How it All Began

This is the very beginning of a hopefully long story. Around Christmas 2006 (now, that’s a long time ago), Lucy gave me this soprano recorder and a small notebook with beginner scores. I had replaced the soprano with a tenor after maybe 6 months or so. Things went a little more serious. I was practising nearly every day, playing long notes, scales and, most gladly (and worst) of all, Telemann’s Canon Sonatas. Lucy would try to play them with me on her oboe from time to time. Results varied, but things were getting better.

My playing range peaked at something like c’ to d”’, although c”’ and d”’ always posed some difficulties. I was able to read my scores somewhat, and to some degree, get the rhythm roughly right. Now, rhythm is still tricky — I got into this business quite late in life, and even though I consider myself a good learner — things musical are a world completely strange to me. Maths? Sure, why not. Physics? Could do. But, music? Oh dear…

But anyway, I am straying off topic. I have moved a long way since those days of toying with recorder. For a while, I have been thinking that was it. I would play a recorder, practice, little by little and keep that as a simple-ish hobby. But apparently, that was not quite the way things were supposed to stay for long…

First Month

This part of the story takes place on a plane to Korea, in the later half of October 2008…

So a few weeks ago, I have finally made the decision. Browsing e-bay one of those days, I have noticed a quite interesting-looking offer for a used, about 30 year old Schreiber bassoon, from Bulgaria — from a trustworthy-looking seller. After hesitating for a while, I have written to the seller, asking whether he would wait a little (the offer was about to expire) — I needed to consult someone whether it is a good idea — after all, the instrument cost over 1400 EUR, which is not a negligible sum. Especially for an “eastern” European.

So following Lucy’s advice, I have visited the bassoon teacher at Conservatory of Bratislava, to ask whether it would make any sense to buy a bassoon under given conditions. He approved of that, asking right away why am I not enrolling on the conservatory… He offered classes to me and told me that admissions are next March. So I took up on the offer — and I am now getting classes every other week Friday — it’s not like I have much more time than that in Bratislava (I am trying to play floorball in Brno those other Fridays — which prevents me from getting to Bratislava in any reasonable time).

Anyhow, to get back to the Schreiber story: I have made a deal and paid for the bassoon. After I think something like two weeks, it has really arrived (I have had a student bassoon borrowed from my newly-acquired teacher; I have also gotten some reeds from him). So I have been actually practising for about a week when the Schreiber arrived. Oh, and when I finally unpacked it — and gently put it together — it played! That was, awesome. And even sounded quite a bit better than the one I had borrowed, even. Of course, my timbre sucks big time, even now — back then, “horrible” was an understatement. But, but. It’s my bassoon! My precious. So since then, I practice and practice and practice, my lips and embouchure hurt and so do my breathing muscles. And I, as I have for quite some time now, do curl-ups every day, and exercise my back muscles (like sort of reverse curl-ups) so I’m able to sustain some breath support.

By now, I’m able to finger C, F and G major scales in the lowest octave (C — c, F — f, G — g), and I’m in something like lessons 4/5 of the etude book (which I don’t have with me right now, as I’m on a plane to Seoul… bummer… I won’t have my bassoon for a full week, I guess the break is gonna make my beginner bassoonist life even harder than it already is…)

But, overall, I suppose I am looking forward. I know I am never going to be a very good bassoonist — my profession lies elsewhere, and I won’t have as much time for practice as I would need to get reasonably far. But I’ll try to find at least some hour every day, hopefully that will get me some reasonable timbre in a year or two. I would love to play the bass line below Lucy’s oboe someday, in a way that wouldn’t embarrass her… Well, dream on.

Second Month

After getting back from Korea (it was pretty nice in Korea btw.), I have resumed my daily practice. December trotted into its second half this week. I have been practising basically every day, around an hour, often more and sometimes less. Everything — including stamina — has been getting better. Only the reeds get harder. My first set was all very easy on embouchure. My first reed after that set was a shock. Well, now it seems I have tamed it, in a way. It’s also grown older and weaker. I’m now mostly playing a third reed — one that takes a lot of breath support, but it’s not any harder on embouchure than the previous one. Maybe slightly lighter. And fingering — well, I can do F major across 2 octaves (F to f’), G major across octave and a half (G - d’) and f minor (harmonic and natural) over the great octave. And I’m playing etudes by Weissenborn, somewhere around chapter 10.

The other thing… This conservatory deal requires me to pass admissions, which consist of three parts: Auditions, intonation and theory. My current weakest point is intonation for sure, but I’ve been practising with GNU Solfege and it has gotten better. Even substantially, I’d say. But it’s still far from where it needs to be by March. So lots of work ahead. The audition will consist of a major and minor scale and a short passage with piano accompaniment. So this is something I’ll have to work for, and I should start really soon. I still don’t know what will I play — but hopefully, we’ll pick something early in January with my teacher. I’ll need all the time I can get.

Oh dear, that’ll be some fun. I’m already worried… Well, I’ll let you know how it went.