Oboe Lessons in Tennessee
What oboe lessons cost across Tennessee, and how to find the right teacher.
Oboe lesson prices across Tennessee
A one-hour oboe lesson in Tennessee typically costs $58 to $83, and a half hour $32 to $45. Most towns sit close to that range. The Nashville area runs highest, up to $97 an hour.
Every town has two guides: an oboe lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.
| Town | 30 minutes | One hour | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville area | |||
| Nashville | $33–$53 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Murfreesboro | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Franklin | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Spring Hill | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Hendersonville | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Smyrna | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Gallatin | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Brentwood | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Columbia | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Lebanon | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Juliet | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| La Vergne | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Springfield | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Goodlettsville | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Dickson | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Nolensville | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| White House | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Portland | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Hartsville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Memphis area | |||
| Memphis | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Bartlett | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Collierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Germantown | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Arlington | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lakeland | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Millington | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Atoka | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Knoxville area | |||
| Knoxville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Oak Ridge | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Maryville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Farragut | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Powell | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Alcoa | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lenoir City | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Chattanooga area | |||
| Chattanooga | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| East Ridge | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Soddy-Daisy | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Middle Valley | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Red Bank | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Collegedale | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Kingsport area | |||
| Kingsport | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Bristol | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Johnson City area | |||
| Johnson City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Elizabethton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Sevierville area | |||
| Sevierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Seymour | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Tullahoma area | |||
| Tullahoma | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Manchester | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Tennessee towns | |||
| Athens | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Clarksville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Cleveland | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Cookeville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Crossville | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Dyersburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Greeneville | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Jackson | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Lawrenceburg | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Lewisburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Martin | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| McMinnville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Morristown | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Shelbyville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Union City | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
No Tennessee town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Tennessee.
Meet an Oboe Teacher in Tennessee Before Weekly Lessons
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- One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
- Live feedback on reeds, tone, pitch, and breathing
- Support school ensemble, audition, and recital goals
- Claim a free first 30-minute lesson
Find Your Next Oboe Instructor in Tennessee
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How oboe learning works in Tennessee
How does oboe fit school music in Tennessee?
Tennessee public schools include music in kindergarten through eighth grade, but that does not mean every student gets an oboe part or a school instrument lesson. In band programs, entry commonly begins in sixth grade: that is the starting point in Williamson and Sumner counties and in Knox County’s Bearden Middle School, while Martin Luther King Jr. School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools lists beginning band in seventh grade. Since oboe is a specialized band instrument, private study helps you or your child build a foundation alongside school music.
When school music starts in Tennessee districts
Who runs what for Tennessee oboists?
Two organizations shape the main student routes, and they serve different purposes. The Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) represents school music and runs middle school honors ensembles and All-State auditions, with regional directors guiding students through the process. The Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) offers a separate competition route, beginning with local spring auditions and advancing qualifying students to state competition. That distinction matters: school honors recognition comes through the school music system, while TMTA gives students another performance goal that does not depend on an All-State placement.
Who runs what in Tennessee
Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA)
- Runs
- Runs middle school honors ensembles and All-State auditions.
- For
- School music students in grades 7 and up.
Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA)
- Runs
- Holds local spring auditions and state competitions.
- For
- Elementary, Junior and Senior student performers.
Auditions and events in Tennessee
How does an oboist reach Tennessee's top student honors?
For school honors, the route begins with Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) middle school honors Band or Orchestra for students in grades 7 and 8, then continues to regional and state All-State auditions. Students work through their school director and regional association; middle school audition materials are submitted by directors in the fall, and high school All-State has a second-tier submission window in late October and early November. Oboe is included in the official All-State audition books. A separate route is Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA): students audition locally in spring, and those earning a Superior rating and meeting musicianship requirements advance to state competition. Its Spring 2027 application deadline is April 15, with competition held alongside the state conference.
The oboe route in Tennessee, step by step
- Middle school honorsTennessee Music Education Association honors Band and Orchestra serve grades 7–8; registration usually falls in early October.
- Regional and All-State auditionsOboe students audition through their regional association; second-tier submissions take place in late October and early November.
- TMTA local auditionsLocal auditions take place in spring for Elementary, Junior and Senior categories.
