Elementary School
Elementary Pathways to Bassoon Excellence
- Have good equipment
- Your middle school is your friend
- Wooden bassoons usually sound better, but plastic bounces. Choose wisely.
- Good reeds cost at least $20. Anything on www.forrestmusic.com is good. Bel Canto is a good brand.
- The Bassoon is of medium difficulty to start
- Contrary to popular belief, bassoon is not difficult when learned at the rate of 5th grade band.
- Good reeds sound good, bad reeds sound bad
- Good bassoons sound good, leaky bassoons sound bad
- Results will Vary
- Success on the bassoon depends on the effort and the kid
- Like other instruments, coordination of fine motor skills help control fingers.
- When to avoid: Maturity levels, Homeroom classes with 20 kids and 10 different instruments, Size and strength (can they hold the instrument and can their fingers reach?)
Middle School
Middle School Pathways to Bassoon Excellence
- Beware: The Triple Threat
- The reed
- The fingerings
- They’re behind!
- In middle school, it’s great to switch kids. It’s essential. But be aware of these three difficulties. Having good reeds is essential. Finding kids who will put in extra effort is the only fix for the other two.
- Don’t switch into symphonic band:
- Switchers are mostly beginners.
- If they can’t be in a remedial class, they’ll need a practice room, an appropriate method book, and regular check-ins with goals.
- What’s realistic?
- Having a third chair student switch to bassoon in September and play Grade 2 by December is realistic.
- Anything beyond that is not and know that the switch might not take.
- The bassoon is a flex instrument:
- Don’t switch your essential instruments to bassoon, the bassoon isn’t essential, it’s exceptional.
- The bassoon is not bass clarinet. Bass clarinet sounds good with little practice, the bassoon does not.
- Don’t expect the bassoon to play loud. It’s an instrument for color and makes other directors jealous when they see them in your band.
High School
High School Pathways to Bassoon Greatness
- Is it too late?
- 9th grade: Perfect time for ambitious musicians
- 10th grade: A little late, but some have been competitive
- 11th grade: Possible to learn, but too late to be competitive
- 12th grade: Very difficult, possible if learning for fun
- Private Lessons:
- Most of my competitive students actually switched in high school but were serious from the start.
- They felt behind and rushed to catch up.
- Once they caught up, they usually stopped working.
- No Private Lessons:
- Pay attention to what you’re giving them to work on in the practice room.
- Band method books are great for band, progress too slowly for a switcher.
- Consider using my lesson packets or music and the bassoon online, both designed to teach the range quickly to students from other instruments.