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Using Your Oboe or Bassoon Skills to Get Into College: A Guide for Aspiring Musicians

Colleges and Universities Need Oboists and Bassoonists

For students who excel at playing the oboe or bassoon, these unique talents can open doors to college admissions, scholarships, and academic opportunities. Whether you’re considering a full music degree, a minor, or just want to keep music in your life while pursuing another field, your double reed skills can be a significant asset.

Why Colleges and Universities Need Oboists and Bassoonists

  1. Demand for Double Reed Players:
    • Oboes and bassoons are essential in orchestras, wind ensembles, and chamber groups, but fewer students play these instruments compared to more common ones like flute or clarinet.
    • College music programs are always looking for talented double reed players to fill these critical spots.
  2. Opportunities for Scholarships:
    • Many colleges offer scholarships specifically for oboists and bassoonists, even if you’re not planning to major in music.
    • These scholarships can make a significant difference in funding your education.
  3. Smaller Competition Pools:
    • Compared to other instrumentalists, oboe and bassoon players often face less competition, making it easier to stand out during the admissions process.

Paths to Study Music in College

  1. Music Major or Minor:
    • Music Major: Pursuing a degree in music means diving deep into your craft with courses in performance, theory, history, and more.
    • Music Minor: A music minor allows you to continue playing and studying music while focusing your main studies on another field.
  2. Secondary Major:
    • Some students choose to double major, combining music with another field like science, business, or humanities. This path is demanding but can provide a well-rounded education.
  3. Participating Without Majoring:
    • Even if you don’t major or minor in music, many colleges allow students to participate in ensembles, take private lessons, or enroll in music courses. This option keeps music in your life without the commitment of a music degree.

The Reality of Conservatories and Music as a Profession

  1. Conservatories:
    • Admission to top conservatories like Juilliard, Curtis, or Eastman is highly competitive, requiring exceptional talent and dedication.
    • Students must prepare rigorous audition materials and demonstrate a deep commitment to music.
  2. Music as a Career:
    • A career in music is challenging, with intense competition for jobs in orchestras, teaching, or as a soloist.
    • It demands continuous practice, resilience, and a willingness to navigate the ups and downs of a highly competitive field.

Noteworthy Music Programs Across the U.S.

If you’re interested in studying music, either as a major, minor, or as an extracurricular pursuit, here are some colleges and universities to consider. This information is current as of September, 2024:

  1. University of Michigan – School of Music, Theatre & Dance
    • Department Head: Aaron Berofsky
    • Contact: aberofsk@umich.edu
    • Music Minor Program: Offers a flexible minor with opportunities to study performance, theory, and history.
  2. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
    • Department Head: Gwyn Richards
    • Contact: gwyricha@indiana.edu
    • Music Minor Program: A robust program allowing students to engage in high-level music study while pursuing another major.
  3. University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
    • Department Head: Robert Cutietta
    • Contact: cutietta@usc.edu
    • Music Minor Program: Offers several minors, including popular music, jazz studies, and music industry.
  4. Northwestern University Bienen School of Music
    • Department Head: Toni-Marie Montgomery
    • Contact: tmontgomery@northwestern.edu
    • Music Minor Program: Allows students to combine music studies with any other major at the university.
  5. Oberlin College and Conservatory
    • Department Head: William Quillen
    • Contact: wquillen@oberlin.edu
    • Music Minor Program: While more focused on conservatory-level training, Oberlin offers opportunities for non-majors to participate in music.

How to Make the Most of Your Music Skills in College

  • Stay Connected: Join ensembles, take lessons, and participate in music-related activities on campus, even if you’re not a music major.
  • Explore Opportunities: Look into scholarships and financial aid options specifically for double reed players.
  • Talk to Professors: Reach out to music department heads and professors to learn more about the programs and how they can accommodate your interests.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a conservatory or simply want to keep playing while pursuing another major, your oboe or bassoon skills can play a significant role in your college journey. Remember, this guide is just a starting point—be sure to discuss your options with your teachers, friends, and family to find the path that’s right for you.

 

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Choosing the Perfect Double Reed Instrument: A Parent and Teen Guide

When you or your child are in the market for a double reed instrument—such as an oboe or bassoon—it’s important to know what to look for and how to test each instrument before making a decision. This guide will help you navigate the process with confidence.

Key Considerations Before You Begin

– Budget: Set a budget that includes both the cost of the instrument and any necessary accessories (reeds, cases, etc.).
– Skill Level: Consider whether the instrument is for a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player.
– Personal Preference: Remember, this is a personal choice—what feels and sounds right to one person might not be the same for another.

Attributes to Look For

Sound Quality
– Clarity: Does the instrument produce a clear, resonant sound?
– Tone: Is the tone warm and consistent across all registers?
– Projection: Does the sound carry well in different settings?

