, given instruments of equal quality, achievement on the oboe depends more on the player than on the instrument. With the clarinet, the instrument itself can set you up to play pretty well.
Would I switch back to clarinet? Never in a million years.
Are you contemplating a switch?
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