Bassoonist or Bassist?

[bovinehost]

Both, actually - or in the process of becoming both.

Some of our best friends here have two children. One is our boy's age and they're best friends. When this happens, you find yourself spending a lot of time together, no matter what, but luckily we adore the parents and the older sister, who just turned thirteen not so long ago.

Sofi plays bassoon and didn't think it was that cool until just recently - I mean, really, I don't know any other bassoonists, do you?

But you can't drag your bassoon out and play along with....well, whatever it is she listens to. Her friends don't think bassoon is that fascinating, I guess.

Anyway, she's been talking to me about bass and music and how it all works, so a couple of weeks ago, I offered to loan her an instrument and a combo amp and even gave her (gulp) some "pointers".

I hesitate to call what I gave her a lesson.

So she's in love with our instrument of choice. I figured a four string was the best place to begin - and guess which one she wanted to borrow?

The Big Poppa Bongo.

It made me a little nervous, but what the hell. It's a bass, and a very good one, and BP already beat it up a little - and I might have added my own little bites to it here and there.

She's crazy about it. When she's ready to get her own, Biff, can you guess what she's going to want?

Jack

 

[Psycho Ward]

I know several bassoonist Jack, heavy drinkers though and never loan them money.

Does she know how special that bass is? You're doing a good thing Jack.

 

[bovinehost]

She does know the history of the bass, although frankly, I suspect she doesn't REALLY get it.

She's a good kid. Of course, now I have to go to these awful middle school orchestral things, but you know....I don't mind so much, really.

 

[Colin]

good on her, hope she sticks with it and goes somewhere. Nice gesture Jack, helping her out

 

[roburado]

Go, Sofi!

At least, she seems to like a band (LP) whose bass player plays the right brand of basses.

 

[RobertB]

Nice Jack. It's a very honorable & rewarding thing - contributing to the enrichment of a youngster's life.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[TNT]

Jack,

I really think that's your calling in life - to convert all bassoonists!

As far as giving pointers - remember, we lead by example.

 

[bassmonkey]

She looks very comfortable with that bass.

 

[strummer]

Jack, that is great!

 

[Beth]

You GO, Sofi!!!

I played bassoon for about three years in college -- this means I could barely get it to stop sounding like a cow in a cotton press, hahaha. Wonderful instrument, I still have one. It is the one woodwind that sounds closest to the human voice and spans three octaves. I could never figure out how to apply the bassoon to rock either - she'll hold down that bass section in strings no problem!

 

[scrove]

Those trophies in the corner tell me that getting that bass back if she really starts taking it seriously might be kind of difficult.

 

[the unrepentant]

That's a really cool thing to do!

Haha, bet she doesn't have a clue what she's got in her hands though, i only wish i could have started on something even half as good as that.

 

[MrMusashi]

now that is a nice thing to do!

karmapoints for ya jack

MrM

 

[Ken Baker]

She's a good kid. Of course, now I have to go to these awful middle school orchestral things, but you know....I don't mind so much, really.

And you'll go to these things and wince at the missed notes and poor intonation, and you'll feel the pain of every soloist who's up there sweatin' bullets for the first time. But one of those kids will just nail something that'll ring a bell in you, and a tear will appear in the corner of your eye.

And Sofi will be with her friends and only give you a passing glance and maybe a "Hi, Mr. Williams," because that's what you do with adults when you're in junior high school. But more than you know, more than she knows (and probably more than she even understands), and possibly more than she'll tell you; Sofi will be incredibly happy to know that you're there listening to her work her craft.

These things I know, for I have lived them and continue to live them.

Smile and be happy, smile and be proud. You've done well, Jackson.

Ken...

 

[timmy5strings]

I think you may well have wrecked her I mean, can you imagine if the Bongo single H was the first electric bass you ever played ? Every other bass she tries will appear to be "broken"

 

[Psycho Ward]

Tim you're right about that!

 

[silverburst]

Sounds like you made another deposit in the karma account, Jack.

 

[MrMusashi]

uhm.. in my book thats not wrecking.. that is teaching kids the value of quality

MrM

 

[oli@bass]

Way to go! Have to admit I wouldn't have that much faith in a kid not breaking my precious instrument... but then again, I managed to never break one myself at that age... and yes, I wished I had such a good instrument to start with, but then again as said, what will she be wishing for, if there's nothing better!

!

 

[DTG]

the girls got taste !!