Thursday 28 March 2019

Things You Should Know Before Picking up The Bassoon as Your Instrument



Bassoon is a popular part of the orchestra, and you will find more than one bassoon player in any orchestra across the world. Bassoon is a great instrument if you want your kids to learn it. It not only shapes their musical inclination, but also improves their discipline and teamwork abilities. Bassoon is a great instrument to begin with as it comes with every little thing that you should know about music. however, choosing the Bassoon or when to start with Bassoon is often asked by a lot of people. Here we will try to convey things that you should know before you can begin Bassoon lessons.
  • The Bassoon is not a very small instrument, which means you need slightly large and capable hands to ensure that the instrument is being played to the tune. If you are planning to get your 7yo to take up Bassoon lessons, then we suggest you wait for another four years. The ideal age to start taking these lessons is 11 years. However, if you feel your child is ready at the age of 7, you can probably get the lighter version of the Bassoon, which enjoys a better grip, and can be handled by people of any age. Once they have aced this instrument, they can easily take over the actual instrument when they turn 11. You will just need to coordinate with the Bassoon instructor to make sure you are doing it right
  • When your child can take Bassoon lessons is really determined by their weight and capability to handle the large instrument. It is not really commanded by the age, though it does play a huge role in ensuring the kids get quality Bassoon education. You will need to see how your child works around instruments, and check on their clumsiness before allowing them to go ahead with the Bassoon lessons. Make sure you are aware of the temperament your child holds, as the Bassoon is a work of patience with many keys that you need to play really well. Again, Bassoon players range in the minority section. So, your child must be ready to fall into this category with ease and should be comfortable with the idea.
  • The one thought that kind of hits hard is whether a Bassoon is a huge investment or not. The instrument is obviously slightly expensive, as it costs around 4000-5000 pounds. The question is whether you are alright spending that amount for the child. Secondly, if you want a slightly affordable variant, you can opt for the mini bassoon. It is not just good for the child who is just beginning to learn the instrument, but also quite pocket friendly. The idea is to choose a Bassoon provider who can help you get a good deal of the instrument.
  • Reeds are an important part of the bassoon, and most teachers will supply them. However, if they don’t, you should not depend on the local shops as they rarely stock the reeds. You can always buy them online. Choose well before you go and buy the reeds online. The reed costs around 10 pounds, and you should ask your teacher to help you choose a reed.
  • Along with the Bassoon, you should invest in the bassoon insurance too, as it will help protect the instrument, and maintain its long life. You can claim for damages and repairs with the instrument.

Friday 22 March 2019

What Things to Look for Before Investing in a Clarinet



Clarinet is a beautiful yet complex instrument, which requires complete understanding before you make the purchase. The type of Clarinet you should purchase changes with the age of the person as well as their learning level. for instance, a kid who has just started learning the instrument cannot be given a huge instrument that they are incapable of handling. Similarly, someone who has reached an advanced level of learning should invest in an instrument that understands their temperament and capabilities.

One of the most important considerations when choosing a clarinet is the age of the person. The fingers and lip vibrations differ with the age and that’s precisely why you need to give this factor importance. Again, lip vibrations are different for every individual, and you might want to take that into consideration before investing in the instrument.

The material of the instrument also plays an important role when you set to buy one. It is important you choose a material that best fits your needs. If you buy too heavy or too light a clarinet, you might face issues playing the instrument.

Apart from this, the age of the instrument is also a major consideration. If the instrument is really old but, can survive a good amount of time, you should invest in it. However, if it is a cheap new instrument, you should think twice before investing in it.

Your level of learning is also important when purchasing clarinet. Are you a beginner or someone who has reached an advanced level? This will make your instrument purchase slightly difficult. The beginner would require something light and easy while the musician can use a broader and advanced clarinet to play the music

What is the age of the person playing the clarinet? If you are buying for your kid who is less than 10 years, the clarinet ought to be small and should fit their hands perfectly. The idea is to make the hold comfortable Material of the clarinet is also an important consideration. If the material is too heavy, the kids will not be able to hold it for a long time. Too light and inexpensive material can result in wear and tear of the instrument, which means money wasted in buying the instrument.

Purchasing the instrument is not enough. You need to think of investing in instrument insurance as well. There are plenty of things you need to consider before investing in the clarinet insurance, along with the budget. Your needs specifically are very important and should be noted before you conclude on the purchase. Secondly, you need to include all the inclusions you want from the clarinet insurance. For instance, if you want the insurance to cover the wear and tear of the instrument, make sure to include that as well. You should choose a provider who can help you choose the ideal instrument insurance. Make sure your provider has a good experience and understands your needs completely. Check for their expertise with the instrument insurance. Make sure they have a good support team available for whatever queries you might have.

