Bassoon 101: Getting Started on the Bassoon for New Students
Congratulations, you're a bassoonist or, perhaps, the parent or teacher of one! Here is everything you need to know about starting off right including required supplies, how to practice, and helpful videos for you and your student.
For a comprehensive guide to learning the bassoon, check out the #BassoonGoals: Getting Started Workbook!
For starters, what is the bassoon? What makes it special? How does it make a sound? The bassoon is a challenging but incredibly fun and rewarding instrument. Check out the video below to hear some beautiful bassoon playing and learn all about it!
🧰 Recommended Supplies & Materials
Every beginning bassoonist should have the following supplies. All of these items can be found on amazon.com. You may also purchase them from a double-reed small business like Bocal Majority or a local music store.
3 Handmade Reeds: I highly recommend ordering from Bocal Majority. I personally do not recommend Jones reeds, even though I used them when I first started playing bassoon! While they are easy to find, they are very hard to make a good sound on.
Silk Bassoon Swab: doesn't get stuck as often as cotton.
Bocal Brush: to clean the inside of the bocal where most of the grime accumulates.
Cork Grease: any brand is fine
Plastic Reed Case: must have holes for ventilation, pegs not recommended. The protect ribbon holder bassoon reed case is my favorite for beginners.
Water Container: must fit the entire reed and a lid is preferred.
Wire Folding Music Stand: for practicing at home and performing events
Metronome/Tuner: for tracking tempos, practicing rhythms, and checking pitch. There are a lot of phone apps for this these days, but I still recommend getting a physical metronome. Mobile phones can be very distracting during practice.
Seat Strap: some bassoons come with a strap, but I love this one because it has a non-slip bottom and rotating hook which is much more comfortable for beginners. They also get lost easily, so having your own is a great way to have a backup.
A good fingering chart: ensure students use the correct fingerings from the start. Bad habits and incorrect fingerings are difficult to unlearn and slow progress.
Student bassoonists often need to bring their instruments to and from school to practice. Bassoon cases can be heavy, so I recommend wrapping the handle with bike handle cushion tape or using a rolling luggage cart.
🧵 Rules of Reed Care
Buy handmade bassoon reeds whenever possible. They are generally higher-quality and much easier to play with a good sound. Find bassoon reed makers online in the directory.
Always soak the reed. In clean water. Every time you play. Reeds are fragile and brittle. Soaking keeps them clean and makes them more flexible and durable.
Store the reeds in a case with ventilation. Reeds get moldy and chip very easily.
Understand the lifecycle of a reed, which is fairly short. If the reed still looks good, it can be adjusted by the teacher. If it looks old and gross, throw it out. Most students need a new reed about once a month.
Have three working reeds at all times. Students should have 3 good, working reeds at all times so if their favorite reed breaks, they still have 2 other choices.
The reed goes in your mouth or in the reed case. Never put it on the floor or anywhere else it might get smashed, dirty or lost.
🙌 How to Assemble the Bassoon
My #1 rule is the bassoon always sits on the ground during assembly. If it slips, there is less distance to the floor. Never assemble the bassoon standing up or with the case sitting on a table, counter or bed. Don't force the parts together, if they don't go all the way in, that's ok as long as the bassoon isn't loose or falling apart.
Here is a great video detailing how to assemble the bassoon. To disassemble the bassoon, just do everything in reverse making sure to be especially gentle with the reed and bocal.
🎵 How & What Practice at Home
To practice, you'll need a flat chair with no arms, a music stand, your music book/binder, a pencil, and a metronome/tuner. Optional: small mirror. Beginners should aim to practice 10-15 minutes every day, or every other day until your band director tells them to practice more. It's best to practice a little at a time to avoid forming bad habits and getting tired.
Soak the reed in clean water, then practice playing a single note on the reed. This should match F on the tuner. The note should be stable and in tune.
Next practice playing the bocal and reed together (also called the “bocalphone”). Try holding it as long as possible without wobbling. Keep your lips set and air steady. If you have a mirror, check to make sure your embouchure looks good.
After warming up, try holding a single note on the bassoon and trying to make the best sound you can make. Hold it for 4 counts. If that feels to easy try 8 or 12 counts. See if you can make the note sound steady and match the tuner every time. Then you are ready to move on to your assignments and other music.
If you’re new to the bassoon and looking for some practice guidance, I have created a Getting Started Workbook for Beginners that includes warm-ups, exercises for the left and right hands, and simple, fun songs to get you started.
📏 Bassoon Rules & Guidelines for success
Here are some helpful tips I like to share with new bassoonists!
Only the bassoonist gets to play the bassoon. Friends and siblings should not touch the bassoon since it is a very fragile and expensive instrument!
The bassoon always goes back in the case. Never store the bassoon out or anywhere it could get knocked over.
The bocal and reed are the most fragile pieces, so they should only ever be on the music stand, on the bassoon, or in the case. “Reeds go in your face or in your case.”
Never store a bassoon in a car. Instruments are routinely stolen from cars, not to mention the damage caused by heat or cold outdoors.
If something breaks, tell your teacher! Most issues are easily fixable. Anything that is more extensive can be repaired professionally. Never try to fix it yourself, you will do more harm than good.
Students break and wear out reeds regularly. You can expect them to need a new reed at least monthly. And students should always have at least 3 working reeds.
If a reed is broken or moldy, throw it out. Reeds have a relatively short lifecycle since they are made of wood. Dirty reeds are gross, spread germs, and also don't work that well. Just ask for a replacement and get rid of the old ones!
A little practice every day is better than practicing a lot once a week. The more students practice at home, the more they have to work on in class and in lessons.
Take bassoon lessons if you can. Most band directors didn't specialize in bassoon, so private lessons are a great time to ask questions, get help with difficult techniques, and learn all the tips and tricks a professional bassoonist has to offer. Students who take lessons tend to be more successful at auditions and enjoy band more. Most young bassoonists need and want to take lessons every year until they graduate from school. Find a bassoon teacher near you in the directory.
