68thMIDWESTCLINICDECEMBER19,2014MCCORMICKPLACE8:30AMROOMW187

TheSixtyEighthAnnual
MidwestClinic
December19,20148:30AM
MeetingRoomW187
Chicago,Illinois
__________________________________________________________________________________

BassoonBootCamp
HowcanImakemybassoonsectionsoundbetter?

LeeGoodhewRomm
ProfessorofMusic
IthacaCollegeSchoolofMusic,Ithaca,NY
goodhew@ithaca.edu,6072743433

Thishandsonsessionwilladdresshowthepublicschoolmusiceducatorcanhelptheirbassoon
sectiontosoundimmediatelybetterusingconcise,usefulandeasytoimplementstrategies.
Techniquesdiscussedinthissessionwillbenefitplayersofeveryperformancelevel.

Topicswillinclude:Tone,Equipment,Reeds,Intonation,Fingerings,Posture,KeepingYour
BassoonistsHappy,BassoonFun,InternationalDoubleReedSociety,SomeBassoonResources.

Assistedby:

MargaretOswald,MusicDirectorMerrimackValleyHighSchool,NH
(IthacaCollege09,11)
AmandaNauseef(IthacaCollege14)

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Thebassoonisoneofmyfavoriteinstruments.Ithasamedievalaroma,likethedayswhen
everythingusedtosoundlikethat.Somepeoplecravebaseball...Ifindthisunfathomable,butI
caneasilyunderstandwhyapersoncouldgetexcitedaboutplayingthebassoon.
FrankZappa

Tone
Encourageyourbassoonist,letthemknowyouseeandhearthem.
1. ConceptofTone
Listeningtogreatbassoonists(seeResources)
Initialsoundswillbewild,IprefertostartwithawildsoundIcantameratherthanencouraginga
small,weaksoundtogrow
2. Embouchure:lipsrelaxed
Whistleorimaginedrinkingathickmilkshakeoutofalargestraw
Cornersofmouthforward,likeadrawstring
Rolllipsoverteeth,almosttomuscle(dontbitethereedwithyourteeth!)
Putreedbetweenlips,farenoughsothatthetoplipisalmosttothefirstwire(picture)
3. CROWthereed
ThreeSoundsHighs,MiddlesandLows
Fullspectrumofovertones=fullerandrichersound
Ifthecrowhasonlyhighsounds:
toomuchwoodonthereed
intonationwillbesharp
lowregisterwillbeweakandsharp
SOLUTION=freeupthereed
4. Reed+Bocal=C
5. CBCexercise(http://apps.texasbandmasters.org/archives/pdfs/bmr/200301rachor1.pdf)
Relaxesthejaw
Illustrateshowmuchaircanbeusedandhowfast
Controlofinstrument/pitch/sound
GettingaBIGsoundfirst
Improvestoneandintonation
6. AirSupport
Expandthebackandribsoninhale
Supportasthoughyellingatafootballgame(bottomofdiaphragm)
7. Articulation
Entrances:
Settheembouchureandair
Placetongue(justabovethetipofthetongue)tothetipofthereed
Releasethetongue
Releases
Stopthenoteswiththetongue
Cangetmanystylesofarticulationwithatonguestop
Atonguestopwillnotgoflatinpitch(asanairstopwould)orsharpinpitch(asan
embouchurestopwould)

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Equipment: Getting a Good Set Up

1.

2.

3.

4.

