I play the alto saxophone during marching season, and symphonic is coming up in a few months. i was planning playing my main instrument (oboe) in symphonic band, but my band teacher has informed me that there are 3 (including me) oboists signed up for symphonic. to me, it seems as if 3 oboists are a bit too much. so i was thinking of taking up bassoon for symphonic. i want to play oboe, but i already play that in my church community band, so should i stick with oboe or try to learn bassoon?

I think It depends on which instrument you like to play the best. Also, do you already know how to play the bassoon? The fingerings for the bassoon are way different from the oboe fingerings, so do you want to put in the time to learn them if you don't already know them? Last year the youth orchestra I am in this year had four oboes, so I think it depends on wether you really like the oboe or would want to try another instrument.

like someone up there said that bassoon fingerings are way differnt than oboes but you might want to learn bassoon because one youll lean a new instrament and that would be fun but a few put downs on a bassoon the cost way more thatn the oboe and so do the reeds. Try flute then you dont have to worry about reeds.

Try flute then you dont have to worry about reeds.

Thats a pretty poor way of choosing instruments if you ask me. Bassoon reeds rarely cost more than oboe reeds, except if she got good enough where she outgrew the twelve dollar fox ones. I would definately take up bassoon, for even if you don't like it, it will give you better knowledge abour double reeds and better your appreiation of the oboe. Also, if you quit the oboe because of too many people playing it, how is being one more flute added to thirty going to help the group. Not to mention that flute requires a completely different embochure. I would say go with bassoon, I am happy I switched everyday I play it, not to mention better scholorship opportunities.

I'd say it all depends on what you like. I agree with the previous post that worrying about reeds is a pretty poor excuse for playing the flute. Besides checking with your band teacher, I'd also start listening to recordings of professional bassoonists (or flautists, should you be interested.) This will give you of what a bassoon or any other instrument should sound like when well played. As you know, there are many more opportunities for double reed players than for flutes, but if you really want to play something, never let certain circumstances keep you from doing so.