oboe – Charles Double Reed Company

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.

I spent a lot of my youth practicing just enough to get by. I played oboe and I progressed fast without a lot of effort. I liked that – it gave me time to do many important things, like hanging around with my friends.

Even with all that free time, I got really, really good really, really fast. Maybe too fast. There was little challenge. No struggle to get better. It just came to me. Senior year in High School I was looking at a fat envelope from my first choice school. A scholarship to music conservatory. Let’s just say the transition from High School to College was not an easy one.

In the big leagues, no effort equals no results. If you knew me in those early college years, you’d know to look for me in the school practice rooms. Turns out I wasn’t a prodigy. It would have been a lot easier that way. I was scared. I had bitten off a lot, and was choking on it – I could feel the dream of playing in a major orchestra slipping away before I even got a chance to mess up an audition.

So I practiced. And practiced and practiced and practiced. It worked just a little at first. Not fast enough to keep up, but enough to keep me going. Weeks went by. I began to find hard to play musical passages easier. More practice: new sounds came under my control. More and more practice: I could play in tune, with nice tone, for much longer. Something happened. It started feeling less like practicing and more like playing. Less like work and more like fun. That subtle wink when it shifted from practice to play is hidden somewhere in my memory and I can’t recall the point exactly, much as I try. If you’re in the middle of it, right where you belong, it passes by in a flash, and the moment shifts to the next and the next. It’s beautiful.

My Dad once asked me “what’s the most important thing in life” and I was all over the road with my answer. Success? Friendship? Love? Patience? Achievement? He shook his head, smiled, and said: “Happiness.”

I was finding happiness in the results of my struggles back then. And as I gain experience, I can tell you that I also find it in the struggle itself.

There is no reason to practice if you don’t want to get better. And I think we do, all, truly want to get better – be better. There is no way to get truly, deeply better without effort. As a musician, it’s the effort that comes from you, alone in a practice room.

I wasn’t sure my Dad had it right at the time. I believe him now. Practice as though your happiness depends upon it. The rest will come.

Tag: oboe

Play more, practice less, find happiness.