What about Moosmann? or Püchner? They`re good German bassoon too! Maybe not used that much in the USA(?)

Yeah, I haven`t really encountered those types of bassoons. I live in Washington State, and I don`t know anybody except 2 people who have experience in Bassoon. *tear, tear* What`s so great about those foreign models. I haven`t gotten much information about those.

Do you absolutely have to get bassoon lessons if you plan to go college with the bassoon. Anybody here gotten that far without lessons?

About Puchner, Moosman, these are about 9/10, and yes they aren`t as common in NA, although they certainly do exist. Do know that I am Canadian, so that may be partially why.

About lessons, no, if you are a determined (you seem to be) and you practice alot and effectively. I have a lesson about once every 2 months for 1 hour, as it is a long drive away. My music teacher (school) doesn`t know anything about bassoon.

You`ll do fine, I am getting by with a full range and high-university music.

Heh, keep using this forum, there`s not enough bassoonists in the world of communication. I check every day, and Drew makes frequent posts.

There aren`t enough bassoonists, Dear bassoonist across the world. How old are you?

Me? kinda almost 16 (15)

Oh, I just saw that you are 5th/6th grader, I think. Do you know what would be awesome? Modern Tenoroon! Those dont have the fnbger stretches and weight, and they sound beautiful. Plus, practically no-one in Canada has one, so you are virtually guranteed a spot in music in university.

But then again, these are hard to get ahold of. I`ll examine the price.

I don`t like the idea of the contrabassoon, altho to me its the coolest intsrument, the case is apparently the largest of any woodwidw/brass instrument and there is little music and resources for it.

If you play basoon, which is a truly cool instrument, you`ll have just as much fun, and you won`t read as much annoying tenor clef.

Try to look for solos, cuz in your shool band, ESPECIALLY in elementary, you are almost definitely gonna be playying really pointless bass stuff, when bassoon is DEFINITELY a solo instrument. Its like trying to get a piccolo to play transposed bass lines. Pointless.

If you have any questions, just ask!

Umm, you have your facts, a little bit jumbled. I`m a ninth grader (14) Its ok though because I thought you were like a Senior or something in High School. This is my fourth instrument, I haven`t seen many fifth graders who have accomplished that. I knew that all this middle school crap was basic beats, but high school bassoon is a small step above that. I went to Canada last week, Its WAY better then the US especially the customs building(you guys are way nicer). Is Ontario a big city because I went to Vancouver B.C. and it seems that there has to be someone around who plays bassoon because it is such a large and lively city.

In my town of 30000 people, there is one bassoonist. In nearby (1/2 hr) Brampton, 250000 people, there is one active bassoonist. Lol my teacher is in Owen Sound, 1 1/2 hours away, and I only go that far because he is a friend of my band director.

As you can see, we are scarce in southen Ontario. There are quite a few in Toronto. I have heard of 1 southern Ontarian contrabassoonist and 3 bassoon students.

ps) Just wondering, I went to Florida via road last yer with band. Holy friggin cow there`s a ton of "Waffle House"s. They seemed more numerous than McDonalds! What`s up with this? lol

I wouldn`t know about that, I`m from Washington State. The thing that I see around is Starbucks. Holy crap, when I was in Vancouver I saw 3 Starbucks in 2 blocks and 2 of them across the street from each other. You must need all that coffee to warm you guys up my norther neighborino -btw I just had a liter of Cola so I`m a lil hyper

Heh, I know, just elaborating on the scarcity of bassoonists. It seems that most band directors are too lazy and chincey to purchase a bassoon rather than stuff (like 3 full tubas which are never used (we have one 50 yrs old, never used by student at my school)). They don`t see the value of bassoon in a band . But theb again, if they buy straight from the company, they are sure to pay several thousand dollars each.