Suffering from a boring, mediocre bassoon teacher?  

Does your current bassoon teacher confuse you with faux-scientific reed-making mythology? 

How many bassoon teachers have you had that just don't make you feel like a rockstar the way every bassoonist should? 

Does this sound like you? 

"I love my bassoon teacher, but he's been teaching me to play the clarinet. I'll never get a full college scholarship playing such a common instrument!"

"My bassoon teacher refuses to work with me unless I spend a fortune on reeds and instruments, plus she says I have to quit the cheerleading squad AND the AV club so that I can practice 5 hours a day?! No Thank you!" 

"When my reeds are really difficult to play, my bassoon teacher shrugs instead of fixing them. OMG, like WTF dude?!"  

"If only there was a bassoon teacher that could teach me how to actually ENJOY practicing, and practice effectively! "

Wait just a minute there, that bassoon teacher is here!  

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Hi, I'm Scott Blakley and I teach bassoon to students of all ages in Santa Barbara County as well as virtually anywhere. Several of my students in recent years have have won auditions for All-State band, and orchestra, as well as top-rate conservatories, universities, and summer festivals. I also have adult students who play in community orchestras and chamber ensembles. In addition to my advanced students, I'm very proud to have several students for whom bassoon is not the center of the universe, but enjoy playing and practicing as they make considerable progress. 

The bassoon is an incredibly difficult instrument.  With literally hundreds of different fingerings and a delicate double reed that needs frequent adjustment, the instrument is extremely difficult to learn to play, and impossible to master, without regular private instruction.

Bassoon can also be a incredibly rewarding. With its exceptionally large range and unique tone color, there is a plethora of excellent solo and orchestral repertoire for the instrument. Vital to every orchestra, bassoonists are often in demand, contrary to the intense competition among over-saturated pools of violinists, pianists, clarinetists, etc. Playing bassoon can absolutely help you get into college and receive generous scholarships. 

My teaching philosophy emphasizes thoughtful practice techniques, meaning I don't feel is simply enough to explain how to play something. I focus instead on how to practice, and practice efficiently. I also include theory, solfege, and music history in my lessons. I believe this approach enables students to envision their own ability to master difficult repertoire while keeping stress and frustration in check. Above all, I teach love of music. My goal is to inspire students not only enjoy music, but also derive a stronger sense of self, confidence and community from it. 

All lessons are 1 hour or longer so that we can spend the first 5-20 minutes working on the reed. Bassoon reeds are extremely sensitive and if not adjusted properly, can be similar to trying to sing with a bad cold; it can stop you completely and at the very least, make things a lot more difficult and less fun.  Regular lessons help me make sure the students’ reeds are working properly and not making things any more difficult than they have to be. This also helps the student to learn how to adjust their own reeds and even make them. 

Most of my lessons take place at my home studio in Santa Barbara or, when possible, during band/orchestra classes at your school.  Depending on schedules, I am sometimes able to offer lessons in the student's home.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson when you mention my website! Advice is always free, so even if you do not choose to start lessons, I'm happy to help! 

Testimonials

"I cannot recommend Scott enough!! He's a gem in the bassoon world.
I studied with Scott for about 4 years in high school, and was an indispensable part of my growth as a musician and person. He successfully prepared me for two all-state auditions, youth orchestra auditions, my college music school auditions, as well as providing guidance as I purchased my first bassoon--all of which culminated in my acceptance at a very prestigious music school in Chicago.
He held me to high expectations while still teaching with compassion--a rare find among music teachers. I became a much more disciplined and expressive musician (and person!) under his tutelage. His guidance early on in my musical journey has truly made me the person I am today!" - Ian, former student

“He was my teacher for 6 years and has helped me achieve the things I have wanted, such as qualifying for All State. He is very patient and his energy is amazing. His other services such as the reeds he sells are also great and he can help with adjustments if you have lessons with him.” -Keoni, former student

"Scott has been a wonderful teacher for my son. My son has become very excited about playing bassoon and has progressed quickly. He shared that Scott is a creative and welcoming teacher. Scott's method of teaching scales, repertoire and more really emphasizes learning, not just playing, helping my son feel more connected to the music. My son also valued Scott's insight on reed-making, tuning systems and general advice about becoming a musician. As a parent, I appreciated that Scott was very responsive to my questions and easy to work with." -Nami, parent. 

“I have had a few instrument teachers in my time, but Scott was by far the most patient and the most knowledgeable. He knew exactly what students needed to succeed and would ensure that no detail was overlooked, which  helped me gain access to top musical groups. He was also great at shaping reeds to the preferred liking of the user. If you need a teacher or reedmaker, he's your man.” -Nishanth, former student