Okay so I am a tenor saxophonist (please don't kill me >.> for commenting in the forum, I was originally scared to. In fear of my post being flamed.). I have been playing sax for five years and I love it, but this year when I entered high school my director wanted me to pick up bassoon because the two bassoons for his wind ensemble are graduating and he needs one for next year. I'm a bit hesitant on whether I want to take up bassoon. Though it was originally what I wanted to play, I don't know because I have fallen in love with playing sax and I have a brand new sax that I bought over the summer by working. What should I do? I want to play bassoon and sax, I'm so confused. Please be unbiased

Go for it - the only way to know if the bassoon is for you is to try it. Don't believe anyone who tells you that playing bassoon will ruin you sax playing (or vice versa).

Good luck

Ian

It is rare that we get an opportunity twice. You mentioned you originally wanted to play the bassoon - - - why? What was it about the bassoon that made you want to play it? And when you answer that, is it still an interest?

Band Directors - mostly band directors are thinking of themselves. As you said, his two bassoonists graduated. So he wants you to play because he needs bassoonist, not because he likes you. If he was a smart badn director he owuld have already been talking to students in band and his feeder schools and he would already have two bassoonists to replace the ones that left.

If you jsut bought a sax it would be shame to put it in the closet. There is no reason you can't find a way to play both.

My suggestion is you go to the band director and you tell him you would love to learn how to play the bassoon, and you would love to help the band out by playing bassoon. BUT!!! you just bought anew sax so we need to find a way that you can still play sax AND will he, the school, or the band boosters pay for your private lessons on the bassoon.

If the he, the school, or the boosters won't pay for you to have private lessons on the bassoon; tell him thank you for thinking of me, but I paid a lot of money for this sax, I think I will stick with it.

Thanks for your imput guys. I don't know what made me feel I wanted to play it. He took it out of the case and put it together and it was the same feeling I got when I held a bass or my sax, or my cello for the first time. Like a voice in the back of the head telling you you want something. I can't explain it, but it's the feeling I had with every other instrument I have took up a passion for, but I haven't encontered that feeling for any other instrument. Its just a weird feeling if you know what I'm talking about. And yes, I still feel like that voice in the back of my head is saying to play it like it always has been.

And my band director has already arranged for a private tutor. And he seems to think that with the musical talent in my family I should be good at it. (he is also the tutor for my brother a three time allstate hornist). I think he is doing it out of his own wants to have another bassoon but you never know. And he wants me to take jazz band on my tenor (which I have no problem with, but it's definatly not concert music which I live for).

And now that you mention it, it is odd that I have been offered the same thing twice. I've always been a firm believer in signs, but this one is too confusing.

First of all, we don't flame people on this forum. So bring on all your questions!

Secondly, it sounds like you are a true music geek and will eventually be doing something in music for the rest of your life, either professionally or as an amateur. You are very young still and there is no reason why you should not take advantage of this opportunity for private lessons on a very difficult instrument. The sax you already have and can play, and will always be able to go back to at any time - there is no reason why you can't do both. You might not get another opportunity to learn bassoon in this easy way - instrument and lessons supplied - so I'd grab it. Opportunities for both will come along for you, I'm sure.

Muy Bien en su decision, Senor!
I also started on Tenor, and switched to the much better bassoon. Trust me when I say that (yo dijo que) you will enjoy Bassoon much more.