I try really hard to bring you first hand information based on my experience, and I hope it is going to be helpful :)
Caitlin's Recommended List of Oboes
Student Models
I will say that many times, student model oboes are best left to rentals. The students outgrow this instruments quite quickly as the student model is designed to be like an oboe with training wheels. It is going to be safe, as stable as possible, and responsive so that the student can learn fingerings and practice hand position and getting a feel for the instrument. Most town music stores have extremely reasonable rental rates which allow you the freedom to stop when the time is right for an upgraded horn.
Nevertheless...
Yamaha 241 Oboe this model has a basic key system and is designed to see a young student through middle school. Yamaha is a dependable brand for oboes and is widely becoming quite popular.
I would recommend seeking this instrument out as a rental.
If you are looking to purchase, I recommend looking at the Yamaha 441. This model has a modified conservatory system which includes the left hand F key. This is an instrument that will see an oboe student through high school. If you are ready to make a commitment to the oboe past school years and into college, I strongly recommend that you move straight to the next instrument Yamaha offers, the Yamaha 841 oboe.
Check out local rental rates and availability for the Fox 333 Oboe. This is a nice starter oboe, and Fox is a dependable, american brand. I actually got the visit their factory when I was young and watch oboes being finished and reeds being made on machines!
Another model of interest made by Fox is the Fox 450 Oboe. This instrument has a wooden lower half, while the top joint is made of a high quality resin material to resist cracking. This is definitely something to consider if you live in a harsh climate (like the desert!). Take it from someone who has never NOT cracked one of her oboes, this is worth the consideration.
Mark Chudnow makes a nice oboe, the MCW oboe. This oboe is available in both modified, and full conservatory models and is of very good quality. I would recommend the modified conservatory oboe as a "student" model, but my suggestion is that with the reasonable price on the full conservatory, just go for that instead if possible.
Professional Models
For over 100 years F. Loree oboes have been considered the finest in the world. They are probably the most widely played among top professionals in the USA and are definitely worth the pretty penny that you will probably have to pay for them. This is an oboe that requires quite a bit of upkeep (which is why it is great if you can purchase one with a maintenance warranty from a dealer!)
I was a spoiled brat who had her first Loree purchased for her as a freshman in high school, but then, I also knew already at that point that I was commitment to music and was planning on majoring in oboe performance in college. I would say that if you are considering a college major in oboe performance, or considering doing any college oboe playing-- consider this instrument.
They are available in several models. The first is just the regular old oboe with two bore availabilities- regular and AK. The AK being a more intense conical shape, giving it a sweeter sound. (I have a Loree AK)
The Royal model is also very popular, it has a very rich sound caused by the thicker bore walls-- this instrument is widely considered the most popular Loree model. (I would love to play one, but they are actually quite heavy! my little hands just can't deal)
Another professional option is the Yamaha 841 Custom Oboe which is quickly becoming very popular among many oboists in the top USA symphony orchestras around the country. The instrument has a wonderful, dark, smooth sound and especially pleasing low note response (awesome for those of us playing a lot of 2nd oboe). I highly recommend checking this instrument out, it is a wonderful value costing a few thousand dollars less than a Loree. This is an oboe that I would recommend for high school students (the instrument maintenance is a commitment, this being a wood oboe) but if taken care of it will see a student through college and beyond.
Marigaux Oboes are beautiful instruments with a lot of character and depth to their sound. They are quite popular, several of my friends play them- hi Patty and now Ben too! :)
One of the kind of cool things about Marigaux oboes is that they are very stylish and offer many types of wood and metal choices for your oboe if you are looking for something flashy!
Howarth Oboes are also a good bet. There are several professional options, the main one being the Howarth S50 oboe. This oboe offers a thick walled bore similar to that of the Loree Royal, and it creates a more forthright sound.
Laubin Oboes are handmade in a small New York shop since 1931. They have a very small output of oboes, only about 20 instruments in one year. Thusly, the waiting list for an oboe is about 8 years right now and the price is sky high. I recommend checking out their used stock, as you can often get very nice, NICE oboes for much less than the current price of a new one.
One standout feature of the Laubin oboe is that the topjoint of every instrument is lined with a plastic resin sleeve which helps prevent cracking, the instruments are known to stand up to the test of time a little bit better than your average run of the mill oboe.
I hope that this list aids you in your search for that perfect instrument. Please don't hesitate to send me any questions that you have about finding the instrument that is just right for YOU!
I'll have to share some of this with my students & parents!
ReplyDeleteOne thing: I simply won't teach students who don't have the left F. One needs it so darn soon, and having NOT had one for my first 3 years or so I know how difficult it is to break the forked F habit. So I insist that after a month a student must switch over if he or she hasn't already. I'm just that mean! If they don't, I won't continue to teach them. Yeah ... even meaner I guess, eh? :-)
Thanks for the mention, and yes, I do love my #1 Marigaux! (The #2 isn't quite as good, but it'll do for emergencies!) The Marigaux just "fits" me I guess.
That is a good policy, Patty! The L. hand F becomes necessary pretty quickly, and while my students are generally snarky about having to start using it in the first place, the quickly realize it's importance :)
ReplyDeleteHi – I contacted Yamaha about 12 years ago about putting a left F key on their beginner’s oboe and they sent me an email a short time later saying they would do that and they thought it was a good idea. I think it is the only beginner’s oboe with the left F key. I discourage all students from using the forked F for obvious reasons. Using the left F really soon after starting the oboe is the best thing for students. I wrote a beginner’s and an intermediate oboe method for my students. I played 2nd oboe professionally for 44 years and had many students over the years. In my beginner’s book, I introduce the left F on page 5 just so it becomes a familiar fingering. That page has all 3 fingerings for F, the forked F is there just so they know it can be used, if absolutely necessary. All the music is classical and the intermediate book has scale studies, ornaments, unusual fingerings and then solos that are intermediate in difficulty. Once a student has finished this book they would be buying complete solos with piano accompaniment. You can find my books at http://www.cherryclassics.com/search.php. This site is mainly brass music, but he put my books on his site as well. You can find them looking up oboe in search.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy ! ! ! Elaine Reid