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★ The Bassoonist’s Journey

🎬 Course Introduction: The Journey Starts Here

Find Your Level

⬜ LEVEL 1 - WHITE REED

Welcome, Grasshopper Bassoonist! 🦗

Why Grasshopper?

The Anatomy of the Bassoon

The anatomy of the bassoon

Some background on the bassoon’s origins and development: The Dulcian

The Baroque Bassoon: An Overview

Fingering chart

Fingering chart – Video

The First Lesson: Foundations for Mastery

Let’s put your bassoon together

The best method to start playing bassoon: Julius Weissenborn, Practical Method for Bassoon (and recommended Links)

Playing the first notes: J. Weissenborn, Lesson 1

👉🏻 First Challenge: Play with me the duet #1

Now let’s take your bassoon apart

Technique with Weissenborn: Core Exercises 2–13

Weissenborn Lesson 2 – The tones held properly

Lesson 3 – Marcato / Staccato

Lesson 4 – The middle F

Lesson 5 – Exploring the low G

Lesson 6 – The thumb and the Bb

Lesson 7 – Expanding the register until the low F

Lesson 8 – Ab ( or G#)

Lesson 9 – Portamento and the middle Eb

Lesson 10 – Using the thumb to play the middle Db

Lesson 11 – The Middle G and the Half Hole

Lesson 12 – Mastering the Half Hole

Lesson 13 – Moderato

Philosophy: Defining Your Why and Your Goals

[JOURNAL] White Reed – The Awakening 📜

TEST – White Reed 🏆

🟡 LEVEL 2 - YELLOW REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Yellow Reed ⛩️

Intro: Greeting the Rising Bassoonist 😎

Technique with Weissenborn: Lessons 14–25

Lesson 14 – Learning to use the “flick” – D minor, D major, and more

Lesson 15 – Getting better at controlling the “flick”

Lesson 16 – Learning the Bb3, Eb1 and Db3

Lesson 17 – C Major in 3 Octaves

Lesson 18 – Expanding the registers

Lesson 19 – Bb Major / Bb minor

Lesson 20 – A minor / E minor / F Major

Lesson 21 – G Major and minor /Eb Major and C Minor

Lesson 22 – Ab Major / Db Major

Lesson 23 – The A3 / A minor & Major / E Major, C# minor

Lesson 24 – B Major/ F# Major & minor relatives

Lesson 25 – The Bb4 / Bb Major & relatives

15 Must-Know Orchestral Excerpts for Bassoonists

Philosophy – How to Improve Your Practice Time

[JOURNAL] Yellow Reed – First Steps

TEST – Yellow Reed 🏆

👑 LEVEL 3 - GOLD REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Gold Reed ⛩️

Brave Bassoonist, Rise to the Challenge 💪

Technique with Weissenborn: Advanced Studies 1–25

Weissenborn 1 – Arpeggios

Weissenborn 2 – Arpeggio staccato & marcato

Weissenborn 3 – Pizzicato

Weissenborn 4 – Legato

Weissenborn 5 – Furioso

Weissenborn 6 – Grazioso

Weissenborn 7 – Moderato

Weissenborn 8 – Allegro Moderato in Bb Major

Weissenborn 9 – Allegro di molto

Weissenborn 10 – Allegretto in g minor

Weissenborn 11 – Vivace

Weissenborn 12 – Allegro

Weissenborn 13 – Allegro vivace in a minor

Weissenborn 14 – Allegretto in F Major

Weissenborn 15 – Andante & Allegro in D minor

Weissenborn 16 – Allegro in Bb Major (scales)

Weissenborn 17 – Allegro ma non troppo (Intervals in 3rds, etc)

Weissenborn 18 – Allegro Moderato

Weissenborn 19 – Andante

Weissenborn 20 – Allegro Vivace / Chromatic Scales

Weissenborn 21 – Gruppetto and Trills

Weissenborn 22 – Moderato in 12/8

Weissenborn 23 – Poco Adagio, in G minor

Weissenborn 25 – Moderato assai in Ab Major

Telemann Sonata in F Minor, 1st Movement

1st mov – Parts / Analyzing the Phrasing /Dynamics and more

Inspiration – Matthew Wilkie’s Performance

1st mov – Time to play! Grab your bassoon 😎 (Playback)

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Dukas Orchestral Excerpt

Philosophy: Strategies for Success as a Bassoonist

[JOURNAL] Gold Reed – The Golden Tone

TEST – Gold Reed 🏆

🟧 LEVEL 4 - ORANGE REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Orange Reed ⛩️

Welcome to the Bassoonist Warrior Path 🤺

Technique with Weissenborn: Advanced Studies 26–38

Weissenborn 26 – Scherzo

Weissenborn 27 – Vivace

Weissenborn 28 – Scherzo

Weissenborn 29 – Allegro con Fuoco

Weissenborn 30 – Allegro Assai

Weissenborn 31 – Andante, quasi allegretto

Weissenborn 32 – Tempo di Marcia

Weissenborn 33 – Andantino

Weissenborn 34 – Andante con moto

Weissenborn 35 – Andante Maestoso

Weissenborn 36 – Allegro Moderato

Weissenborn 37 – Adagio (study about trills, etc)