Ease of Play
– Response: How easily does the instrument respond to breath and finger movements?
– Intonation: Does the instrument stay in tune across its range?
– Comfort: Is the key action smooth, and does the instrument feel comfortable to hold?

Build Quality
– Materials: Check the quality of the wood or synthetic materials used.
– Craftsmanship: Look for smooth, well-finished surfaces and precise key mechanisms.
– Durability: Consider the reputation of the brand for long-lasting instruments.

Aesthetics
– Appearance: Does the instrument look visually appealing to you?
– Finish: Is the finish smooth, even, and free from blemishes?

Value
– Is the brand well known?
– Does this brand retain its value over time?

How to Test the Instrument

Warm-Up:
– Spend a few minutes getting comfortable with the instrument. Play some long tones and scales to start.

Test the Range:
– Play notes across the entire range of the instrument, from the lowest to the highest notes.
– Listen for consistency in tone and intonation across the range.

Dynamics:
– Try playing at different volumes—soft, medium, and loud.
– Notice how the instrument responds and whether it maintains a good sound quality at all dynamic levels.

Articulation:
– Test different types of articulation (staccato, legato, etc.).
– Check for clarity and ease in executing each articulation.

Play a Piece:
– If possible, play a piece of music you’re familiar with.
– This helps you assess how the instrument handles more complex passages and transitions.

Sample Graph: Comparing Instrument Attributes

Note: The ratings are just an example. Use this as a model or template to rate your own findings.

Attribute Instrument A Instrument B Instrument C
Sound Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
Ease of Play ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Build Quality ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Aesthetics ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts: Trust Your Instincts

Choosing a double reed instrument is a personal decision. While these guidelines are here to help, the most important factor is how the instrument feels and sounds to you. Take your time, try out several instruments, and choose the one that feels like the best fit.

Remember, the right instrument can inspire years of musical growth and enjoyment, so make sure it’s one you or your teen will love playing!

Good luck with your selection! If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out to us or your instructor.

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To perform and collaborate is a gift

We rely on ears and hearts to make sense of what we do as musicians. It seems as though we’re on the brink of connecting with ears and hearts once again, doesn’t it?

Vaccinations are ramping up. Restrictions, while still not healthy to drop, are going to be further relaxed in the coming months.

Maybe concerts halls will reopen soon? Maybe rehearsals without barriers, masks, and fear will begin again?

As musicians first, here at Charles Double Reeds, we hope for the best and quickest return to music making with friends and colleagues. The future is looking brighter than it has for a year. What a strange and fraught time we’ve lived through.

Our fond and overarching desire is for all of us to feel safe, content, and musically free once again.

I sincerely hope that you’re feeling this little sprite of happiness and comfort in your lives too.

And, as always, we appreciate your support and your business as we lift our metaphorical heads up from the undergrowth, and begin again to create beauty in the world.

With hope,

Brian

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Music Is My Life

Did you fall in love with oboe or bassoon as I did? I’ve been playing since I was in junior high school. It was and is who I am: a person; a musician; a double reed player.
I am a performing musician – playing is in my blood.
As a young conservatory musician, I worked a day job part-time, as most of us do at that point in our lives. I lucked into working at a double reed store in NYC. More luck – the owner retired and I got to continue the store. I moved it all to my little apartment in Brooklyn. I discovered that teaching and supplying and supporting double reed playing was also my way in this world. And that’s how Charles Double Reed Company began.

Brian Charles
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Three Things To Try Out Now

Create A Goal
Set A Due Date
Complete One Goal At A Time
 
 
For every day you don’t practice, 2 days of practice are needed to return to where you left off.
 
Months in “solitary confinement”, without gigs, and without rehearsals. Yuck. Maybe I could settle for not backsliding. Nah. Gigs are coming, this weird “new normal” will change yet again, and I want to be ready to make music outside my practice room.
 
If you’re anything like me, you’re not enjoying solitary music making as much. You ran out of excerpts, went long on long tones, and now you know all the pentatonic scale patterns. The mish-mash of this gets old.
 
The way I stay sane:
 
I create a goal – let’s say learning how to double tongue.
I make a reasonable guess how long it will take me to get good enough that I would let someone else hear me double tongue. Let’s say three weeks. Okay, get started . . .
 
But WAIT! I could learn to circular breath. Or, I could get solid on The Swan of Tuonela, or Rite of Spring. Or – or – or – STOP.
 
One goal at a time. Concentrate your work on that one goal. If it takes less time than you thought, don’t be surprised. If it takes a lot longer, don’t stop. Keep at your goal.
 
While you are doing this whole “goal oriented” thing, you’re creating a directed path for your musical energy. I promise – it will keep you excited, learning, challenged.
 
What a feeling to come to rehearsal with fresh energy plus a deepened sense of your own ability.
 
If you want it, strive for it, earn it, enjoy it.