Bassoons supporting Bassoons

 Ya know whats cool about being in a studio with lots of great bassoonists?

1. Our professor is generally proud of us and called us "truly an outstanding class." 

2. We continuously compare ourselves to each other. This may sound negative but it is in the most wholehearted manor possible. When speaking to each other about playing passages or in master class, its always something along the lines of "well I wish I played like you did in X..." Which is a really great problem to have because its constantly lifting each other up and simultaneously pushing us to get better. It's a healthy competitive atmosphere. 

3. We are always asking peers how to do things better or about equipment we use. I play a lot for my studio peers individually as I'd love their comments. A lot of these people have various different training backgrounds and most are very qualified to give feedback/suggestions. It's also super cool having a diverse studio as we all play with different equipment and since they're all super nice people they're more than willing to let you borrow or try out their equipment prior to committing to a purchase. Or heck even buy it from them with a food payment! 

4. We practice together. Almost every week we play the scale game in studio. Consists of; one person plays a scale (type determined in the prior week) and we go around the circle of fifths as we go person to person, each on playing one scale of a minimum of 2 octaves. BUT if you mess up/play an incorrect note - you must start at the beginning and play through all the scales. So we tend to practice scales together in private prior to presenting them in class, it does make it loads more fun.

5. We try to hold a weekly reed night. To get together once a week outside of school, decompress, talk about our weeks, assignments, make reeds, and play ridiculous chamber music/games. 

6. We generally really like each other. Obviously we don't all have to be best friends but I feel that most everyone gets along well. Well enough that we're trying to go on a camping trip over fall break. Could be a great time.