Playing oboe will not be a guarantee to get you into your dream school.

Playing oboe well will not be a guarantee to get you into your dream school.

Playing oboe incredibly well will not be a guarantee to get you into your dream school.

I suggest that you play oboe because you love the sound. I suggest you play oboe because you have the dream of mastering it. I suggest you play oboe because you’ve heard recordings of oboe that just melt your heart. In addition I suggest, believe it or not, that you sing. Singing can really help with your oboe playing. Honest.

I also suggest that IF you are hoping it will help with your college apps that you practice diligently and attentively. I suggest you put more effort into your lessons and what your instructor tells you to work on, and into your school group(s), and into your youth orchestra. (And if you aren’t playing in anything I suggest you reconsider what you are doing.) I suggest you go play for your church, or a local retirement community, or some other group that would appreciate some music. I suggest you listen to music. I suggest you attend live concerts.

And still this is no guarantee playing oboe will get you into that dream school.

The truth is, there are no guarantees.

So do it because you love it. Please.