Hello! I’m Erin Brophey, the Principal Oboe Player of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan. Thank you for joining me today!
I’m thrilled to delve into a topic that is incredibly close to my heart: finding the right oboe for you. My journey with the oboe began in a remote part of Northern Canada—a place of stunning natural beauty but limited resources. Growing up, I struggled with access to quality information, functioning instruments, and good reeds. These challenges made my early experiences with the oboe quite difficult, and I often felt like giving up.
Fast forward 30 years, and I’ve been performing and teaching for over two decades. Reflecting on my early struggles, I’ve realized that it doesn’t have to be that way. I believe my experience could have been much more joyful with better resources. That’s why I’m passionate about using the internet to share valuable information, so you don’t have to face the same hurdles I did.
One major challenge I faced was not having access to a good instrument, which significantly hindered my practice and improvement. Despite having plenty of music inside me, my tools held me back. Today, I want to help you navigate the process of finding the right oboe for you.
Many oboists feel overwhelmed when searching for a better instrument or become attached to a single brand due to its reputation. For me, it was Lorée. But with so many brands out there, how do you choose the right one?
The key is to identify what you need from your instrument and how it will support your music-making. Each oboe has its own personality and sound, even within the same brand. It’s about finding an oboe that resonates with your musical voice.
Here are a few considerations for finding the right oboe:
Sound Preference: Think about the sound you like. For my students, I look for an oboe with a left-hand F key for developing technique and an articulated low C-sharp key for pieces like Tombourin. For myself, I prefer a full conservatory system and, of course, a beautiful sound.
Try Different Instruments: Today, I’ll demonstrate two very different oboes to illustrate how varied they can be. The first is a Lorée, a classic North American style oboe made in Paris. It’s quite old, showing some wear, but it has a lovely sound and is priced at $6,000 CAD (approximately $4,350 USD).
Now, let’s compare it with an oboe by Joseph Franke, which has a distinctive Baroque-style bell and gold posts on the keywork. This oboe is slightly newer and priced at $7,600 CAD (about $5,500 USD).
The sound from the Franke is darker and thicker, offering a different tonal quality. Both oboes are beautiful but have distinct characteristics.
One reason I’m keen to explore different oboes, especially functioning ones, is due to my early experiences without access to quality instruments. In Canada, finding an oboe can be challenging, as you often need to know other oboists or buy from trusted sources. When I find an oboe I like, I purchase it and make it available to others.
If either of these instruments piques your interest, I ship worldwide. I hope today’s presentation has helped illustrate that every oboe has something unique to offer. It’s all about finding the one whose sound truly resonates with you.
Let’s all strive to be the oboists everyone wants to play with—the oboists we were meant to be. Play with joy and ease. Take care, and goodbye!
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