Bassoon question??? pros and cons.....?
I have just bought a fox renard bassoon model 222. i want to know the pros and cons for playing this through high school and maybe even college. ( i am going into the 8th grade) i got it cheap for like 5,000. has a plateau key on L.H. 3rd finger. no high D key, will this affect me playing though high school. Also we are a 2A band.

I feel there has been too much emphasis lately on getting a fully-equipped expensive bassoon for students who are just starting out. For example, study the biographies of many professionals and you will find some are playing on instruments that one might never think of as professional grade. This should tell you that musical expertise has more to do with ability and hard work than anything else.

Since you have already bought your instrument, take it to a good professional repairman who works on bassoons, not just any band instrument repairman, and make sure it is in top condition. The lack of a high D key should not be a bother to you until you get into university.

I go along with Drew's reply - there is often too much emphasis placed on what you play than how you play it.

I know excellent players of professional quality who do not have all the bells & whistles on their bassoons. (One of the best only has a Renard 41 plastic bassoon) Better to have a basic used bassoon from a reputable maker, like Fox, than a $1000 new wooden one which was almost certainly made in China.