@@Team_Recorder You should retry saxophone & clarinet & see if your reed experience helped you get better on them. Other than that, maybe you can try (lip-vibrated) brass &/or bowed string instruments.
Hi Sarah! I literally screamed with delight when I got a distinction at grade 8 oboe at age 70. Took me 6 years “from scratch”. I concur with your remarks about the positive and constructive comments from ABRSM examiners: mine even found something good to say about my scales, which were pretty rubbish. Now I'm thinking of trying for the ARSM diploma.
Dear Sarah, I'm a recorder teacher in France and i started studying the bassoon 6 years ago at the age of 55 ! I've been making progress playing in a junior Harmony band and last year, i played in the symphonic orchestra of my music school .( 2nd basson of the Beethoven's first Symphony). I'm also lucky to have an excellent teacher . Keep on practicing this beautiful instrument ! All my best musical wiches for you. ! Carole. ( Excuse my english that i did not practice for a long time !! )
This exercise is excellent empathy-training for music teachers. I recall doing an exam on flute in the last year of my bachelor's degree as a clarinet student. The experience reminded me of what it's like when you understand the requirements of the music, but don't yet have the capacity to control the instrument.
It's great to see your journey through your grade 1 exam! I think doing things like this is great for experienced musicians, especially those of us who teach. It helps to build empathy for our students and remind us what it's like to be a beginner. Having watched some of your exam, I knew there was no way you would fail it. I think it's worth remembering that as a trained musician, your expectations are much higher. We hear all the things that a complete beginner just couldn't be expected to be sensitive to yet. Great job, Sarah!
Great video! Those double reed instruments are such a pain to learn and progress on 😂 But you did a fantastic job, I loved seeing the learning process and your approach as well. Congrats!
I found myself getting really emotional when you saw your mark. I remember when I was 7 and I got told that I received the best mark in the county for my grade 1 recorder exam. Not much has ever topped that feeling for me, thirty years later.
This is actually so inspiring! I passed my grade 7 violin 10 years ago just before I moved away for uni and I have always felt like I hadn't quite completed what I set out to do, in that I never got my grade 8. I've very much stayed the same level over the last 10 years, maybe got a little better because I did take lessons again for a while and join the uni orchestra, but I had no idea you could do these digital performance exams now! The scales and sightreading used to make me so horribly nervous and I think I would much prefer this kind of exam. I think I might just start working towards finally getting my grade 8. Better late than never!
This was very interesting! Are you planning on going to the next level for bassoon? Are you thinking of working in playing bassoon with any of your musical groups?
@@lipamanka, it is considered to be among the hardest because of the very complex fingerings, the fact there is a double reed involved, the range of the instrument, the difficulty of techniques, and the sheer breath control and power needed to master it.
@@KakeiTheWoIf I mean. I played bassoon for two years and most of those things you mentioned (besides the reed and range) is more difficult to learn on the recorder. The double reed ain't so bad either in my experience. What's ur experience with bassoon?
The lesson with Garrett was surprising. I never would guess that making that crow-like squawk on the reed helps in getting a better tone on the bassoon. I could hear the difference before and after. A great teacher helps so much!
I played bassoon in college and haven't played an instrument since then, 15 years ago. I decided to start learning the alto recorder and found your channel. And watching you play bassoon brought back all the feels :)
Same here! I hadn't played bassoon for 25 years after high school, picked up recorder and have played 7ish months... And after really enjoying learning the recorder I've gotten a bassoon again and have started relearning. They're very compatible instruments and share a lot in common (forked fingering, dynamics challenges, playing in the second/third registers, many alternate fingerings, even how you play C!).
Super well done Sarah. Excellent break down and review as well as the general achievement. I play recorder and bassoon too. May I strongly suggest trying to get your hands on a baroque bassoon for a few months? I absolutely love mine. It is very light compared to the modern one and honestly feels like holding a bass recorder. I'm working on the Vivaldi A min rv86 with a friend. It will take us a while! So worth it though.
Could definitely hear the musicianship although you were strugging with the technique. It reminds me of when I started to try teaching my daughter - already a professional musician - the recorder. It was amazing to hear her add competent and tasteful vibrato, while still struggling with not leaking air and getting the notes to speak clearly. The musicianship - obvious. The technique - not quite yet. The bassoon is notoriously tricky: an ill wind that nobody blows good. But then again, you're a recorder player - so you're used to taming notoriously temperamental instruments. You'll be all set for trying to add a rackett to a recorder ensemble because the C bass can't quite manage to balance the other instruments!
