Dd wants to learn bassoon - any tips?

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Dd (12) was offered flute or bassoon at school and despite us having a flute for her to use, wants to try bassoon.

Strings are more my comfort zone so do any of you have any experience of how easy it is compared to other woodwind instruments and any hints to make life easier - she's being given one to use by the local music centre.

Thanks!

Bassoon is lovely, quite rare now. She will always have a part in orchestra/wind band etc. After a year get her to join one at music centre. It was the best time I had! (Played Baritone Saxophone not bassoon, sorry).

I know the reeds are really expensive, look after them. I think though that it can be quite hard to play, as are most double-reeds.

Hope she has a great time doing it! Sorry this wasn't actually much help, just a random waffle... =(

My advice would be to buy a shed and have her practice in there.

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It may be a bit harder to learn initially than a flute, but will give her far more opportunities in the long run if she manages to get to a reasonable standard, as far fewer people play bassoon.

One of the main things also is that she is keen on the instrument she plays, so if she wants to try the bassoon and is enthusiastic, I'd give it a go!

My sister struggled on the clarinet for ages, then her teacher brought a bassoon round one day for her to try, and she loved it. Still plays regularly now. (she's 50)

Having played bassoon at school, I would arrange for her to practise at school unless you pick her up in the car. Those things are damn heavy!

It's not too difficult to play but she will need a large handspan. She will also need to learn to read bass music and once she gets good enough to play in an orchestra, be adaptable enough to transpose music from treble to bass clef but that's a long time in advance.

It's a beautiful instrument and I can still smell the leather and cork from all those years ago. Oh, she needs to be patient too - bassoon parts tend to be a bit oompah oompah with long breaks.

I see you got more indepth advice than I was able to offer!

Start saving, bassoon reeds are expensive

Oh and good luck I failed to learn to play the oboe and DH played the bassoon badly. He gave it to DSIL who plays it, and the flute properly

Thanks all, she's seeing the teacher this week to have a try at her bassoon so we'll take it from there!

Hope she gets on well!

Just seen this. Bassoons are lovely. I play (badly now, not enough practise) and so does my 14 year old DNephew who is just about to take his grade 7.

They are great fun. I must say that I don't have a huge hand span - just about an 8ve on the piano - and I never had a problem. It's more about agility and getting the thumbs moving a lot of the time as they have a lot to do!

If she is small, there are full size bassoons with adjusted keys to help with small hands so that the tone stays the same, but it's easier to play the notes. It also wasn't too bad a transition when DN went to a full size instrument.

DNephew is also playing the Contra but isn't having to transport it as yet as they are just ridiculous to cart around. He rents his bassoon from his County music department, but if anyone knows of a good one for sale that needs a good home (that won't break my sister's bank) then let me know (he's not having mine)!

I'm a bassoonist! Great instrument. No advice but hope she has fun

Well she had a go today, managed to get a decent tone out of it and seems hooked

She loved the look of it, doesn't mind the weight, and is even more pleased that it costs the same to rent from the Music Centre as a flute!

Thanks for your advice, I mentioned your comments and she grinned even more

Excellent - well done her. Bassoons are far more fun than flutes! (although harder to transport, but you learn to weight lift). I had a friend who called mine a 'modified drain pipe' which is true I suppose!

I hope she has fun