pocket bassoon

bas·​soon bə-ˈsün. ba- : a double-reed woodwind instrument having a long U-shaped conical tube connected to the mouthpiece by a thin metal tube and a usual range two octaves lower than that of the oboe.

The mini bassoon is smaller than a standard bassoon which makes this ideal for players aged between 7-11. The key work is identical to a full size bassoon which makes for easy progression to a full size instrument.

a double-reed instrument; the tenor of the oboe family.

In general, there are two types of bassoons. One is the German (Heckel) type, and the other is the French (Buffet). Both styles of bassoons are played today, typically in different countries, with the French bassoon played in France, Canada, Belgium, Latin America, and other romantic countries.

The bassoonist blows air into the double reed attached to the very end of the bocal. The bore of the bassoon extends from the joint to which the bocal is attached, continues downward before performing a U-turn within the metal part at the instrument's lowest point, and then leads all the way up to its highest point.

The bassoon is a complex instrument with a big range and therefore has lots of keys to press, with lots of fingerings to be learnt and practiced repeatedly. So to begin with it will be more of a challenge than a simpler instrument, and therefore the initial stages of learning will take longer.

The contrabassoon, also known as the double bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon, sounding an octave lower. Its technique is similar to its smaller cousin, with a few notable differences.

Contrabassoon. The Contrabassoon is the biggest instrument of the Woodwind family.

The bassoon has a particularly wide range, wider than many wind instruments, which means it is quite flexible and able to play in a variety of situations. It can match with the tuba in its low range, and it can also play in tandem with high woodwinds like flutes and clarinets in its upper range.

Bassoons have 4 main components: The Bell, Long, Wing, and Boot joints. A bocal and reed are also needed to form the key parts of the bassoon where a musician channels air into the instrument.

There are two forms of modern bassoon: the Buffet (or French) and Heckel (or German) systems. It is typically played while sitting using a seat strap, but can be played while standing if the player has a harness to hold the instrument.

As you probably imagined, intermediate bassoons fall between student and professional models, and are the most common type of bassoon available on the market. They generally produce crisp, clear tones and, in most cases, are suitable to be played through high school.