Oboe & Bassoon
Please note that if you are interested in the Oboe or Bassoon, these instruments are started in Middle School. You should choose Flute, Clarinet or Saxophone as a beginner.
Unlike a saxophone or clarinet, which has one reed and vibrates against a mouthpiece, oboes and bassoons play on two reeds vibrating against each other, called a double reed. When you first start playing the oboe, you will buy your reeds from a store or from your teacher. You'll begin making your own reeds in high school or college.
Oboe
Titus Underwood
Listen as Titus Underwood plays his oboe in a beautiful piece of new music.
Flight of the Bumblebee
WOW! Listen as this oboe player breaks the world record for most notes on the oboe! He plays 409 notes in 26 seconds!!
Oboe and English Horn demo
You probably won't play English Horn until high school or college, but it's never too early to learn more about it! Here, take a listen as two members of the Rochester Philharmonic tell you about their instruments and then play a duet so you can hear the two of them play together.
Bassoon
Bassoon demo
Listen as Staff Sargeant Thad Crutcher shows off the bassoon and demonstrates its lowest notes and higest notes.
"Havana" (Camila Cabello)
Watch as the Breaking Winds Bassoon quartet covers this Camila Cabello song!
Bassoon and Contrabassoon duet
The contrabassoon is a large instrument! You probably won't see one or have to play one until you get to college. Listen as a bassoon and contrabassoon play together so that you can hear the difference between the two.