Bassoon
The rarest of all: bassoonists get recruited. Usually by invitation, usually school-owned.
Typical rental
$40–80/mo
Good used
$800–4000
New
$1500–8000
What it costs
Rental: $40–80/month (plus maintenance plans). New: $1500–8000. Decent used: $800–4000.
The run-down
Braces
Fine with braces.
Size & fit
Needs bigger hands and a taller frame — usually a 7th-grade-plus or switch instrument.
Noise at home
Moderate; low and unobtrusive.
Getting it to school
Big case — a car-ride instrument.
Which kids it suits
The rarest of the rare. Bassoonists are recruited, begged for, and scholarshipped. For a kid who enjoys being the only one.
Step-up costs later
School-owned instruments are the norm — few families buy.
The wish-list factor
Almost nobody starts on bassoon; typical path is clarinet first, switch at director's invitation. If invited: say yes.
Questions parents ask
How much does a beginner bassoon cost?
Renting runs $40–80/month. New beginner instruments run $1500–8000; good used ones $800–4000. Run the numbers in our rent-vs-buy calculator before signing a rental contract.
Can my child play bassoon with braces?
Fine with braces.
Is bassoon a good instrument to start on?
The rarest of the rare. Bassoonists are recruited, begged for, and scholarshipped. For a kid who enjoys being the only one.