Beginning Bassoons will cost $3,500 - 6,000
Bassoon General Websites
http://fagotizm.narod.ru/index-eng.html - A “cheater” site that is from Russia. I use this site to look at
bassoon solos before I purchase them. They have a lot of standards available for viewing and download. I’m not sure how legal some of these downloads are, but some look to be arrangements.
http://www.forrestsmusic.com/ - A double reed specialist site. You can buy method books/DVDs, reed
making supplies, cases, stands, instrument parts, and sheet music. They also have decent reeds (tip: put duco cement on the wrap and tighten the wires).
http://www.hickeys.com/ - Most of you are familiar with Hickeys. They have quite a good selection of
bassoon repertoire.
http://www.jonesdoublereed.com/index.html - Best commercial reeds you can buy. Pricey, but students
need a good reed at least to perform on. Bassoon is an expensive instrument and reeds are a huge part of that.
http://www.mmimports.com/ - A local (based out of the Twin Cities) double reed specialist (they also
have some stuff for other instruments). Similar to Forrests, but individual products vary. I highly would
recommend this site to bassoon students and interested teachers.
Bassoon Literature (Books)
Toplansky and Cooper – Essentials of Bassoon Technique – A fingering chart that is literally a book. This will help you answer any questions about bassoon fingerings students may have (and yes, there are plenty of times when an alternate will be needed). A bit pricey (about 60 bucks)
Weait – Bassoon Scales for Reading – A good study for students learning scales, arpeggios, and key
signatures. The exercises are broken into ranges (low, middle, and high). Practicing these will help
students recognize patterns in music and develop finger fluency.
Weait – Bassoon Strategies for the Next Level – A good book for serious student bassoonists. There
are sections on motivation, practicing and performance tips, solutions to playing problems, and musical
development. There are also musical excerpts from many famous works. There is also a reference section with more sources.
Weissenborn/Bettoney – Method for Bassoon – An absolute must for SERIOUS bassoon students. Don’t read the introduction talking about reeds (outdated) but there are really good exercises in here. The front of the book is okay, but the 50 exercises in the back are where good bassoonists are made. Many bassoon professors (including Dr. Kristine Klopfenstein-Fletcher) consider getting through all 50 a rite of passage.
I wouldn’t suggest pushing students through these. Have them focus on each one individually in order for them to develop good technique. Make sure your edition has these studies in them as earlier editions did not include them.
Bassoon Literature (Solos)
These would be appropriate for high school students and all are great:
Bond – Concerto No. 6 in Bb (Baroque)
Phillips – Concert Piece (20th century)
Senaille – Allegro Spiritoso (Grade 4, intermediate)
Telemann – Sonata in Fm (Grade 5, early advanced)
Weissenborn- Romanze, Op. 227 (Romantic)
There are many bassoon solos that are very difficult (lots of Grade 6 out there). Others are incredibly
easy. When in doubt, always find something in the Grade 3-4 range.