BASSOON

The bassoon, the largest instrument in the woodwind family, has an eight-foot-long wooden tube folded in on itself. To play it, you blow through a reed that vibrates to make the sound, with different notes produced by using a system of keys that cover and uncover holes. The rods and levers that operate the keys tend to be very long.

ADVANTAGES

• The bassoon is an orchestral instrument and is also used in wind bands. There are not many bassoonists around, which will make your child highly sought after.

• By the time your child reaches 4th or 5th grade, learning the bassoon is comparable to playing any other woodwind instrument.

• The bassoon can be taken apart into several pieces and packed into a carrying case about three feet long, which makes it easy to carry.

DOWNSIDES

• The bassoon is rather large and heavy.

• An immense amount of lung capacity is key to playing the bassoon.

BEST AGE TO START

• Your child will need hands big enough to reach the keys and sufficient breath strength that generally starts around the age of 12 or 13. Your child will also have to “bite” the reed fairly hard.

• Your child should play another instrument, such as clarinet, for at least a year or so.

COST CONSIDERATIONS

• A small bassoon has been especially created for beginners, and generally costs between $3,000 to $5,000. You need to remember that your child will eventually outgrow her first bassoon and you will need to replace it with a normal-sized version of the instrument.

• More advanced players often play the contra-bassoon in orchestras, which is so big and heavy that it is supported against the floor instead of slung from the player’s neck.

• New bassoons cost $12,000 to $35,000 and the school or orchestra always provides the instrument. Even many universities will supply the student with a bassoon.

• The reeds are inexpensive and usually last several months. Your child will need to have a couple of spares.

MAINTENANCE

• Bassoons often have expensive repairs because their wood gets easily damaged if knocked or dropped.

• Every few years, the soft pads fixed to each key that close the holes off have to be replaced.

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