I LOVE to talk oboe-shopping. Who wouldn't?! It combines two of my absolute favorite things; oboe+shopping= pure excitement!
So when something goes awry- it can dampen the mood to say the least.
My very first Las Vegas oboe student came to me this year as an eighth grader and member of a notable area middle school music program. Her interest was sparked when I visited her school on one of my first para-pro trips and soon she began lessons with me.
Now, I know I have blogged on this subject in the past but it is something I am faced with a lot so bear with me. The two biggest issues I face in my para-pro job are malfunctioning oboes and inadequate reeds. Middle school students make up the bulk of my work in this job, as many high school oboists have already established themselves with a private instructor (or think that they don't need help ;) ).
Students receive their oboes from one of the following:
Their School
A local music store (if you can believe it there are only two in the entire city that rent oboes to students)
Purchasing their own
Many times music stores will not only rent oboes to families, but also offer a rent-to-own system which has the family eventually owning the instrument. Thus was the case with my little student. There is no way of saying this politely, and as I have learned these past few months, no sense in beating around the bush... the oboe is absolutely HORRIBLE.
All of the notes technically play, however, about 80% of the original pads have been replaced with cheap white ones, and many of the screws look as if they are coming out of the posts too far, though they are too tight for me to even try and turn!!! Almost as if they were meant for another instrument. The biggest problem my student is having with it is the intonation. The notes over the break of the oboe starting around octave E-natural and crossing up into the G area and beyond are so sharp, it sounds as if you begin to play in another key past the break!
The family is frustrated because the instrument is not working properly and I am frustrated for them! They have taken it into the shop numerous times to try and get it repaired or at least improved but there is just no use. They are moving this summer and had planned to pay the oboe off early and take it with them, but now are so angry at the idea that they are getting "cheated" out of an instrument I feel as though they are going to do battle with the music store (they actually asked if I could go too!).
There was no way I was going to get in the middle of a war between customer and business. YES this is a student I care about, and yes my opinion might lean toward the idea that this family IS in fact being cheated by a dodgy shop, however, these two parties entered into an agreement on a horn that has nothing to do with the oboe lady over here. The only thing I could offer was a detailed description of what seemed to be the problem with the oboe, and god help me; my card for them to contact me if absolutely necessary.
The important moral to my long tale; do NOT enter into an agreement, or purchase an oboe that you have not researched, tested, and talked about with your private instructor or if you don't have one, a local authority (university, or college oboe professor).
If you are unsure of the quality of an instrument, it is best not to act too quickly, go home and take a little bit of time to research reputable dealers, and dependable brands of oboes. Remember, music store employees are often middle and high school band directors, and amateur musicians, you will come across VERY few who are oboe experts.
Good luck, and have FUN trying out different types of oboes!
