My band teacher is being very unfair?

Question:I have always always wanted to play the oboe (been playing clarinet for five years and i'm a freshman in high school) and so this year in my high school's concert band i thought i would finally switch to it and learn it.
I asked him before winter break two times if I could switch and he said yes, definetely, practice it during break and come back to school with it and it'll be just fine.
So I rented an oboe at a local music store for five months (the minimum you could rent an instrument at the store) for $250, and was thinking about starting to take lessons.
But when I got back from break yesterday he told me that since there are only eight clarinets in our band and three of us want to switch (me to oboe, another to bassoon, another to tenor sax) and the other two are below my chair, that I should stay on clarinet.
I really want to play oboe and I've already spent so much money on it, but when i talked to him he said I really shouldn't switch.
What should I do?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have always always wanted to play the oboe (been playing clarinet for five years and i'm a freshman in high school) and so this year in my high school's concert band i thought i would finally switch to it and learn it.
I asked him before winter break two times if I could switch and he said yes, definetely, practice it during break and come back to school with it and it'll be just fine.
So I rented an oboe at a local music store for five months (the minimum you could rent an instrument at the store) for $250, and was thinking about starting to take lessons.
But when I got back from break yesterday he told me that since there are only eight clarinets in our band and three of us want to switch (me to oboe, another to bassoon, another to tenor sax) and the other two are below my chair, that I should stay on clarinet.
I really want to play oboe and I've already spent so much money on it, but when i talked to him he said I really shouldn't switch.
What should I do?

I don't know your situation very well, but if he's giving you a compliment by saying, "your better than they are, so you should stay on clarinet- but they can go play something else poorly instead" then I'm not sure he is looking to improve the band ??? Just my opinion, but...
I switched from clarinet to oboe between 8th grade and freshman year. I never regretted my choice, I got lessons, worked hard, went to many band/orchestra festivals. Majored in music education (by the way great scholarship potential for a good oboist!!!!) and played semi profesionally while in college. I am now a chorus teacher, which is really my first passion, but still am very proud of my instrumental achievements too.
**If you like oboe best, it should be your desicion, your the one that has to get the satisfaction out of playing it. I don't have any great ideas of how to make this clear to your director, other than be honest, and speak with him with your concerns, and try not to get too emotional. If that doesn't work, make sure your parents know your wishes, and have them make the second contact with your director (after you again talk with him!) Hang in there- it will all work out for the best.
music teacher 16 years

i would seriously switch. you put a lot of time in effort into preparing for it. honestly.

Ask if he would prefer there were only 7 clarinets.
I never played this instrument but I am told it is difficult to play, he may be having a difficult time recruiting clarinet players. This would give you some leverage. You might for example, offer to tutor another on the clarinet if you are allowed to switch.

haha i think 8 clarinets is way to many anyways!! just practice at home anyways. good luck! ;)

dO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IF YOU ARENT HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE THEN YOU WILL END UPI DROPPING OUT AND THAT WOULD LOOK TERRIBLE ON YOUR cOLLEGE APP.

2 options

stay and win the teacher's heart, but put ur desire aside for a while

or

switch and fullfill ur wants but make ur teacher hate u

hah funny, i've been playing clarinet for 5 years and im a freshman in high school too (thought i should point that out)

but anyway.
When my band teacher switched me to bass clarinet, he didn't do it so quickly either. I had to go to him and explain that I was working really hard on it and that I at least wanted to try it. Try saying that you want to try it out in concert and see if you like it. By the time the concert rolled around, my director totally forgot about me saying I wanted to try it and loved me playing it, so I stayed like that. If that doesn't work, stay on clarinet a little longer and keep practicing oboe, and maybe he'll change his mind later. Good luck!!

I hear what you're saying, Sarah. Being a former orchestra and concert band member I saw this all the time. A band leader in the final analysis will try and keep his top chairs filled, while letting those who aren't good go their own way. A little unfair but life isn't sometimes. If the conductor gets a ton of new clarinet players better than you then he'll probably say yes to your moving on.

If you want to, switch. You put a lot o time and money in to it ad no one can make you do anything you don't want to!