This is very much my experience with the oboe. I double on a number of instruments, and the oboe is probably the one where the difference is the most stark. My tone and intonation far exceed my technical skill.
Congratulations! I'm feeling so proud of you. I've had some recorder lessons this year and learning how to play recorder has taught me so much that I can take into my bassoon playing.
I had never heard of ABRSM grades before this video so I went and looked them up. I used to play recorder and krummhorn in my university ancient music consort (I think I was the only non-music major in the group). I looked and thought hey, I could probably get to at least grade three with a week or two of practice to get my chops back! Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh, Jon can play anything. He waltzed into the room a few times and tooted out some tunes before laughing uproariously and flouncing off again... his job is to play lots of instruments all in one show so it doesn't surprise me!
Sarah you are doing great. And here I’m the other way around, I’m a professional bassoon player and now back to my recorder journey coz I actually started the recorder before I learnt the bassoon. I’m now buying my first wooden alto recorder and I watched a lot of your videos, it’s really helpful😊 Hope you enjoy playing the bassoon!!!
This so amazing to see! My Dad took up oboe after playing saxophone on and off since high school. He always had really good tone, but the double reed tripped him up at first. However, after a few noisy months, he got quite good at it!
Congratulations for doing so well with such a tough instrument in such a short time! I think I gasped just slightly before you did, when that "130/150 - Distinction" came up. 😻😽😸
Hi Sarah- Congrats! I took up bassoon a year ago, coming from saxophone, and completely agree that being a beginner again is very rewarding and actually helps your approach on your primary instrument. Are you going to keep learning more about bassoon?
I am a bassoonist struggling a bit to learn recorder, so this video seeing the reverse process was very encouraging! I may check out this grading system just to give myself some direction instead of practicing abstract technique.
I haven't taken formal RCM exams since my Grade 5 cello exam when I was a preteen, but I've often used the RCM and ABRSM syllabi to discover new repertoire at my level of skill when I've picked up new instruments, and as a way of self-evaluating my progress. And sometimes when I need some filler rep for a performance and aren't feeling any of my existing repertoire, I'll just grab something from the Grade 5-6 cello syllabi. =>
Thank you for your beginner tips. You also are the only bassoonist who sounds remotely like me on the bassoon. I’ve been told by my oboist music teacher that sounding good on an oboe is HARD AS HELL on a student reed. He suggested I start with a medium hard reed and I’ve done that with the bassoon too. I think they work ok. The idea is that a softer reed will close up on you and not work once you’ve developed a good embouchure and the soft reed also can make bad habits with embouchure.
@musicalcomputernerd6474 Thanks for the reed tip. I've recently taken up the oboe again after a 40 year break. I'm going to try a medium hard reed and see how I get on. 👍🏾🎼🎶
I was taught clarinet by a cornet player. Though they could get me started, there was a lot of info I missed out on by not having a clarinetist teach me. The one big thing was how much the inside of your mouth needs to change from high to low notes. I thought the embouchure stayed the same throughout the range but that's not the case. The jaw and tongue change positions quite a lot. I imagine it would be a similar for playing the bassoon. If you're struggling with either high or low notes it's not necessarily the lip part of your embouchure that needs to change, but something inside. Notice at 4:05 how when Sarah hit that low note her jaw actually moves. Opening up your mouth on the inside helps with low notes. It's awesome to see you in the process of learning another instrument, Sarah. Well done!
Just as you were about to open up the page where you revealed your results, it broke for an advert for a guy talking about saxophone mouthpieces and reeds. I guess bassoon parts don't sell as well. I had a brief go at learning the sax in junior school and noticed that the fingerings were familiar from having played the recorder. I didn't say this because I assumed recorders were thought of as a kids' instrument and saxes were for serious musicians. Did you notice any similarity in the fingerings? Also, do bassoonists have to make their own reeds, the way oboists do?
Bassoonists do make their own reeds! Luckily I didn’t have to, Max at the Amsterdam Bassoon Centre gave me teo 😄 And I’m thrilled to hear the targeted ads in my channel are for saxophone reeds! (genuinely, music topics are great)
OMG! I LOVE watching you try the bassoon! I grew up as a violinist, but took up the recorder at about age 13. After becoming quite proficient on recorder, I took up the bassoon at age 17. In college, I was lucky, lucky, lucky to study with a world-class bassoon teacher & perform as the principal bassoonist of our wind ensemble & concert band. Now, after 45 years having bassoon as a secondary instrument, I've recently performed in a church orchestra program, taken on some middle school & high school student bassoonists, and joined our local community orchestra as 2d bassoon. Playing the recorder was a fantastic transition for me from strings to bassoon, and I enjoy playing bassoon so often lately. I will check out these "exams." Thanks, Sarah!
