Just call me.... Dr. Oboe

I have quite a few different "jobs", as do many freelance musicians.

Private oboe instructor
Oboe and English horn reed maker
Ob\Eh sub for Phantom at The Venetian
AFM 369 gigs
Clincian for Middle and High School honor band and solo and ensemble festivals
Clark County School District Oboe Parapro

In other words, oboe-everything, every day. I am really into what I do, (I mean, you would have to be to be writing a blog about oboe!!!). I love the music, but I love, LOVE, <3, the OBOE...
It is my business, which is why I have very strong feelings about "oboe education".

I want to talk about why private instruction is so important if you are interested in pursuing the oboe whether it is through middle school, high school, college, and beyond.

I encounter many parents and students who are of the mindset that since their child is enrolled in a band or orchestra class in school, shouldn't they be learning all they need to know about oboe playing in class?

The short answer is "no".

The long answer goes something like this; a middle or high school band director is like a
doctor. A general practitioner to be precise. They are trained to be outstanding all around musicians and spend at least one semester of their undergraduate career learning each and every woodwind, brass, percussion, string, and even a bit of vocal pedagogy. I can remember my my husband worrying about his bassoon playing, and taking pride in his percussion technique (not to mention being pretty good at oboe!).

Anyway, while band directors do their best in a short semester to try learn all of the ins and outs of the oboe- it is not the same level of experience as someone who:

Began playing oboe at age 11
Studied oboe with college professors as a high school student
Obtained an undergraduate degree in oboe performance
Obtained a graduate degree in oboe performance

While the music education majors (band directors) were busy learning all of those other instruments (along with taking education courses, and pyschologoy, and science, and all kinds of intense stuff), I was learning how to play the oboe, I was learning how to teach the oboe, and I was learning how to make oboe and english horn reeds.

So- you wouldn't go to your general practicioner if you had a heart murmur would you? You would go to a cardiologist, a specialist.

See where I am going with this?

A private oboe instructor is a specialist, someone who can bring out the potential which lies within each beginning oboist.

There are many reasons to study oboe privately- whether it is to begin training to be a music major in college one day (in this case private instructor is an absolute necessity!!!), or simply having a desire to learn an instrument and learn it well.

A good place to begin searching for a private oboe instructor would be by simply talking with your child's band director. Many times, directors keep a list of private teachers and their contact information.

Good luck finding your own Dr. Oboe!