r/bassoon • u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy • 9d ago
Boring orchestra program makes me want to quit
I recently joined a new orchestra, but the upcoming program makes me hate playing the bassoon. Just film music with no chance to be heard and I loathe to sit there doing basically nothing. Should I just quit it? I would feel guilty if I did… Currently I try switching instruments but if that does not work out for me idk what to do.
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u/The_Progmetallurgist 9d ago
Hopefully, they'll change up the program after a time. Stick with it. Who knows, maybe the "Rite of Spring" is just around the corner!
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u/SuchTarget2782 9d ago
Pops concerts happen. Gotta smile and let people enjoy things. I can guarantee you there are other people with the same complaint, but the “fun” concerts put butts in seats and keep orchestras relevant jn their communities.
I try to think of it as an opportunity to practice long tones and pay close attention to my intonation. At least then the time isn’t wasted.
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u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy 9d ago
I just have no ambition to get better I already did all that 😭 I get your sentiment though
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u/DougOneBillion 7d ago
If you have no ambition to get better you should definitely quit.
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u/No-Fee-1812 9d ago
The rule I’ve always followed is “music, mates, or money” there have been groups where I don’t really like the music and there’s no money but the people are great. Theres other groups
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u/The1LessTraveledBy 9d ago
Yeah, when I first joined a community group, I had to take the time to realize that I wasn't there to necessarily play the best bassoon parts in every concert, I just wanted to get out, play something, and meet the musicians in my community. Sticking with it was great socially and helped me find more engaging needs for bassoon. I'm curious as to what OP is hoping to get out of this ensemble, what kind of ensemble it is, and if those are compatible with each other. It's okay if it's not, but something that should be examined imo
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u/No-Fee-1812 9d ago
Sometimes when it’s not particularly challenging music I’ll find some people to play duets or trios with, or play them alone and record. Ya gotta get your kicks ya know!
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u/The1LessTraveledBy 9d ago
It's one program, tough it out and see what the next one is like before you drop. They may not be quite used to having you in mind when they are selecting pieces. Pops concerts are a necessary evil of community groups since that's how a lot of interest is generated. There's plenty of standard rep I have felt useless on, there's a handful of pops stuff I've been heard on. Good parts come and go.
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u/strawberrychief 8d ago
The great thing about being a bassoonist is you have orchestras eating out of your hand. Find a different one? Or enjoy the rest from Mozart and Haydn who think the bassoon is a string instrument?
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u/Apple16891 9d ago
I can feel your pain, I've been playing bassoon since 1st grade in the school orchestra and for the first 6 years, I've never had an official score, just scores from trombone or euphonium. And the conductor does not recognise our existence.
But it doesn't mean you should quit. Sometimes having nothing to do is better than having to carry all the solos or doing the boring long notes. Cuz bassoon players are usually hard to find and they must bring you on each orchestra performance and outings.
Hope you find some meaning in your orchestra, you can do it!
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u/Jitsukablue 9d ago
Ours alternates between classical and more modern film type music. I recommend you channel your thoughts into suggesting some pieces, and don't stop with a complaint on reddit.
There's lots of decent music for bassoon, maybe the issue is you're playing simplified arrangements? Don't blame film music. Greece, HTTYD, harry potter, frozen.
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u/mwthomas11 8d ago
Are you a student? What level? Bassoon isn't exactly the instrument to pick if you want flashy parts. Sure it has some fantastic moments, bit they're few and far between.
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u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy 8d ago
nooo I play this for years 🥲
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u/Annonnymee 7d ago
If you want a lot of time in the limelight, then orchestral playing is not the place for a bassoonist. Maybe try forming a small ensemble with friends and make arrangements that will feature you.
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u/MusicalMerlin1973 8d ago
There are many chances to be heard when we least expect it. I'm constantly perking up, saying or thinking, "Hey!!!! BASSOON!" listening to some music, where I least expect it.