I LOVE playing different instruments & I think playing a new instrument can help with instruments you already play. Thanks for sharing, Sarah, very fun to watch! Take care, Mr. Greg
Congratulations, Sarah!!!👏👏👏🤗 I found this video encouraging. I'm gonna keep at my practices. The funny thing is that I'm a string instrument player and yet your videos help me to become more aware of technique and fundamentals in a more enjoyable way.
Watching this video forced me to get out the clarinet I bought years ago - Now completed Lesson 1 and 2 of the Tune a day book. (I'm a grade 8 violinist and grade 5 flautist) Thanks for posting and inspiring me :)
I know what you mean by absolutely loving being a beginner. I might say that I'm somewhat addicted to that feeling since childhood. I changed instruments twice before settling on oboe and since then I've learned 5 new instruments to at least pop/rock/folk music level, while avoiding things like bassoon and saxophone, where my previous training would (reportedly) make it easier.
Considering the cost of a bassoon, I think I'll not challenge your feat. I spent a year with an oboe, and frankly I don't think I could practice an hour at a time. I was exhausted after 5 minutes. Partly, I'm 63 and can't develop muscles as well as I could 30 years ago, so it was hard developing the condition to control the embouchure. But I got a great deal on a used Selmer Bundy alto clarinet, so that's my toy this year. It's a lot easier to play.
So happy for you that you even got a distinction! 👏 👍😊 Basson is theeee instrument I wish I could play!! But, it's sooo expensive to get one. Renting it would be an option, only if I do have regular classes. I'm an amateur musician, and a semi-professional singer. So, I would need to put more work than you into it. For the moment it's on hold. Thx for sharing! 🙏🤗
@@Team_Recorder Yes! It's very long, is it difficult for the finger placings? The tenor flute, recorder, is already quite a stretch.. I just love the Oboe, too! Have you tried one?
I play saxophone (tenor and baritone) and this brought back memories from when I started some 15 years ago, all the squeaks.😁I would love to learn basson, it's such a beautiful sounding instrument, but they are so expensive.
What is the DUTCH word for bassoon? You English have lots and lots of WRONG names for instruments. Just check the French name, and the German name, and you see, you are doing it wrong again. Kidding just, huh?
I'm working on abrsm grade 7 flute at the moment. I started as an adult with my grade 1 and have been working on my flute ever since. It was interesting to see the bassoon grade one and inspiring to see you pass.
A grade 7 absrm piece for flute Monody of a Fawn was composed by Adrian Connell, an old school friend of mine who influenced me into the world of music. Good luck with your upcoming exam😃
I'm working towards my grade 8 for treble recorder so I know how you feel about being back in the position of taking exams. I teach various instruments so I'm used to preparing pupils for exams but it's so different doing it yourself! Really pleased for you with your distinction!
Hi Sarah Jeffery, I'm delighted that you're learning to play bassoon, and that's you've passed this exam! You must be doing something right, because I recognized that tune Damkol Damkol immediately as the Turkish tune that I'm familiar with, dağlar qızı reyhan, or simply Reyhan! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--8kSma_pLS4.html
I started on violin, added flute, then switched flute for bassoon. I couldn't agree more with everything you said about learning one instrument helping you learn about the other. Bassoon and violin are very different, but this allows me a lot of diversity in how i'm learning. One of my favorite practice techniques is to play whatever i'm working on using the other instrument, I find it very insightful for phrasing/musicality stuff! Great job!!
@@TudorOwen50s I'm still learning, working out innovative techniques 😀 Also very fond of listening to other instruments and techniques. Sarah is really good as she looks at woodwind through the ages not just contemporary WITH their associated tuning eg Renaissance 432 Hz. Information like this inspires to look at my instrument, in this case a guitar and experiment.
Very cool! Are you going to continue with the bassoon? I am a recorder player who played bassoon in college. Now I'm thinking about getting back into it after many years. I'm really excited because today I have 2 bassoons coming for me to try! My goal is to play a bassoon on a few movements of the Rameau Dardanus suite with my baroque ensemble in our May concert. I'll play recorder on the rest. It's going to be super fun to switch from sopranino to bassoon in the middle of a movement!
I am currently playing clarinet grade 6 but i found the grade 5 exam such hard work through covid that i needed a break from it. started alto sax and got distinction on grade 1 very quickly and this has given me a new impetus to continue on my clarinet journey. I too thought i had just "passed" and cried when i got my distinction results. I believe my teacher did as well!
