APPROACH
Natural
Bassoon
Playing.
Less force.
More freedom.
Playing the bassoon is physically demanding, but it does not have to feel physically forced. My approach begins with a simple question: which parts of playing require active muscular work — and which become easier when we allow the body to function naturally?Breathing, posture, embouchure and movement are therefore not separate techniques. They form one interconnected physical system that should support musical intention rather than compete with it.
PRINCIPLES
A different way
of thinking about technique.
01
Breathing
Breath begins with the diaphragm and allows the upper body to remain responsive rather than rigid.
02
Balance
Posture should organise the instrument without introducing unnecessary muscular tension.
03
Sound
Sound is the reference point. Technique serves resonance, projection and musical intention.
04
Movement
Efficient movement is usually smaller, calmer and more coordinated than forced movement.
05
Awareness
Learning to notice unnecessary effort is often the first step towards removing it.
06
Application
The principles must survive real musical conditions: repertoire, orchestra, auditions and performance pressure.
BREATHING
Breathing without
unnecessary effort.
Technique is a means,
not the destination.
Technique matters when it creates freedom.
I do not see technical solutions as fixed positions or movements that need to be reproduced. They are tools for achieving a musical result — and the most useful reference is often the sound itself.A resonant, stable sound can tell us whether breathing, embouchure, posture and air are working together. When the sound becomes restricted, thin or unstable, the solution is not necessarily to add more effort. Very often, it is worth asking where unnecessary tension has entered the process.The aim is therefore not to develop a single “correct” way of playing, but to understand the relationship between body, instrument and sound well enough to make informed adjustments. Technique should ultimately become less noticeable — leaving more attention available for listening, reacting and making music.
NATURAL PLAYING