The Tennessee oboe year
MTNA Competitions – Fall 2026 (Tennessee state-level rounds)Music Teachers National Association; Tennessee host: Tennessee Music Teachers AssociationStart the piece Apr to Jul
Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For the TMTA route, prepare a polished solo performance and the musicianship work needed to meet the association’s advancement requirements; the specific local audition dates and fees are set by each local association. School honors auditions use procedures shared through regional leadership, so a student’s director is the guide to the current material and submission process. Oboe preparation also needs consistent attention to tone, breath control and reed response, since those fundamentals shape every audition phrase. A focused event piece generally takes three to six months of weekly lessons to prepare well.
What else is there to enter?
Students who want a solo competition outside school honors can consider the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) spring auditions, which are open in Elementary, Junior and Senior categories to members and nonmembers. Those who qualify move on to the state competition held with the association’s conference. For oboists, this offers a defined performance goal beyond ensemble placement, while students who prefer playing for enjoyment can continue building repertoire in lessons without entering a contest.
Oboe events in Tennessee, 2026–27
Tennessee Music Teachers Association Competitions – Spring 2027
Tennessee Music Teachers Association
- When
- Spring 2027; state competition held with the TMTA State Conference; exact dates not published
- Entry
- $43 per member Elementary entry; $48 per member Junior entry; $53 per member Senior entry; $72 per non-member entry
- Who
- Elementary, Junior, and Senior categories
MTNA Competitions – Fall 2026 (Tennessee state-level rounds)
Music Teachers National Association; Tennessee host: Tennessee Music Teachers Association
- When
- Usually late October each year
- Entry
- Ask the organizer
- Who
- Junior, Senior, and Young Artist categories; category age limits are in MTNA rules
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool students and students at schools without band or orchestra can register for Mid-State and All-State Honors Orchestra or Band auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras in Nashville. In East Tennessee, Knoxville Christian Youth Bands serves homeschool, private school and public school students in grades 5 through 12, giving oboists a school-age ensemble route alongside individual study.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on oboe
Many children are ready to begin oboe around ages 9 to 11, when they can manage the instrument’s breath support and coordination. Tennessee band programs often begin in sixth grade, though some start earlier or later, so private lessons before that point give a child time to learn steady tone, fingerings and music reading before joining an ensemble. A teacher can also help you decide when your child is ready for the oboe itself and keep individual progress moving once school rehearsals begin.
A teen in Tennessee
A teenager can start with a school band if the district offers one, then build toward middle school honors or All-State through the regional school music route. Those auditions follow fall deadlines, so a teen who is new to oboe benefits from weekly lessons that establish fundamentals well before the audition season. Students who want an additional solo goal can enter TMTA’s spring local audition process, which leads to state competition for qualifying performers.
Starting or coming back as an adult
Adults in Tennessee can learn oboe without needing to fit into a school schedule, and it is not too late to begin or return. Once you can read music and play proficiently, the Knoxville Community Band welcomes new players without auditions, while Nashville Community Concert Band invites oboists to ask about joining and expects members to read music. A teacher can meet you at your current level, whether you are learning your first instrument or rebuilding skills, and help you work toward playing with others.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good oboe teacher do?
A good oboe teacher builds a secure tone and clear articulation while helping you manage the instrument’s reed and breath demands without rushing. In Tennessee, that foundation supports both school ensemble playing and the state’s honors and solo competition routes. The right fit depends on your goal, age and personality: a young beginner needs patient fundamentals, while a teen preparing auditions needs a clear plan and an adult may want a steadier pace. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree in oboe; you can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one.
How do live online oboe lessons work?
A live Zoom oboe lesson lets your teacher hear tone, articulation and phrasing in real time, and see your posture, hands and instrument angle. Set the camera so your upper body and oboe are visible, with a quiet space and room for the instrument’s sound; your teacher can stop you, demonstrate a passage and respond as you play. In Nashville or Nolensville, you get the same one-on-one weekly lesson and choice of teacher, without a commute or a limit to whoever is closest. The regular online rhythm is easier to keep when travel is not part of the lesson.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
GennavieveDoctorate in OboeLaurenMaster’s in OboeOboe in Tennessee
Where to hear oboe
In Memphis, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, including a January 2027 program pairing Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. In Knoxville, children in grade 12 and under from Knox and surrounding counties can attend Knoxville Symphony Masterworks or Roy Cockrum Chamber Series concerts free with a paying adult ticket, up to three children per adult. These performances let an oboe student hear the instrument within orchestral music.
Where to play with others
For an oboist seeking an adult ensemble, Nashville Community Concert Band welcomes inquiries from players who read music and play proficiently, and Knoxville Community Band accepts proficient players without auditions. In Kingsport, Kingsport Community Band welcomes band-instrument players of any age. These groups offer different entry points as a student grows: some focus on community playing, while youth orchestras provide a more advanced ensemble goal.