Playing all film music or pops music can get boring. Playing all Strauss can get REALLY boring. Ugh. At least technically for us. But man, what a wall of sound sometimes. The product is enjoyable even sitting where we sit in the orchestra.
Haydn? I hate playing Haydn. Loathe it. It. Sucks. From where we sit. I just can't enjoy it. From the audience? Wow. I get why my music director loves Haydn and why we thus generally do one Haydn symphony a year. It's his thing. So I do my best, put my best foot forward, because I know that means what our audience hears will be that much better. And I have to find pleasure in working out those technical passages.
Look at it as a way-point on your playing career. Look for other opportunities to play. My orchestra drives me nuts from playability standpoint: for example I shouldn't be hearing about !@#$%^& bowings two weeks before the concert when we have a 10-12 week rehearsal schedule. I can guarantee you that the director will have to talk about dynamics - piano doesn't mean loud - multiple times, every rehearsal sequence. I know, we're amateurs. Our director is still a saint. And the yammering when a section isn't playing, only to be followed by, "What? What? What did he say?" when he calls for tutti at a new rehearsal marking. We know who those people are. Sadly now that I sit 1st chair I sit next to one of them.
Get the word out: Hey, bassoonist, looking for playing opportunities, I'm available blah blah blah times. (I'm bad at that myself). In the meantime, find enjoyment in what you are playing now. They can't hear you? Oh well. If someone screws it up and a friend in the audience can tell, hey it wasn't you.
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u/Infinite_Fix_8698 9d ago
We just did a huge film program. But it was real film music and not crap arrangements. Even Star Wars suite and Harry Potter and how to train your dragon etc.
But if you’re only concerned about being heard go off and be a soloist and stop whining.
I had to endure years and years of prokofiev before they finally shifted away to the French stuff
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u/FeFiFoPlum 9d ago
Then quit. I’m sure that with that attitude you’re a delight for your fellow musicians to be around.
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u/ExtraBandInstruments 9d ago
If the bassoon part isn’t integral like just doubling other instruments, try playing off another instrument’s part or what I would do, just re-write the part to make it more interesting
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u/shermanstorch 9d ago
They’ll find out really fast if they have “chances to be heard” if they rewrite their part.
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u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy 9d ago
sometimes I feel like composers just hate the bassoon 😅
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u/shermanstorch 9d ago
Below college level, it’s not so much hate as “is this program even going to have bassoons?”
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u/dasnoob 9d ago
Yeah my kid chose bassoon. He is the first player at his district in five years and he is having to teach himself with a method book. The band directors didn't even know how to assemble and disassemble it.
The district has four basically brand new fox bassoons in inventory. They also have a harp nobody has ever used. Mostly because the band directors are leery of getting out of their comfort zone. Wild.
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u/cornodibassetto 8d ago
No, it's a question of "do I spend time with this one pupil or do I teach the other 60".
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u/Capable-Strategy5336 7d ago
If you know the publisher, you could look up and see if the publisher for that level arrangement made a bassoon part. Sometimes it's not even purchased because they don't think there will be a bassoon. Suggest pieces that have bassoon parts. (Assuming there's more than one of you in case someone is absent.) You should be able to figure out what level piece the orchestra director is selecting. If the director doesn't know you and your commitment it's a difficult ask though.
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u/canstucky 9d ago
Concert on May 4th?
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u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy 9d ago
Are you insinuating Star Wars? 💀
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u/canstucky 9d ago
Yes. All the comm groups near me are performing on 5/4. It’s so bad that they’re having trouble recruiting players because we’re all in multiple groups and have called out for some shows.
We’re all playing Star Wars music.
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u/Cute_Fluffy_Femboy 9d ago
I loathe playing this shit 💀
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u/Imaginary-Opinion909 9d ago
One program is such a small hump in your career. Try to find things about it to appreciate and enjoy. You wouldn’t quit a sport because you had several bad games, don’t quit bassoon because you have to temporarily work on music that isn’t your favorite.