The oboe is one of the oldest wind instruments. It is made of ebony, a very hard, black wood.
The oboe is played with a double reed, made of Arundo Donax, a type of bamboo which grows in all of the same regions that good wine comes from. Most oboists make their own reeds.
The oboe is a solo instrument but is mostly played in orchestras and other ensembles. It is mostly used in classical music, but more and more for jazz and pop. You begin to play the oboe at a very early age, as soon as your hands are big enough to press the keys. You don’t have to be big or small to play the oboe. Even adults can still learn to play.