YourSchoolBassoonALeakyBassoonisanOutofTuneBassoon
Haveyourbassoonsinspectedbyacompetentrepairpersoneachyear
Haveyourstudentinspectthebassoonforrippedand/orloosepads
HereisagreatarticlebyChipOwenofFoxProductsonbassoonmaintenance:
http://www.foxproducts.com/pdfs/TakingCareOfYourBassoon.pdf
Storethebassooninthecase
Temporarilystoreinasecluded,carpetedcorner
Dontlaybassoonflatduringandafterplaying
Bocals
Lengthsnumberedfromshortesttolongest:0,1,2,3
Numberisstampedonbocal
Mostcommonlyusedlengthsare#1and#2
Foxnumbersaredifferentbyonenumber,thereforeget#2and#3lengthsinFox
Donotpulloutthebocaltoimproveintonation.
changebocallengthifnecessary
Intonationisrelatedtoair/embouchure/reed/ear.
CarryingtheBassoon
Reedinasafeplace
Putthebocalinthebell
Holditupright,usingbothhands,onehandalwaysontheboot
Carefulwalkingthroughdoors
SeatStrapsandSwabs
SeatStrap(ratherthananeckstrap)forbestposture
laytheseatstrapdiagonallyonthechair,withthehookonthefrontrightcorner
hookthestraptotheholeinthebootcaponthesideclosesttothebody
Acupseatstrapispreferabletoahookseatstrap
Swabs:maintaingood,cleanswabsforyourbassoons

Reeds
1.

Acquiring
Acanereedisgenerallygoingtobeabetterreedthanafibercanereed
Purchasedbassoonreeds:
willsometimescomeinvariousstrengths,purchasemediumtomediumsoftreedsunless
youoryourstudentplanonadjustingthereeds
Wheretogetareed?(SeeResourcesforrecommendations)
Purchasefromareedmaker
Purchasefromaretailer
Alwaysexamineareedbeforeyoupurchase,returnacrackedorotherwiseoddlookingreedifithas
notbeenplayed
Whattolookforwhenselectingareed:
tipopening
throatatfirstandsecondwire
tubeofreed=roundandclean
(cracked,flattube,etc.)
Abeautifullymadereedisusuallyabetterreed

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2.

3.

4.

CareoftheReed
Soaktheentirereedincleanwater(notsaliva),for1minute.
Storage:reedcase,cardboardjewelrybox,altoidbox
NOTaplasticboxortubetube
Letdryoutwheneverpossibletopreventmold
Keepitclean
afterplayingblowoutofbackofreed,shakeitoffandletitdryout
rununderwarmwater
Beware!Soakingthereedinhydrogenperoxidewillrevivethereedforafewdays,afterwhichthe
reedgetsmuchworse
Characteristicofagoodreed
Anicefreecrow
StableonE3andC#3
Playseasilyinallregisters
Nicesound
Adjusting
Afeweasyrules:
Lightreedgoodlowslowerinpitchgoodresponse
Heavyreedgoodhighs(weakerlows)higherinpitchchallengingresponse
Alwaysworkonawetreed
Whenusingaplaque(guitarpick),insertitcarefullyintothewetreed
Workwiththinstrips(1X2)of#220wet/drysandpaper(itsjusttherightlevelof
aggressive,youwillmakefewermistakesthanwithaknife)
Breakinareed
givethereedseveraldaystochange
itwillchangewiththeweather,altitude,humidity
Rotatereeds
Tools:
Plaque(guitarpick),220wet/drysandpaper,Pliers,Reamer,Mandrel,Knife
Ifthereedistoohard:
Itwilllikelybesharpinpitchandhardtoplayesp.inthelowregister
Tiptooopen?Squeezethefirstwirefromthesides
Tiptooclosed?Openitup
Isthecrowhigh?
Toomuchcaneonthereed,lightlysandintheback
Squeezethe2ndwirefromtopandbottom,thiswillfreethecrowandlowerthepitch
(probablywillleavethetoptooopen,counteractthisactionbysqueezing1stwirefromtop
andbottom)
Workalittleatatime
PlayingTest:ChecktheforkedEb3