Just watching a video about doing an exam made me nervous! I did Grade 1 piano and Grade 3 clarinet (in the same week!) and then refused to do any more. About to try and start learning soprano recorder again. Just waiting for my new recorder to arrive...
I looked on the website but only see ‘normal’ exam settings - no option to record and send in. Has it changed do you know? Just started the violin at 62. Self teaching as no local violin tutors would you believe. Have a fab chap to have online fiddle tuition with at some point in the near future though. 😮 i just looked again - its below the one i looked at, d’oh
I recently wrestled with myself whether I should learn to play oboe or saxophone, which I hadn't touched either of them ever before. The sax won, and I've been making noises on it for a week now, so the double reeds have to wait. That Bologne overture sounds really cute *thinking about what instrument it could be played on*
Best compliments, bassoon is tough to "tame" 👏👏! Do you have now idea to use the bassoon together into recorder Ensembles? Its direct antecessor, the dulcian, was very popular as a either a bass for 8' "Grand-Jeu", or as a contrabass for the usual 4' Consort.
I finally was able to fully practice bassoon. It was a little tricky after not touching a bassoon for two weeks. I do want to try bass recorder. In my opinion, it has an unique color to it.
Sarah, I find it very interesting that you chose the "bassiest" of all woodwind instruments. Could it be that you felt like a little more power and resonance compared to the estimable but soft-spoken bass recorders?
Great job Sarah, I've sent your link to all of my bassoonist buddies. I gone through a similar experience. . . I'm a retired professional clarinetist (and recorder player too:-) who decided to learn the piano at age 63. What a humbling experience. And like you, impatience is my greatest challenge. When you're an accomplished musician, it's so difficult to "dial it back several notches" and not want to jump ahead in the lesson book on your new instrument. Besides my similar experience with piano, your journey has inspired me to follow in your footsteps, maybe next year, and try a similar journey with a trumpet. I've always wondered if trumpet is as difficult as many amateurs make it sound. I've added it to my bucket list to find out.
Hi Sarah, well done! Being a beginner again is hard. I'm a professional bassoonist and want to relearn the recorder that I haven't touched since 1995. Any tips where to start?
Hi, welcome back to the recorder world! A good starter instrument and method book is a good place to begin - not to plug my own videos but I have one called ‘what to know before you start recorder’ that should answer all your questions! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VIEEB7Fb-Y0.htmlsi=khEcjgcVjxlTv_WJ
Hi Sarah, I hope you get to see this. I am looking to try grade 1 descant recorder. My understanding is that the exam incorporates not just performance pieces but scales too. How does this work for the online exam? Would I have to show my scales too? (C Major, F Major and D Major)in legato as well? Arpeggios as well?
Bravo Sarah! Very impressive. This makes me wonder, not for the first time, how fast I could pick up bassoon. I've never played a modern one, but I have played bass shawm and curtal (dulzian, sort of a Renaissance bassoon), so I might have a bit of a head start. Well done as usual. Cheers from a fellow recorder player in Vienna, Scott
Hello Sarah. Congratulations! Well done. I learned to play the recorder in primary school and it was invaluable for my learning of other woodwind instruments. Knowing how to play the alto recorder helped considerably in transposing especially when playing the English Horn. Keep up the good work!
As a singer and recorder player (and some piano) I started learning the violin 2 months ago. Apparently as a singer I'm so quick with adjusting the tone to the right pitch, that I'm not 'internally' hearing the note. Having no frets is therefore quite the nightmare. Comparable, maybe, like having the double reed for you.
Well done! If you keep going with it, maybe try out some different ways of holding the horn :) I've been playing for years and find the basics of technique, finger placement, not holding stress in my neck and arms, etc. are INFINITELY easier with either a seat strap or leg rest than with my harness.
Your comments made me think that being a professional musician is very much about being able to f things up... well. That would actually support the old saying that the difference between a clear, jarring mistake and a nice improvised variation is just the confidence of the musician.
I was wondering: did you find the fingerstretch for the bassoon to be more or less than for bass recorder? Tenor recorder? I can play bass recorder just fine, but tenor is a problem even with a bent headjoint and two keys on the bottom. Do you think I could physically play the bassoon?
That big brother to the oboe I imagine the reed is as difficult to blow as the oboe is. My daughter plays oboe, sax and piano. Her first instrument was recorder in junior school but on getting into senior school went for oboe and sax her first music exam on the oboe she attained a grade 6 with distinction. She is 50 now, she still gets a nice sound from the oboe, to this day I cannot get note out of that double reed. I’ll stick to playing my 5 row button accordion far easier than those double reed instruments.😊
