What Are the Pros and Cons of Taking Oboe Lessons?

Oboe lessons can be an excellent way to learn to play the oboe, and learning to play the instrument can enhance one's life in a variety of ways. One may, for instance, be able to play in a concert band, which can be a very enriching experience. Furthermore, simply knowing how to read and perform music is a great way to improve one's knowledge of music and to overcome anxiety relating to public performance. Learning to play the oboe, however, takes a lot of time, so one should not take lessons without being able to commit to a long-term learning arrangement. Furthermore, oboe lessons, particularly private ones, are often quite expensive.

The main reason to take oboe lessons is a desire to learn to play the instrument. One may go about this in a few different ways based on available learning platforms. One may choose to learn to play the oboe through a school band, for instance, but this option tends not to include a great deal of personal attention and learning time. Alternately, one can try to learn the oboe on one's own with books and online oboe lessons. These are not, however, tailored to individuals and cannot address individual problems.

Private oboe lessons, whether given to a small group or to an individual, can be greatly beneficial, as the instructor can tailor the courses specifically to the needs and goals of the students. Such an instructor can facilitate the goals of a student, for example, who wants to place an emphasis on music theory or on performance. The student can go to the instructor to receive help on specific problems, and the instructor can assign practice pieces relevant to the skills and needs of the student. In many cases, private instructors offer flexible schedules that can, when necessary, be changed.

There are also some disadvantages to oboe lessons that one should consider before making a commitment. Such lessons are, for one thing, often rather expensive, so one should not commit to lessons unless one has sufficient available money. It is also impossible to completely learn to play the oboe in one or two lessons, so one should set clear goals and commit to achieving them before starting lessons. It is, for the most part, a waste to take only one or two oboe lessons. Additionally, one must be willing to set aside the necessary time, often on a somewhat rigid schedule, to take oboe lessons.