First Division Band Method, Part 1: Bassoon Book

The First Division Band Method has endured because it respects the intelligence of beginning students while building technique at a sustainable pace. This updated edition preserves the exact musical sequence that has worked in classrooms for generations while refreshing the presentation to feel current and accessible.

Learning from this method feels like building something solid from the ground up. The exercises move from simple to complex with logical increments, and the early songs reward accurate playing without overwhelming a student's technical capacity.

Beginning bassoonists in band class who need a straightforward, proven method for building fundamental technique and music-reading skills. This book works equally well for students learning in a group setting or with a private instructor.

• Establish a steady air stream before each phrase; bassoon reeds require consistent support to speak clearly and stay in tune.
• Pay attention to the fingering charts provided early in the book; accurate finger placement now prevents compensation habits later.
• Work through the songs in the order presented; each exercise specifically prepares the technical foundation for what comes next.
• Use a mirror to monitor embouchure formation during the opening exercises; consistent shape makes tone production reliable and efficient.

Start your beginning bassoonists here and follow the sequence through both Part 1 and Part 2 as your primary method book. Supplement with additional repertoire once students reach the mid-book point, using this method as the consistent foundation throughout the first year or two of instruction.

• Reading treble clef notation and navigating staff lines
• Whole note, half note, and quarter note values with corresponding rests
• Open fingerings and first-position technique
• Breath control and sustained tone production
• Major scales and simple melodic patterns
• Dynamic control and basic articulation