Oboe Care and Feeding 1. When assembling your oboe, avoid touching the keys as much as possible. 2. Always hold your oboe by its main body, where it will not fall apart. 3. Always rinse your mouth out of food particles before you play. Never chew gum or eat while playing. 4. Always swab the condensation out of your oboe before you put it away. 5. Never let anyone else hold or play your oboe. 6. Never set your oboe on a chair or music stand where it can easily be knocked off. 7. Never allow the oboe pads to get wet. 8. Keep an eye on the oboe screws but never try to adjust them yourself. 9. If you think something is wrong with your oboe, show it to Mr. Ericson. He can probably fix it.