Information on Blow and Blast taster sessions for adults thinking of taking up a woodwind instrument

Group 'Taster' Sessions

What about oboe, bassoon or saxophone?

What is a 'taster' session?

If you’ve always wanted to take up a woodwind instrument but don’t know where to start, a Blow&Blast group 'taster' session is the perfect opportunity to find out more.

As well as offering you the chance to try to make the basic sound on a flute and clarinet, the tasters include advice on:

buying/hiring an instrument
finding a teacher/how best to teach yourself
choosing suitable music
overcoming the particular challenges facing the adult learner

You do not need an instrument for the 'taster' session.

However, if you have an old woodwind instrument that has been languishing in the attic for years, you can bring it along to discover whether it is still ‘roadworthy’.

Blow and Blast sessions are led by mother-and-daughter team, Tricia and Trona Melville-Mason, both experienced woodwind teachers and musicians.

We anticipate that each 'taster' session will last about an hour and a half, with an opportunity to ask questions at the end.

A 'taster' session makes a fantastic 'experience gift' for Christmas or a special birthday. If you would like to purchase a ticket for a taster session for a friend or relative, please contact us for more information.

Forthcoming 'taster' dates and venues

There are no group taster events planned at present. However, if you would be interested, please let us know, as this could well determine where and when the next taster takes place.

What about oboe, bassoon or saxophone?

Only flute and clarinet are introduced during the group 'taster' session. These are the more popular - and less costly - of the orchestral woodwind instruments. Reeds for oboe and bassoon are expensive and easily broken. To let everyone try these would make the cost of the event prohibitive.

The mouthpiece, reed and method of sound production for the saxophone are very similar to that of the clarinet.

If you are particularly interested in trying oboe, bassoon, or saxophone, contact us in advance to let us know. If numbers are small, it may be possible to accommodate you within the group situation. Alternatively, you might like to consider arranging an individual 'taster' lesson.

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