Community Impact Project Incubator is a vital pillar of CAG’s Citizen Musician Training. Through it, artists explore new ways to create positive community impact beyond the concert stage. In this series of workshops, CAG roster musicians:
Identify community needs
Transform these needs into projects
Pitch to fund their project
Launch their project
Network for social impact
Reed Me
In rural Wisconsin, many high school band programs are in bassoon deserts: areas where there are very few or no bassoonists, leaving students interested in learning the instrument isolated and undersupported. These young players often struggle with loneliness, a lack of guidance, and limited access to reed-making materials crucial to their development. This can discourage them from pursuing bassoon more seriously and further the shortage of bassoonists.
Reed Me seeks to address these challenges by providing mentorship, resources, and community to aspiring bassoonists in underserved areas. As the newly appointed bassoon professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I plan to lead this initiative with support from my graduate students.
The project focuses on three key areas:
Reed Starter Tool Kits: Providing students with the tools needed to make and refine their own reeds, eliminating a major barrier for beginners.
Mentorship: Monthly lessons and guidance from me or graduate students to help students overcome isolation and develop both technical skills and confidence.
Community Resources: An online database of instructional videos and materials to support students throughout their development.