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ifitisunstable,thereedisstilltoohard=hastoomuchcane
sandinthechannelsuntilshortEbisstable
openthetip
Ifthereedblowstooeasilyorclosesup:
Pitchislikelyflatandthehighregisterisdifficult
Thisreedistoothinsomewhere
Squeezethe2ndwirefromsidetosidetostiffenthereed(probablywillleavethetoptoo
closed,counteractthisactionbysqueezing1stwirefromsidetoside)
PlayingTest:PlaytheFscaleforteandstoponE
IfEsoundsmorelikeanEb:
AddtheGkeyorlowEkeytostabilize
Ifthereedisbrokenin,youneedtoreducethesizeofthebladeofthe
reed
Thiscanbedonebymakingasmalldogear
Nextshortenthereedbyclippingthetipalittleatatime
Keepittogether:
ifthestringbecomesloose:tightenthe2ndwireandregluethebinding(Ducocementor
nailpolish)
Reedshouldfitonthebocalabout810mm,ifnot,usethereamerwhenreedisdry

Intonation
1.

1.

2.

Mostcommonintonationissueisbeingsharp
DONTBITEthereed!
Relaxedembouchure(keepcomingbacktoCBC)
Intonationisrelatedair/embouchure/reed/ear
Singtomatchpitchandtounderstandvoicing
Droning,longtones
Airsupport
Dontoverblow
Typicallythelowregisterissharp(Bb1F2)
RememberALeakyBassoonisanOutofTuneBassoon
OralSetUp
Improvestoneandintonation
Singingeachnotewillhelpyoufindthecorrectoralsetupforit
Sayinglowcanillustratethesetupforthelowregister,Bb1F2
SayingahhcanillustratethesetupforF2F3
SayingehoreecanhelpfindtheoralsetupforF#3F4
BacktoloworahhforF#4C5
AninterestingandscientificarticleonTheNotQuiteHarmonicOverblowingofthe
BassoonbyProfessionalReedMakerJamesKopp:
http://www.koppreeds.com/harmonic.html
TheTone/Balance/Blend/Intonationcircle
TONE:Brightvs.Dark
Brightsoundsdoesnotblend
Darkcanbesharp
Americansound,someoftheGermandarknesswiththeFrenchresponse
Dynamicrange:tooloudandtoosoft

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3.

4.

Confidence:
Aconfidentsecondplayerwhoplayswithastrong,securesoundisanasset.
Togetherwithasecureandconfidentfirstplayer=astrongteam.
Reeds:
SeetheReedSection

Fingerings

PhotoCredit:TerryEwell

1.

2.

FingeringCharts:
Bassoonfingeringchartscanbeconfusingtoreadandunreliable,thereishelp!
Irecommendseveralcharts:
http://www.idrs.org/resources/BSNFING/BsnFingerings.pdf
http://www.foxproducts.com/pdfs/LetsPlayBassoon.pdf
Bothchartsincludesomealternateandtrillfingerings
TheTheBassoonFamilyFingeringCompanionwebsiteoftheInternationalDoubleReed
Societyisagreatoption:http://www.idrs.org/resources/bsnfing/finghome.htm.Hereyoull
findeverythingyouneedincludingfingeringsfortrills,shakes,pianissimo,microtones,
harmonics,specificmusicalpassages,frenchbassoon,historicalbassoons,etc.
TuningandManyFingeringChoices:
EssentialsofBassoonTechnique,anencyclopedicpresentationofbassoonfingeringsandtheir
usage,meanttobeutilizedbyteachers,seriousadvancedstudents,andartistperformers
ForLowE2,addlowC#/Dbresonancekeytolowerthepitch
Eb3,somanychoices
Irecommendusingalongfingeringchoiceunlessthemusiciscomplicatedand/orfast(ex.
VariationsonaKoreanFolkSong,byJohnBarnesChance,1965)
G3,alwaysaddEborDbresonancekey,changespitchandtimbreforalowerpitchexperience

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3.

4.

