Ivy Ringel

BIO

Ivy Ringel is the the Principal Bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Prior to joining the Indianapolis Symphony and IU, she served as Principal Bassoon of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra. Ms. Ringel has held previous academic appointments at Butler University and Morehouse College. She holds degrees from Rice University (M.M) and the Eastman School of Music (B.M.).

Ms. Ringel is a sought-after bassoonist and teacher. She has served as guest Principal Bassoon with the Atlanta Symphony, and has joined the orchestras of Houston, Buffalo, Rochester, Louisiana, Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and Syracuse. Ms. Ringel has taught masterclasses at the International Double Reed Society, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Meg Quigley Bassoon Symposium and Columbus State University. Ivy is a prize winner of the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition. She has spent summers with the Grand Teton Music Festival, Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, Nantucket Rossini Club, National Repertory Orchestra, Round Top Music Festival and Chautauqua Music Festival.

Ivy is passionate about chamber music and commissioning new works. Ms. Ringel has collaborated with the Indianapolis-based Ronen Chamber Ensemble and Rock E Bassoon, and New York-based Slee Sinfonetta and Ensemble Signal. Ms. Ringel has commissioned works by Derek David, Nick Davies, Sarah Gibson and Theo Chandler. Originally from Hillsborough, North Carolina, Ivy grew up in a musical family, starting the violin before switching to the bassoon. With her family, she is a founding member of threeplustwo, an unlikely cross-genre band that blends classical, jazz and folk to create a lively and intimate sound. When she is not playing the bassoon or making reeds, Ivy enjoys traveling, live music, and hiking.

Ivy’s Teaching

About Ivy

Ivy is an experienced private teacher who has worked with bassoonists of all levels. She has served as the adjunct bassoon professor at both Butler University and Morehouse College, and has taught at numerous middle and high schools in both individual and group settings. Ivy offers 30 and 60 minute lessons, but recommends younger students start with a 30 minute lesson.

About Lessons

Lessons will cover:

Fundamentals (embouchure, breathing and support, and tone production) are practiced through long tones, scales and interval exercises. We will use fundamentals as a tool for learning music reading skills and music theory, as well as proper bassoon technique. This will be adjusted according to ability and experience of the student.

Etudes may be the etudes needed for All-District, All-Region or All-State bands and orchestras, or other etudes to help the student accomplish their musical goals on the bassoon. These will be assigned according to the needs of the student, and for beginners, will consist of short melodic exercises such as those from Weissenborn’s Bassoon Method Book, and Cheryl Huddleston’s Foundations for Success. Etudes for more advanced students will include the Weissenborn Advanced Studies, Milde Scale and Chord Studies, and Orefici Melodic Etudes.

Repertoire will be worked on as needed for solo and ensemble competitions, as well as for the student’s general enjoyment and musical enrichment. Solo repertoire as a component of lessons is flexible depending on the goals of the student. We will cover music assigned in band or orchestra classes, if this is wanted by the student or their band director.

Reeds Reed making and reed adjustment will be taught according to the need and level of the student. Reed making is an important component of bassoon instruction for more advanced students. Ivy uses a Herzberg shaper and a Popkin profiler to make her reeds.

Schedule A Lesson