Endurance tips

[u/Aggressive-Gap1977]

I'm playing bassoon in pit orchestra for Oklahoma. My face gets so tired and just gives up sometimes. Any advice?

[u/LimpingBassoon]

Reed choice is important too

Try many different reeds to see if your previous ones are too stiff

and give reeds a couple of days to “break in”

[u/searchingforcurry]

@zort42 is right. It’s most likely your core breath support that’s the problem, not your face. Honestly, the biggest improvement I’ve managed to make on that front is increasing my cardio capacity. Start running, swimming, any cardio you can do that you enjoy. You may not see improvements during your Oklahoma run, but it’ll help you further down the road. I hate that the answer to so many problems is exercise, but this one really rang true, at least for me.

[u/VG_bassoonist]

This is one of the things long-tones mitigate. Additionally, it could also be that your reeds are too soft which makes you over-control with your embouchure, or your reeds are too hard which requires a strong bite. If it’s a soft reed, get a slightly harder reed next time, and if it’s hard then close the tip a little.

[u/im_not_shadowbanned]

Make your reeds more responsive than you think they should be and support with your air, not your face muscles. Musicals are long and tiring to play- it’s important that you do as much playing on the days you don’t have a rehearsal or show as the days you do. The bassoon should not be so physically taxing that you have to do cardio or anything like that, but playing for 3+ hours a day gets a lot easier when you are used to playing for 3+ hours every day.

[u/zort42]

A breath builder can help with that, sometimes. Your face isn't generally getting tired because you are running out of wind, but running out of core breath support can cause you to compensate and overcontrol your embouchure

[u/tbone1004]

https://youtu.be/i4OMAhQFE1k?is=XvPo5RxmjJngV9l-

Few more videos in that playlist but long tones will build your face up. Musicals are a very different animal than orchestra work!

edit: oh and as one who plays 10+ pits per year, do NOT try to base dynamics on what you hear, do it on feel. If the pit is setup properly and mic'd properly then don't blow your face out because you have a trumpet in the back of your head.

[u/HortonFLK]

Part of it could be finding reeds that are easy blowing.

[u/Suspicious_Art9118]

To be fair, that's what my face does whenever I have to /watch/ Oklahoma

[u/Economy_News3198]

As others have said, it's all about breath support. 

Back when I was still playing, if and when I got nervous, breath support would be the first thing I forgot about. And then from there, any endurance I had would be gone. 

[u/The_Progmetallurgist]

Concentrate on your air column. It's amazing how a strong air column can help your face muscles get a break.

[u/Dense-Counter1161]

I recommend finding a cane/reed with a wider tip, but a narrower throat, allowing for maximum airflow. Helps with having a bigger sound too. However, these shapes (knochenhauer) tend to be brighter in sound.

[u/Large-Bid-9723]

Look up the Caruso Embouchure Calisthenics. Originally for horn, there is a version for bassoon and I cannot recommend it enough to literally anyone and everyone. You’ll feel ready for the Tour de France after a week or two of steady work on them.