ThemanyC#4choices,(shortandlong)http://www.idrs.org/resources/BSNFING/BsnFingerings.pdf
AlltheF#4choices,EssentialofBassoonTechnique
Trillsolutions
http://www.idrs.org/resources/bsnfing/finghome.htm
SlurEb4andE4,liftRH1
HalfHoleTechnique:
Thelefthandfirstfingeractsasavent,aidingthebassoonintotheoverblownoctaverange
Thenotesthatrequireahalfholeare:F#2,G2,Ab2,F#3,G3,Ab3
Eachnoteneedsaslightlydifferenthalfholesizes.Thesizeofthehalfholedecreasesasyoumove
upthescale.TheF#srequiresalargehalfhole,theGsrequireamediumhalfhole,theAbsrequirea
smallhalfhole
Usethewhisperkeywhenhalfholing,sincebothactasvents,youonlyneedoneatatime
Flicking
FlickingRule:WhenslurringfromF2andbelowtoA2,Bb2,B2,C3andD3,youmustflick.Use
theAthumbkeyforA2,andtheCthumbkeyforBb3,B3,C3andD3.

Posture
1.

2.

3.

4.

Bassoon:
BringbassoonTOYOU
Balancetheweightinbothhandsandonleg
Equipment:
Therightchair,flatseatwithnothingonthesides
Balanceweight
Placementofseatstrapatadiagonal,withthehookonthefrontrightcornerofthechair
Angleofbocal
Angleofreed
Handrest(crutch),largehands,givesstudentanideaofwherethekeysare
ThePlayer:
Straightenout/up,changesthesound
Backandneckalignedandsquare
Playingwithheadalittledownintothereed,ratherthanup,better,morefullsound
Adjustheightofbassoonsoreedwilltouchbottomlip
Itshouldfeelnatural,assingingortalkingwithheadupnotnatural
Thumbs:Leftthumbshouldrestnearwhisperkey,Rightthumbshouldrestoverpancakekey
Roundedfingers,notightgrip,seeingtoneholesonpadsoffingers
Challenges:
Seeingthemusic
Sharingastand
Shadowsonownmusic

In Closing
1.

Ahappybassoonsectionsoundsbetter.
Ihearitoverandoveragain,Imtheonlyoneinmyband/school/district,etc.
Howtomakethemhappy?
LOOKatyourbassoonists,noticewhentheyarebeinggood(ornotbad).

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2.

TALKtoyourdoublereeds,letthemknowyousee/hearthemandthattheymakea
difference.
USEASPOSITIVEEXAMPLES,toenhanceconfidenceandleadership
Whydoesthiswork?
CreatesconfidenceandasenseofTEAM
Theyaresorare,theygenerallyenjoyeachotherscompany,worktogetherasaunit
Hardworking,smartanddrivenindividuals
Waymorefunplayingtogether,coolsoundsandmoreconfidence
TeamworkisFUN
Friendlycompetition
Givebassoonistsextratimetopackupbeforeclass
Big,expensiveinstrument,givethestudentsometimetoproperlycleanitbeforeleaving
theroom

Seating
Irecommendseatingthedoublereedsontheoutsideofyourband

Canhearthemselves(notdrownedoutbybrassandsaxophones)
Feelliketheyarecontributing
Notoverblowing
Beingasection,oboebandofthepast
Balanceandblendwillimprove,andsowillattitude

Bassoon Fun
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152488281343067&set=vb.190898018066&type=2&theater

International Double Reed Society

ThewebsiteoftheInternationalDoubleReedSociety(http://www.idrs.org)isatreasureofinformationand
resources.Muchofthesiteisavailabletothepublic.Onityoucanfind:
MultiMediaofallkinds,including:
MIDIaccompanimentsforsolos
Scoredownloads
Videosandrecordings
Podcasts
TherichResourcesPageincludes:
Fingerings
InstrumentMakers
WhosWho
Publications

Some Bassoon Resources

ReedsandTools
BelCanto:http://www.belcantoreeds.com
DavidBrundage(forcontrareeds,too):http://www.hickeys.com/pages/bn35.htm
CharlesDoubleReed:http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgibin/theo?action=home
HodgeProducts:http://www.hodgeproductsinc.com/catalog/
JamesKoppReedMaker:http://koppreeds.com/index.html
ForrestsMusic:http://www.forrestsmusic.com/index.htm
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MillerMarketing:http://www.millermarketingco.com
EdmundNeilsenWoodwinds:https://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com
BarryTrent:http://www.reedcrafter.com

