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My son and I just got back from our first band meeting. He will start beginning band next year in 6th grade. He's very excited and it really seems like this is going to be the thing for him.
I tried to talk him into something awesome like the electric guitar. He, of course, wanted to play an instrument not on the list. The bassoon. I had never even heard of it before. The band director said it was a great instrument, but very costly, and very difficult to learn. Of course he's adamant that's what he wants to do. The director said he does not allow the beginning band to start out on the bassoon and suggested he begin with the trombone and then he could switch to the bassoon later. And he also suggested that the school might purchase it so that we could just use it and not have to pay for one. So my son agreed and is now a trombonist.
I know nothing about musical instruments so this will be a learning experience for me too. He is musically inclined. My mom thinks I need to get him piano lessons because when he just plays around on hers, she said he seems to have a good ear for the music.
Welcome to the wonderful world of band. My son took band this year and is playing trumpet. If the school doesn't provide instruments they should give you a list of places to go where you can rent the instrument (can purchase later). That way you don't have to invest 1000's of dollars on something he may not stick with.
The school should teach him how to read music as part of the class. You will be amazed at what he will be able to do by christmas.
Yes the meeting was about the rental of the instrument. We will pay around $40.00 per month and it will go toward the purchase. That includes insurance, the music book, a stand, everything. The trombone was like $900! Wow. Makes me really wonder how much the bassoon would cost.
and it sounds no better then a trombone [or in our case trumpet]you could buy used in a pawn shop.....we did that for g'son and he played it beautifully.....
We were lucky - a trumpet was given to us by a friend, so guess what my son played - trumpet.
He's now in 8th grade - three years of band, and 2 years of jazz band on top of that. Once they can play one instrument, learning others is generally a piece of cake. My son plays drums on the side. Takes lessons for that - just because he loves it.
You really will be amazed at the progress!
$900 for a trombone is cheap, actually, even for a student model. You got a deal. :P
Not to scare you, but you (and your son!) should start saving pennies now as band is one of the most expensive activities- especially when you get to high school marching band. That was well over $700 a YEAR for EACH of us. Plus, once in high school, most high schools require a better instrument. So I went from my $500 plastic student model clarinet to a $2000 wham bam wooden model... which I actually bought cheap from the music store owner. My brother now has several trumpets and all kinds of mouthpieces and mutes.
Do you know if your son is allowed to play the oboe? Bassoons are double reeded instruments and to go from a trombone (metal mouthpiece) to a double reed is a completely new monster. He'd be better off playing a single reed like a clarinet or sax. There probably is a shortage of first year trombone players since EVERYONE wants to play trumpet/clarinet/sax/flute and no one ever wants to play the tuba or trombone.
Yes the meeting was about the rental of the instrument. We will pay around $40.00 per month and it will go toward the purchase. That includes insurance, the music book, a stand, everything. The trombone was like $900! Wow. Makes me really wonder how much the bassoon would cost.
I have a high school trombonist. The $900 is a good beginner trombone. Wait until he wants to upgrade (if he sticks with the trombone) $3000+ . They do sound MUCH better though. DS uses his beginner trombone for marching band and his good one for concert band.
Our twins play sax and the beginner saxes are $1500/each.
I LOVE the bassoon. It is a great sound. I wonder why the trombone and not something like the sax or clarinet before going into the bassoon??
Well I'm hoping he likes the trombone so much he'll decide to stay with it. Once he gets something in his head though it's hard to get it out.
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. They do sound MUCH better though. DS uses his beginner trombone for marching band and his good one for concert band.
