Playing a unique instrument will open up many more musical opportunities for DS: he will be able to join bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, etc., while violinists and flute players are climbing all over each other to compete for seats. He will be able to qualify for special opportunities earlier in his studies, because there will be less inherent competition. And he will be constantly asked to perform because he will be needed.

The principal oboist has an important and very subtle informal leadership role in the orchestra (different from the concertmaster): that player does not just sound the tuning pitch for everyone but often acts as an informal arbiter of tuning in the wind section, especially for less experienced orchestras.

DS is fortunate to have fallen in love with an instrument that is so widely required for performances but so comparatively infrequently pursued by students at a high level. Definitely encourage! And if that love comes with some talent, significant hard work, and a good teacher, DS will be wonderful to listen to over the years to come.

--Married to a professional musician (not an oboist)

My kid plays the trombone. They're common as weeds, but man he rocks that thing.

Let him play the instrument he enjoys. He’s much more likely to practice and be decent if he enjoys what he’s doing. If that helps him in some way in the college admissions game, consider that a bonus.

Anonymous wrote:It would be even better if your kid could design an entirely new instrument, then donate all the profits from its sale to a nonprofit. Even better still if your kid could start the nonprofit.

Sorry for the snark, I’m a little jaded after this year’s admissions process!

+1

If you say yes, make sure he is prepared to practice. A badly-played oboe sounds like a duck being tortured in the pits of hell.

Signed,
A former (terrible) oboe player

Anonymous wrote:DS is lobbying for private lessons and said that if he plays for the marching band, he could go to Florida.

FWIW, I grew up in Florida and was in marching band in high school. At least at our school, oboe players switched to clarinet for marching band season. It's difficult enough to play a double reed instrument, but trying to march and play one at the same time would be even more difficult (and very hard on the reeds).

He wants to play the oboe, a beautiful instrument!!! You are lucky to have such a child with such great taste.

Just pay for the lessons. His sound will improve, duh.

It would be even better if your kid could design an entirely new instrument, then donate all the profits from its sale to a nonprofit. Even better still if your kid could start the nonprofit.

Sorry for the snark, I’m a little jaded after this year’s admissions process!

Oboe is a unique instrument. There are only 2 oboes in orchestras. I have played in many semi-professional adult orchestras and bands in the area and it is difficult to find oboe players. Sometimes we have one person who doubles on oboe and bassoon.

But let your kid play whatever they want because they enjoy it.

Dear god, just let your high schooler be in the band and play his reed instrument. Like this is a problem?! He sounds like a great kid!! Support him!!

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.

But played far too often.

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

That depends. If kid emphasizes how much he loves playing the oboe on college applications, colleges that don’t need another oboe player may reject him because they figure he will choose a school where he can play, as with any instrument. Leaning too hard into the instrument angle can backfire unless the kid truly only wants a school where he will be able to play.

Agree that oboe is not unique, but everything is better in terms of standing out than violin and piano.

--violin mom. If only she didn't love it so much. It is incredibly stressful with the atmosphere of intense competition required to just be noteworthy among peers. It did help her in the end, and she does love it. That's what counts.

Anonymous wrote:

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

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

It’s ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

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

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

+1

INSANE.