Oboe around Tennessee, area by area
Nashville area
Vanderbilt Blair Academy performances, including youth orchestra concerts and recitals, are free and open to the public. College students can also buy Nashville Symphony tickets for $10 to Classical concerts and $20 to other eligible concerts. For families in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, or the surrounding towns, these options make live orchestral and chamber music accessible.
- School year
- Aug 11 to May 25, 37 lesson weeks (Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Gallatin, Brentwood
Memphis area
In Memphis, students and seniors can attend Memphis Youth Symphony Program Fall Concerts for $5. Opera Memphis presents free performances throughout the city each September, offering another way to hear live music beyond an orchestra setting. For an oboe student, both kinds of events make listening a practical part of learning how music works in an ensemble.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 20, 37 lesson weeks (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)
- Town guides
- Memphis, Bartlett, Southaven, Collierville, Olive Branch, Germantown, Horn Lake, West Memphis
Knoxville area
Knoxville offers many free University of Tennessee concerts, recitals and showcases, so families have regular chances to hear live music beyond a symphony program. For an oboe student, these performances offer a useful view of how winds contribute to different kinds of ensembles. They also make it easy to build a listening habit around music in the region.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 26, 38 lesson weeks (Knox County Schools)
Chattanooga area
Chattanooga families can hear a range of orchestral programs through the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, including works by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky in its 2026–27 season. A live performance gives an oboe student a chance to follow the instrument’s role among the winds and strings, while hearing how the full ensemble shapes a phrase.
- School year
- Aug 5 to May 19, 38 lesson weeks (Hamilton County Schools)
- Town guides
- Chattanooga, East Ridge, Soddy-Daisy, Middle Valley, Red Bank, Collegedale, Fort Oglethorpe
Clarksville area
In Clarksville, Downtown @ Sundown brings free family-friendly concerts to Downtown Commons on select Friday nights from May through October. The changing live music gives families an easy way to hear performers in a community setting, while Austin Peay State University Department of Music also presents public music events. Both offer listening beyond the school band room.
- School year
- Aug 4 to May 27, 38 lesson weeks (Clarksville-Montgomery County School System)
- Town guides
- Clarksville, Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell North
Kingsport area
Kingsport’s Twilight Alive series offers eight weeks of free live music downtown. For an oboe student, hearing performers in a concert setting can build a sense of how musical lines fit together, even when the program is not focused on orchestral music.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 19, 38 lesson weeks (Kingsport City Schools)
Jackson area
Jackson Area Community Bands gives oboists a place to play with others, with student and adult membership categories. New high school and college students have dues waived for their first year or two semesters, which offers a low-barrier way to try a community band setting. The group is a practical goal for a player building confidence beyond school.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 21, 37 lesson weeks (Jackson-Madison County School System)
- Town guides
- Jackson
Start Oboe Lessons With a Free Trial
- One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
- Live feedback on reeds, tone, pitch, and breathing
- Support school ensemble, audition, and recital goals
- Claim a free first 30-minute lesson
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher who can hear tone and articulation clearly, explain reed and breath fundamentals, and match the pace to your goal. Lesson With You teachers all hold at least a bachelor’s degree in oboe, and you can select one yourself or ask for a recommendation.
Yes, because a teacher can hear your tone and phrasing and see your posture, hands and instrument angle in real time. A steady camera, quiet space and weekly Zoom lesson make it possible to receive immediate feedback without commuting.
Many Tennessee band programs begin in sixth grade, but the start differs by district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools lists beginning band in seventh grade, while Sevier County starts band in fifth. Private lessons can begin earlier and help a student enter school music with basic oboe skills already in place.
An oboist can pursue TMEA middle school honors in grades 7–8 and then audition through the regional association for All-State. TMTA offers a separate route through spring local auditions, with Superior-rated students who meet musicianship requirements advancing to state competition.
Yes, homeschool students can register for Mid-State and All-State Honors Orchestra or Band auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras in Nashville. Knoxville Christian Youth Bands also serves homeschool students in grades 5–12 in East Tennessee.
Many children are ready around ages 9 to 11, when they can manage the breath and coordination the oboe requires. Beginning before school band starts gives a child time to develop tone and music reading at an individual pace.
No, adults can begin or return to oboe at any age, and a teacher can adapt the pace to your experience and goals. Once you are proficient and comfortable reading music, community groups such as Knoxville Community Band offer a route to playing with others.
Oboe lessons in Tennessee typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $45 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.