How to afford an expensive bassoon (or oboe)

I received a message that I thought might be interesting to readers, and post it, along with my reply:

" I am trying to find a non-wood Bassoon for my daughter who is currently a junior in high school. She is looking to go on to college in the music/theatre field, possibly as a teacher. She started learning the bassoon 2 years ago for her band at school but has to use the bassoon they have there which is constantly breaking down or literally falling apart.

The other problem, and probably the biggest one, is that I cannot afford the costs of what I find for even used bassoons. Do you know of a place that can help out with getting a bassoon for her or getting financial assistance or a grant to do this?? She will need to have her own instrument before she goes on to college year after next. Any ideas that can help me with this?? Thanks, Kim.

P.S. We love the reeds she has been getting from your site. They have helped dramatically - lasting more than a month!!! "


Dear Kim,

Thanks for your email. Your situation is not unusual. The bassoon is an expensive instrument, and good ones are hard to come by at reasonable prices.

You might try local scholarship funds first. Your daughters school has graduation scholarships she can apply for. There are regional and national ones as well, and if you don't apply - you definitely won't get it.

Try your local or regional musicians union. Call and ask about scholarships and loan programs for young musicians.

Bake sale? Car wash event? Let her work toward it as well - it's a good experience in the value of work, and adds to the significance of the instrument.

Also start contacting colleges you might consider, and ask about what they have available for her. You might be able to put off the purchase for a while, if you find the right school and teacher, who want to help her get there.

So readers: do you have more suggestions for her?

More Snow? That's too much!

I lived in the Brownstone section of Brooklyn for about ten years and my next door neighbors were 90 years old and very Italian. They had learned a little English in the 50 years they lived in the US, but we mostly communicated by hand signals and halting phrases. The favorite one they used, for almost any and everything that was slightly unexpected or a little strange was: basically "that's too much!", which came out as "thass-a tu-a much-e.

I always think of them when things are a little odd, and right now it's snowing and expected to snow about 16 inches before it's through. On April 4th? That's too much!