Self taught myself Bassoon in 2016 in high school best decision ever got to play with a local college at the same time and got to got to a lot of different places. And your video’s have helped my tone a lot bc I’ve never gotten to experience a private lesson. Recently got a bassoon and started playing again after 3 years. I’m so glad I found your channel.
Ryan, this is awesome, thank you for letting me know, it means so much! I’m so glad you’re continuing to play and I hope you have lots of fun! Reach out any time with questions.
This video made an immediate difference, thank you! I’m just starting out, and I have just this summer to get good enough to join the beginning orchestra class at my community college.
plz help me i am a clarinet who got selected to play bassoon and when I was testing I made the crowling sound but now that I am a bassoonist I cannot make the sound anymore its too high pitch
Hi Jo! Are you talking about the crowing sound when you blow through just the reed? Assuming that you have a good reed, you should be able to put your lips all the way up to the wire and blow gently to get the crow. If the pitch was too high, you are probably squeezing the reed too much with your lips and possibly blowing too hard. Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to me if you have any more questions: info@buildingabassoonist.com
There are some key work options/modifications that you might be able to make to your instrument, including adding a “plateau key” over the third tone hole on the wing joint. You can also experiment with rotating the wing joint and the long joint closer together, so that the left hand thumb keys are as close together as possible (I do this because my thumbs are quite small). Sometimes small adjustments can be made by a repair expert to other keys to make them closer to the instrument or moved just slightly so that they’re easier to reach. There are also alternate fingerings that you may need to use as your primary fingerings if they work better for your hands. It all depends on your situation and what you’re able to do - feel free to shoot me an email if you want to chat more about it!
Hi Ivan! I’m working on creating a beginner bassoon course but am not yet finished with it! When it’s ready I will announce on the channel here so stay tuned! 🙂
I don’t recommend plastic reeds for beginners! You can try a Legere reed, as that is really the only usable plastic reed I’d recommend, however having a basic understanding of how cane reeds feel and function on the bassoon is essential to knowing what you’re looking for, in my opinion!
I feel that! I learned bassoon in the 8th grade and then didn’t learn how to use correct embouchure until I was a senior in high school. It takes a long time to unlearn bad habits but it’s possible for sure! Good luck!!
Thank you X 1,000 times! I have my I own bassoon I bought YEARS ago and now, thanks 2 U, I now know how to set my embouchure up CORRECTLY!!!!
By the way, I am a classically trained PERCUSSIONIST, just expanding my horizons a little!!!, ha, ha!!!
Love this, happy to help!
Self taught myself Bassoon in 2016 in high school best decision ever got to play with a local college at the same time and got to got to a lot of different places. And your video’s have helped my tone a lot bc I’ve never gotten to experience a private lesson. Recently got a bassoon and started playing again after 3 years. I’m so glad I found your channel.
Ryan, this is awesome, thank you for letting me know, it means so much! I’m so glad you’re continuing to play and I hope you have lots of fun! Reach out any time with questions.
Hello I am a bassoon beginner living in Korea. I saw the video well. Above all, the voice is very beautiful ^^
This video made an immediate difference, thank you! I’m just starting out, and I have just this summer to get good enough to join the beginning orchestra class at my community college.
Thanks so much! I am restarting after a break of 4 months, so now is a good time to practice good habits!
Yay! My favorite time to practice is always after a long break because it feels good to revisit fundamentals. Have fun!
This was the most useful video on bassoon embouchure that I have seen.
That makes me so happy, thank you for watching! 😊
Thanks so much I found it a lot more useful after I made the switch from trombone to bassoon
Oh good!
I used to play trumpet and keep strangling the Reed because of my embrasure - thanks for the video, it was really helpful!
I’m so glad this was helpful! Yes, bassoon embouchure should be much looser than what you’re used to 🙂
Very helpfull :) Can you do a video about proper technique of tounging and articulation? :)
Hi Jasiu! That’s a great topic to cover. I will add it to my to-do list!
I wish I had met you 50 years earlier. Playing my bassoon always was a fight against my reed…😢
plz help me i am a clarinet who got selected to play bassoon and when I was testing I made the crowling sound but now that I am a bassoonist I cannot make the sound anymore its too high pitch
Hi Jo! Are you talking about the crowing sound when you blow through just the reed? Assuming that you have a good reed, you should be able to put your lips all the way up to the wire and blow gently to get the crow. If the pitch was too high, you are probably squeezing the reed too much with your lips and possibly blowing too hard. Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to me if you have any more questions: info@buildingabassoonist.com
I have very small hands, which creates a variety of problems-any suggestions?(aside from finding a child’s bassoon-lol). Thank you.
There are some key work options/modifications that you might be able to make to your instrument, including adding a “plateau key” over the third tone hole on the wing joint. You can also experiment with rotating the wing joint and the long joint closer together, so that the left hand thumb keys are as close together as possible (I do this because my thumbs are quite small). Sometimes small adjustments can be made by a repair expert to other keys to make them closer to the instrument or moved just slightly so that they’re easier to reach. There are also alternate fingerings that you may need to use as your primary fingerings if they work better for your hands. It all depends on your situation and what you’re able to do - feel free to shoot me an email if you want to chat more about it!
i start learning bassoon today… natural overbite is coming in clutch lol
Awesome! Hope it's going well!
What is the last piece playing in the background, the last minute or so?
Sonata for Bassoon by Nancy Galbraith - one of my favorite pieces!
Greetings.
How can i take a beginning bassoon class from you
Hi Ivan! I’m working on creating a beginner bassoon course but am not yet finished with it! When it’s ready I will announce on the channel here so stay tuned! 🙂
Are PLASTIC reeds good for beginners so they will have a better chance of getting a good reed to learn with?
I don’t recommend plastic reeds for beginners! You can try a Legere reed, as that is really the only usable plastic reed I’d recommend, however having a basic understanding of how cane reeds feel and function on the bassoon is essential to knowing what you’re looking for, in my opinion!
is that the Galbraith Sonata I hear !!!!!
Yes! One of my favorite bassoon solos!
Hello Im 10 years old and I start to play it
Have fun!!!
Ah, I've had bad bassoon embouchure because I never was taught it in school and now I have bite marks on my inner lips
I feel that! I learned bassoon in the 8th grade and then didn’t learn how to use correct embouchure until I was a senior in high school. It takes a long time to unlearn bad habits but it’s possible for sure! Good luck!!