Erin started the bassoon in 7th grade, the first year band was offered at her school. She told the band director she wanted to play the oboe and he asked "how about the bassoon?" Her quick response was "Sure, what's that?"
However, her love for woodwinds happened in the 3rd grade when a teacher visited every week to give them recorder lessons. “I vividly remembering sitting my parents down each night for my ‘concert’. I think I finished the entire lesson book before the second class.”
The bassoon has the most active key-work of any of the instruments. “We have nine different keys for our left thumb alone. Not only does it make it difficult to learn, but also results in an inconsistent instrument. With that many keys involved it is very easy for them to get out of adjustment. The bassoon also has a very limited dynamic range. The MOST difficult thing I have had to learn on the bassoon is how to play soft. This is extremely reed dependent. Oh! Did I forget to mention I also had to learn to make my own reeds? That only took about 15 years to figure out :-)”
Since moving to Santa Cruz Erin has spent a great deal of time hiking in Henry Cowell. “I have a great love for nature and the redwoods,” says Erin. “I am also an avid reader and have been known to read 3-4 books a week. I also adore strategy games, both board and electronic.”
If there are any teachers or parents in the area that would like to know more about the bassoon, master classes, or lessons, Erin’s contact info is on the UCSC web page.
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Erin will be performing in our upcoming Spotlight on the Symphony Recital - Woodwinds in Winter - on Sunday Jan. 12, 2020 at Cabrillo College’s Samper Recital Hall at 2pm. Tickets at CabrilloVAPA.com.