Weissenborn 38 – Allegro Giusto

Telemann Sonata in F Minor, 2nd Movement

2nd mov – Parts / Working on Articulations / Dynamics

2nd mov – Interpretation / Played Examples

2nd mov – Time to play! Grab your bassoon 😎 (Playback)

Beethoven Symphony No. 9: Orchestral Excerpt

Philosophy: Developing Your Own Sound

[JOURNAL] Orange Reed – Warrior’s Path

TEST – Orange Reed 🏆

🟩 LEVEL 5 - GREEN REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Green Reed ⛩️

Greeting the Guardian of Tradition🛡️

Technique with Weissenborn: Advanced Studies 39–50 Sample Lesson

Weissenborn 39 – Largo

Weissenborn 40 – Moderato

Weissenborn 41 – Allegro con fuoco

Weissenborn 42 – Allegro ma non troppo

Weissenborn 43 – Adagio, ma non straciando

Weissenborn 44 – Tema con Variazioni

Weissenborn 45 – Larghetto

Weissenborn 46 – Andante con moto, quasi allegretto

Weissenborn 47 – Andante con moto

Weissenborn 48 – The High D

Weissenborn 49 – Andante Sostenuto – Mastering the High Eb

Weissenborn 50 – Adagio di molto

[MILESTONE] Weissenborn Technical Climb 🛡️

Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro – Orchestral Excerpt Sample Lesson

Le Nozze di Figaro – Mastering the Technical Passages

Le Nozze di Figaro – Working on Phrasing

Vivaldi: Concerto in E Minor

Vivaldi e minor, 1st movement

Vivaldi e minor, 1st mov (Playback)

Vivaldi e minor, 2nd mov (Playback)

Vivaldi e minor, 3rd movement

Philosophy: How to prepare for the orchestra work?

[JOURNAL] Green Reed – Guardian of Tradition

TEST – Green Reed 🏆

🟦 LEVEL 6 - BLUE REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Blue Reed ⛩️

Welcome, Fast Fingers ⚡️

Technique with Milde: Scales & Chords Exercises

Milde 1 – C Major /Scale

Milde 2 – C Major / Arpeggio

Milde 3 – G Major / Scale

Milde 4 – G Major / Arpeggio

Milde 5 – F Major / Scales

Milde 9 – Bb Major / Scales

Tchaikovsky No. 4: Orchestral Excerpt

Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony – 2nd mov

Live Performance: Alexandre Silvério at Sala São Paulo, Osesp

Mozart: Bassoon Concerto

Playback and Parts (Musescore)

Playback with Orchestra – 1st Movement

Tip 1: Trill Eb/F

Philosophy: Speed vs. Control

[JOURNAL] Blue Reed – Fast Fingers

TEST – Blue Reed 🏆

🟪 LEVEL 7 - PURPLE REED

[GATEKEEPER] The Gate of the Purple Reed ⛩️

Greeting the Master of Long Notes ⚜️

Technique with Giampieri: 16 Daily Studies

Giampieri 4 – Arpeggios and Intervals Legato

Technical Analysis – How to approach Giampieri 1-16

Mignone: “Mistério”

Boléro: Ravel Orchestral Excerpt

Philosophy: The Psychology of Performance & Stage Fright

TEST – Purple Reed 🏆

🟫 LEVEL 8 - BROWN REED

Welcome, Emissary of the Bassoon ⚔️

Technique with Milde: Concertante Studies, Vol. 1

The Rite of Spring – Orchestral Excerpt

Solo Bassoon Part

The Importance of Testing The Acoustics

Advice Learned From a Real-Life Orchestra Performance

Live Performance – OSESP, Pierre Bleuse

Weber: Bassoon Concerto in F Major

TEST – Brown Reed 🏆

🟥 LEVEL 9 - RED REED

Welcome, Elite Bassoonist 🥷🏻

Technique with Gatti: 22 Studies

Beethoven Symphony No. 4: Orchestral Excerpt

Beethoven’s 4th

Beethoven’s 4th – Playback

Ravel: Piano Concerto in G – Orchestral Excerpt

Saint-Saëns: Sonata for Bassoon

TEST – Red Reed 🏆

⬛️ LEVEL 10 - BLACK REED

You’ve Arrived, Grandmaster Bassoonist 🥋

Technique with Bozza: 16 Études Journalières

Bozza 5 – Andantino

Bozza 11 – Chromaticism

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade – Orchestral Excerpt

Analyzing the Solo

Tips on How to Play the Solo

Tansman: Sonatine for Bassoon

The whole piece

Quick tip: Alternative fingering to play the high E in the end of the 3rd mov

TEST – Black Reed 🏆

Weissenborn 45 – Larghetto

★ The Bassoonist’s Journey
Technique with Weissenborn: Advanced Studies 39–50
Weissenborn 45 – Larghetto

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