Instruments
Forrests:http://www.forrestsmusic.com/index.htm
FoxBassoonProducts:http://www.foxproducts.com
MidwestMusicalImports:http://store.mmimports.com/bassoon1/
MillerMarketing:http://millermarketingco.com
Books
TheArtofBassoonPlaying,WilliamSpencer
EssentialsofBassoonTechnique(BigBookofFingerings),CooperandToplansky
AdvancedReedDesign&TestingProcedureforBassoon,MarkG.Eubanks
BassoonReedMaking:AnIllustratedBasicMethod,ChrisWeait
Music
Forrests:http://www.forrestsmusic.com/index.htm
GailWarnaarDoubleReedShop:http://www.doublereedshop.com
HickeysMusicCenter:http://www.hickeys.com
Trevco:http://www.trevcomusic.com
MethodBooks
Beginning:
PracticalMethodfortheBassoon,JuliusWeissenborn
BassoonWarmUps,ChrisWeait
Intermediate:
FiftyConcertStudies,Op.26,LudwigMilde
25StudiesinScalesandChords,Op.26,LudwigMilde
Coolgroupsandpeopletoinspireyourbassooniststoexcel,practiceandinnovate
BassoonBrothersBassoonQuartet:http://bassoonbrothers.com/?page_id=316
BoulderBassoonQuartet:http://boulderbassoons.com
BreakingWindsBassoonQuartet:http://thebreakingwinds.com
2Cellos:http://www.2cellos.com/us/home
SuggestedListening(afewofmyfavoriteartists)
SergioAzzolini:http://www.naive.fr/en/artist/sergioazzolini
MonicaEllis:http://www.imaniwinds.com/artist.php?view=bio&bid=1942
PascalGallois:http://www.pascalgallois.com
PaulHanson:http://paulhansonmusic.com
NadinaMackieJackson:http://nadina.ca
DavidMcGill:http://www.music.northwestern.edu/about/news
/2014/csobassoonistdavidmcgilljoinsbienenschoolfaculty.html
FrankMorelli:http://www.morellibassoon.com
JohnSteinmetz:http://www.johnsteinmetz.org
ChristopherWeait:http://weaitmusic.com/node/15
HistoricalBassoonPlayers
MichaelMcCraw:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x549YO5h2g
AnnaMarsh:http://annamarshmusic.com
DominicTeresi:http://www.tafelmusik.org/about/orchestra/bios/dominicteresi
WouterVerschuren:http://www.wouterverschuren.com/Site_Wouter/pg1.html
OtherResources
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InternationalDoubleReedSociety,www.idrs.org
TerryEwell:http://www.terryewell.com
BarrySteesBlog:http://steesbassoon.blogspot.com
BarrySteesReedAdjustingChart:
http://www.steesbassoon.com/reedmaking/adjusting_reeds.htm
BarryStees,AwesomeReedDiagram:http://www.steesbassoon.com/reedmaking/diagram.htm
BassoonBlog(BetsySturdevant):http://bassoonblog.blogspot.com
BassoonResource:http://www.bassoonresource.org/tips.htm
Multiphonics:http://www.leslieross.net/multiphonics.html
BulletproofMusician:http://www.bulletproofmusician.com
Pence,TeachersGuidetotheBassoon:http://www.hickeys.com/downloads/000/sku000815.pdf

Gratitude:
AidenBraun,CynthiaBecker,OliviaFletcher,SeanHarkin,NicoleLane,AndrewMeys,AmandaNauseef,Kailey
Schnurman,JamesSmith,EmmaWhitestone,DebraMoree,BethPeterson,StevePeterson

ImagesandTechnicalAssistance:
JamesSmith(IthacaCollege16)
NicoleLane(IthacaCollege17)

Mr.CarrollMcMath,DentonHighSchool

Mrs.LidaBeasley,CongressJr.HighSchool

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