Playing a unique instrument

[Anonymous]

My DS loves his oboe. Dh and I don’t care for the sound. DS is lobbying for private lessons and said that if he plays for the marching band, he could go to Florida. He said his band teacher said it could help for college admissions.

DS has played piano and violin. He stopped playing violin and is desperately trying to quit piano for the oboe.

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

We will let him play the oboe because my kid loves it.

[Anonymous]

Does it matter? He wants to play it. If someone said no, it won’t help for college, are you going then to deny him playing it?

[Anonymous]

Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

[Anonymous]

Let him play if he wants to play but not because you/your kid think it will lead him to promised land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

+1. Despite what Amy Chua says, people do value instruments other than piano and violin. If anything, a rarer instrument should be a plus. I don’t know how you don’t like it. The oboe solo in Beethoven’s Fifth is my favorite 10 seconds of music ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let him play if he wants to play but not because you/your kid think it will lead him to promised land.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

+1. Despite what Amy Chua says, people do value instruments other than piano and violin. If anything, a rarer instrument should be a plus. I don’t know how you don’t like it. The oboe solo in Beethoven’s Fifth is my favorite 10 seconds of music ever.

+2 and he should absolutely play what he loves, will translate to better results.

[Anonymous]

An oboe isn't unique. Unique would be: harp, harpsichord, a medieval instrument, or something like fiddling or Appalachian music rather than classical.

[Anonymous]

or making violins rather than playing them.

[Anonymous]

Oboe is not unique but yea it helps, more so than violin or piano.

[Anonymous]

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

[Anonymous]

If he's musically inclined, he might find he likes other instruments as well. Ukelele is cheap and fast and easy to learn, and portable. Could open up other string instruments for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

I’d bet my life savings that OP is Top 20 or bust.

[Anonymous]

Colleges don't care much what instrument you play.

[Anonymous]

A kid in my neighborhood went to Princeton - his parents said they were especially interested because he played an uncommon instrument they wanted- cant remember if it was oboe or tuba. A million other things would have to align but in tie breakers things like this do help.