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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000043.txt from 2003/02

From: Brucec18@-----.com
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Playing both oboe and bassoon
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 02:25:18 -0500

Hi Karen,
I saw your post on the listserv and thought I would share my experience. I
see you are in Australia. Wonderful. I hope to attend the convention there
in Melbourne in two years. I am also curious how is life for a double reed
player in Australia?
I am a woodwind doubler, though I made oboe my major instrument about 4
years ago as in the US there is much more work available for double reed
players than for other woodwinds. I play professionally in the Fresno
Philharmonic Orchestra (English Horn), and also the local community
symphonies nearby. I teach bassoon in the local high schools and play
bassoon occasionally in the Broadway shows that come through.
In my experience I have had more hand injury from playing oboe than playing
bassoon, but then I have pretty large hands. My right hand feels cramped on
the oboe so when I started having burning up my arm from overuse I had to use
a MUTS thumb saver for several weeks. After about 6 weeks my hand returned
to normal.
There is no such stress for me on bassoon as the weight of the instrument
is held by a seat strap. Your left hand might get tired at first from
leaning the bassoon to the left against your hand. But I rest by holding the
bassoon straight up with my right hand while still on the seat strap.
There is quite a stretch for the left hand to keep the holes covered as the
holes are oval rather than round. The right hand doesn't have as much of a
stretch as the ring finger closes a covered key. And you have a crutch to
rest your right hand on while playing.
Hopefully that all makes sense. Good luck with bassoon. I think you will
really enjoy it!

Bruce Carpenter
Kingsburg Public Schools (in central California)
Fresno Philharmonic
Tulare County Symphony
Kings Symphony
President's Quintet