Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-06-01 03:10
Hi Amy --
There are others more qualified than I am to answer your questions, but since I am a relative oboe beginner who also plays clarinet, I thought I would tell you what I did -- both good, and bad.
First off, I bought a low-end Linton oboe for not much money (like, $250 on Ebay), on the basis that if this was just a passing whim or if I didn't like it, I wouldn't have lost much. It had the low Bb, but not the left-hand F. It worked fine, but I quickly realized that I was going to LOVE playing the oboe, and I wanted the left-hand F, and an oboe that had a very good reputation for tone, intonation, and stability. I found (also on Ebay) a VERY nice Yamaha 411 for less than $1,200. I don't regret buying the other one first, exactly, but I think I was kidding myself about ever being satisfied with something like that, so if I had it to do over again, I would have gone for the Yamaha (or comparable quality) in the first place. (There are a whole lot of Yamaha players on this board, btw -- read the thread about "what instrument do you play?".)
I have been using the Rubank method books, and I think most people think they are good. There are others. I have also started Barrett. Look around here on this board -- there are a lot of good ideas for beginners that have already been posted.
Do you intend to find a teacher? That is something that I think might not be a bad idea. I am progressing well on my own, but sometimes I get the feeling that having a real, live teacher would make it more efficient.
Good luck.
Susan
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