My Oboe Career Progression

When I stepped into middle school to pick an instrument to learn, I never thought I would quite literally commit blood, sweat, tears, and more than seven years of my life to it. They say that a musician is never satisfied with their work, but the various endeavors I have overcome throughout my oboe career makes me proud of my 'unfinished' work. Although there were always be people who are more successful, the value of my achievement is not diminished. Ultimately, the only way to go from here is up.

A lot has changed between the time I first picked up my instrument and today. Many people like to joke that the oboe sounds similar to a duck. Truthfully, for the first three years, there was little distinction between the 'music' I graced my parents' ears with and the quacking noises heard at ponds. Every year at TMEA auditions, the students who auditioned would frequently change. Not because the oboist graduated, but because they simply quit. Many students were discouraged from continuing such a futile instrument, including myself sometimes. How could anyone make this broken clarinet sound less... pitiful? However, I stuck through with it and continued to practice, despite all the discouraging moments I encountered.

At first, I nearly couldn't handle the stress. Although I was accustomed to performing solo audition pieces in front of others, having the band's performance rely on my solo was a new and truly terrifying experience. In many ways, musical performances feel worse than public speaking, which so happens to be the number one fear in the world. The instrument becomes an extension of your voice, projecting your emotions and intentions with music rather than words. Moreover, the smallest fluctuation of the weather, performance setting, or instrument can change everything. Flexibility is an absolute must for