Why Should I Learn the Bassoon?
There are several great reasons to learn the bassoon, the most important reason should be that you really want to play the bassoon. Just listening to it being played you can hear that this is truly a unique instrument with a sound different from any other instrument in the orchestra or concert band. It can sound playful, serious, light, dark, and anywhere in between. This versatility of sound allows the bassoon player to take on many roles within the ensemble, playing soloistic melodies and counter-melodies, providing rich harmonies, or supporting the ensemble as a bass instrument. But don't just take my word for it. Take a little time and listen to these examples of wonderful and diverse bassoon music.
Here is the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet mixing good showmanship and great musicianship in this Disney themed medley.
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This is the Universal Bassoon Ensemble performing Flight of the Bumblebee at the 2009 International Bassoon Festival.
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In this video bassoonist Aligi Voltan performs Mozart's Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major with the Ochestra del Teatro Olimpico.
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Here is a good example of solo bassoon within an ensemble from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring featuring bassoonist Daniele Damiano.
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If hearing that isn't enough reason for you to want to play the bassoon, here are some more practical reasons for you to take into consideration:
- YOU ENJOY A CHALLENGE - If you find yourself bored with your current instrument or dissatisfied with the fact you play an instrument that is considered common or ordinary, bassoon could be the right instrument for you. The lack of bassoon players in an ensemble means that you would probably be in a section of your own with a unique sound and part in the ensemble that would give you more exposure to the audience. Bassoon is also more difficult to learn and master that most of the instruments in the band, with demanding fingering technique and embouchure control. If you are someone who derives great pleasure from overcoming challenges, bassoon is the challenge you've been waiting for.
- YOU CAN HELP YOUR BAND - Many school band programs have a common problem: There are few, if any, bassoon players at their school. Most students don't start playing bassoon at the beginning band level for a number of reasons. Many students haven't even heard of the bassoon and go into their musical education set on playing a more popular instrument, like the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, or trumpet. This leaves many of the more obscure instruments neglected. The problem is these obscure instruments, like the bassoon, are necessary to create a well balanced, full sounding ensemble. If you're looking around your school's ensemble and see an army of clarinets and no bassoons, you can make take up the bassoon and fill a vital role within the group.
- YOUR BAND DIRECTOR WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER - I don't think there are any band directors on the planet who utter the phrase, "I have too many bassoon players." This being said, if you were to tell your band director that you would like to learn the bassoon and help out the ensemble by filling that void in the instrumentation, I am confident that your band director will help you in any way they can to get a bassoon in your hands. Band programs will have hundreds of students go through them over the course of a teacher's career, but if you take the time and effort to learn the bassoon, you will have forever won a place in your band director's heart as "That kid who selflessly helped out this band program by learning bassoon."
- IT CAN HELP YOU GET INTO COLLEGE AND BE AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP - One of the best ways to help yourself get into college with a scholarship is to play an instrument those colleges need. University ensembles have the same problems middle and high school ensembles do. They have too many of the popular instruments and not enough of the obscure ones. That means instruments like oboe, euphonium, French horn, tuba, and bassoon are scarce, and basic economic theory teaches us that scarcity means greater value. As a more valuable instrument to the university, you have a greater chance of getting accepted to the school of your choice as well as increased chances of being awarded a scholarship. Sometimes you don't even have to be a music major to play in a college ensemble. If you work hard and excel at the bassoon, you can find yourself with opportunities that aren't even offered to other musicians on more popular instruments.