I was honored this year to present a talk at both the Midwest Clinic and the IMEA (Indiana Music Education Association) conference entitled “Foundations for Successful Oboe Students.” I decided to propose this title because of my experience teaching beginning oboe students, and my understanding of the challenges they face in the first few years of playing the “ill wind that no one blows good.” (I disagree with this quote, of course!) In addition, many band directors and music education majors have asked for help, sometimes in confidence (“the oboe scares me” is not an uncommon sentiment).