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Beginning Your Bassoon Lessons? Here's How You Can Gain The Best From Your Classes



Bassoon is a popular instrument that works well with students, especially those attending schools. It is a great time to start learning the instrument, and it offers a great variety of musical nuances that helps you not just gain expertise in music, but also improve your self-discipline. There are quite a few questions that come with investing in Bassoon classes. Here we have come up with some of those that are frequently addressed.

When should you ideally start taking Bassoon lessons?
A look at this instrument, and you realize this is not really for the small kids. The instrument is quite large and requires adept and capable hands to handle it. That's why, for a very long time, the Bassoon beginner had to be at least 11 years. However, things have changed since the inception of the mini bassoon. This new version of the instrument can be easily held by a 7-year-old child. While they are not as good as the original Bassoon, they are good enough to help the child learn about grip and handling of the instrument. You can appear for up to grade 3 exams with this Bassoon. At 11, your child can shift to the main bassoon.

Do you think my child can opt for Bassoon lessons?
There is a myth surrounding the instrument - the person has to be real big to take up this instrument. However, that is not true. As mentioned earlier, if your child is around 11 years of age, they are capable enough to handle the Bassoon. The idea is to be able to bear the weight of the instrument and to be able to reach the keys perfectly. The Bassoon is quite an expensive instrument, and has too many keys. Your child should be confident and should not be clumsy if they want to handle the instrument. Again, the Bassoon players are a minority so, your child should not be afraid of falling into this segment.

Is the Bassoon very expensive?
When we talk about Bassoon, a decent instrument costs around 4000 to 5000 pounds. If you want to go for a mini Bassoon, it costs half the price of the normal bassoon. You can get a decent second hand bassoon at the same price as a mini bassoon. You should always try your bassoon before you buy so that you know it suits you or not. Secondly, before investing make sure you have chosen a good dealer to buy the bassoon.

Where can I get the reeds for the instrument?
Reeds are an important part of the bassoon, and most teachers will supply them. However, if they don't, you should not depend on the local shops as they rarely stock the reeds. You can always buy them online. Choose well before you go and buy the reeds online. The reed costs around 10 pounds, and you should ask your teacher to help you choose a reed.

Why should I invest in Bassoon insurance?
For a very long time, people kept asking this question, and did not believe in the necessity to invest in bassoon insurance. However, it is compulsory that you buy the insurance with the instrument so that the repairs and damage cost can be availed through the claims.

Tuesday 5 March 2019

Things to consider When Investing in Oboe Reeds



When you are investing in the maintenance of the instrument such as Oboe, you need to invest time and money in maintaining the instrument as well as the accessories, specifically the reed. The reeds are the most temperamental amongst the instruments. When investing in reeds, you need to make sure you are taking the right steps. Here we will help you make the right choices with the oboe reeds.

Tips to purchase the perfect oboe reeds
  • Commercial vs professional reeds: Reeds have a short life-span, typically two weeks of daily use. Replacing these reeds can be quite expensive and cumbersome. There are commercial and professional reeds. The commercial ones are adequate for beginners and are available in the range $8-$12 and the professional reeds cost anywhere between $13 and $18. The professional reeds last longer and are better compared to the commercial reeds, and are used by most professionals.
  • The strength of the reeds: The reeds can be classified according to the strength- soft, medium and hard. The soft ones require less air and the opening collapses under pressure. The other two strengths need to be scraped before using and can be used in a more professional setting. They tend to vibrate more freely as compared to the soft reed. Try to start with soft reeds before you move on to medium reeds
  • Wire around the reed: The wire wrapped around the base of the reed can also tell you how good or bad the reed is. The long narrow shape of the reed allows you to keep the blades open. The wires make the reed soft for playing, which allows the opening to collapse. So the wire needs to hold the opening in a tight form for you to make sure the reed works. This means you need to consider the wire wrapping when buying the reed
  • Blades of the reed: The blades tend to overlap along the reed. If there is a tape along the base, there is a leak in the reed. So look for reeds that exist with an asymmetrical opening
These are the basics and will help you get the perfect oboe reed home, which requires minimal maintenance. However, along with the reeds, you also need to invest in good oboe insurance. It will help keep the instrument in check.

Why you need oboe insurance?
It helps you ensure any cracks in the reed do not cause you to empty the pockets. You simply need to use the insurance and get someone who can repair it for you. The idea is to buy insurance that covers both the oboe and the reeds. Instead of spending a lot of money in replacing the reeds, the insurance will help you get the reeds repaired or repaired well within the budget.

You need to think through all your needs before investing in oboe insurance. Proper planning and prioritization of the requirements will help get the ideal insurance solution for your instrument. It is definitely all about budget allocation and thorough research.