I've been wondering about this for some time. I know that they're are a few instruments that aren't good choices for band. Such instruments are Oboe, Bassoon, and even Soprano Sax.

I don't get why they're not allowed, especially Soprano Sax since I'd like to play it for Marching Band.

i heard from my band director that with the oboe the reeds are so fragile you would be blowing through all your reeds in no time and that it is already hard enough without having to worry about marching. i have asked my director about this already.

how is the oboe not good for some bands or w/e?? i play it and im like the best one in our 7th grade band.. and not to mention the oboe is considered the hardest instrument to learn.. hah!

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oh wiat.. were u talking about marching band?? haha nvm! and bout being the best one.. not technically the best but idk i could be..

its marching band....

its supposed to be loud and brassy....

oboe and bassoon don't fit in at all, let alone its impossible to march them

how can you be better than a lot of first year ppl .. i've been playing for three/four years now and i'm only in seventh grade playing at an end of eighth grade/nineth grde level! how doesnt an oboe or bassoon fit in a marching band i dont get it.. i know theyre impossible to march with ... but flutes and shizz are in there... and its got to be hard to hold them up while marchign around

I don't know about you, but I'm glad I don't have to march my oboe!

Yes, it's the reed issue. You'd probably be going through a million reeds a week, more than you already do anyway! And if you march with it.. it'd probably like stab the roof of your mouth. Hah okay maybe not.. but it'd surely break.

Oboes in band (I'm talking about band in general, not marching) are only good for solos anyway.. kinda. I don't like band very much. Go full orch!

Yeah, weather changes are the devil. It's getting unusually cold where I live, and it's driving my reeds crazy.

Well i never heard the soprano thing but i always heard that its a safety issue... if you trip and fall down on you oboe/bassoon that it would go straight to the back of your throat, especially on the bassoon. I play bassoon in concert band and sax in marching... if you really want to be in marching band... choose the sax...


~Lexa

safety is definately an issue.

but you get to play in pit!
I've been in pit for 2 years, first year on xylo and this year on marimba.

I'm the oldest pit member and I loooove being able to control the freshman ^_^
(no offense to any freshmen, you guys will get your chance too)

About the bassoon issue.

I have marched on bassoon.
It is amazingly hard.
I don't recommend it at all.
I had to make my own lyre.

It's pretty much the reed issue. Plus, the instruments are way to expensive to repair all the time in case of accidents!
Speaking for all bands (concert and marching) I agree that oboe is only good for solos, and there aren't that many!
I'd say go to full orchestra! More solos, better music, better musicians!
I've been playing for 3 1/2 years, and auditioned for All-state band in the 9th/10th grade concert band. I skipped 8th grade, and I beat all the 9th graders and am 2nd in district to a 10th grader! Imagine that!

just one comment, someone said the oboe is the hardest instrument to learn. The bassoon is definately harder, considering fingerings and the shape. I will argue this with you!!! No way is the oboe harder than bassoon, nope, not fallin for that one!! Nice try though!!

I play both, and I think oboe is harder. The reeds are far harder to control, tuning is a lot harder...and bassoon fingerings aren't really all that bad. I dislike oboe fingerings more. It's a matter of preference.

I can't even imagine holding a bassoon and marching! They are so heavy!

I think with enough control, it is possible to march with oboe. Although I wouldn't my self.