I am a 16 year old oboist who has been playin for two years now and I was wondering what people recommend I do if the oboe is something I'm serious about after highschool. Any tips for aspiring musicians? I'm currently a sophomore, and although I do not know what I want to major in I am positive that I would like to play the oboe in college. Any tips?

I do take private lessons.. Although we have done nothing with reedmaking.

I'd recommend playing in an ensemble if you're not already. There are some really great city youth orchestras. Audition for one of those. I'd also suggest going to a music camp this summer. It'll give you an idea of what studying in music might be like.

Yes, and start making your own reeds. This website has some really great tips & resources. http://www.mmimports.com.

Good luck!

Learn how to make reeds, do private lessons with a good teacher, and join a band, orchestra or ensemble.

Sorry I haven't been on in a long time.. Things as a now junior in high school get a little hectic. I finally bought a reed making kit and my teacher an I will be starting up with learning that over Christmas break. I am in symphonic band at my high school ( it's an auditioned group.. But I'm the only oboist in my district so there wasn't much competition..) where else would you recommend I get involved? And about summer camps; do you know anyone who offers something like that in the Akron/Cleveland Ohio area? Preferably at low cost? Thanks for the tips guys!

I saw this thread and I couldn't help but reply!
I'm a 13 year-old freshman oboe player. I've been playing the oboe for a little over 5 years. I started really young. I don't think I'm any good at the oboe, but I absolutely love it. I really want to become a professional oboist, so I've already been looking at college scholarship options with my teachers. Camps at a university are extremely helpful, and it looks really good on applications. I was going to go to camp at University of Wisconsin: Madison since I love that school before I moved to Georgia. Even here I am getting the same advice, stick with the oboe. Supposedly, as long as you keep practicing, you can make it in the music world. Oboes are rare and sought after. I've met a couple of senior oboists, now college freshmen, who made it into the music business.
But this is just advice from my elders. I don't know how much of it is exaggerated since I don't have a lot of experience myself. I'm stuck in the same boat as you. One thing I have noticed, the Midwest doesn't have a lot of oboists. I was one of 2 in my whole county, even outside of my county for middle school to make it into a youth orchestra. I just had District auditions out here in Georgia, about 12, 6 upperclassmen and 6 underclassmen, oboists made it. I didn't. That's insane.
Sorry about the blabbering, but I can't help it when it comes to the oboe.

Don't appologize! I am in the exact same boat! I adore the sound of the oboe and I can't help but be fascinated by it. So when I got the opperotunity to start playing it in school I jumped on it because its something I have always wanted to do. I have played for 3 and a half years and I must say its incredibly stressful sometimes being the only oboist in my school district because the band director is always asking me to join one of our other ensembles and play the oboe. We have a symphonic band ( that's the auditioned group I am in) as well as a concert band up at the high school which are the two that an oboist would sound nice in but we also have a steel drum band and a jazz band as well as our Da' funk band. I really want to try one of the others (I was already in concert band my freshman year) but he wants me to play the oboe in both symphonic and concert band. And that would require quitting chamber ensemble.. The auditioned choir I am also in.. Which is the same period.

Oh goodness. That's a lot of stuff. The best you can do is try to find a compromise of having limited practices with the group. I know one kid who practices with the concert band about once a month (he leaves his chorus class) and performs with us. The songs shouldn't be too difficult compared to symphony. Just follow where your passion lies. I gave up chorus after 4 years to be in band since we only get two electives. What do you see yourself doing a couple years after high school?