My former teacher Amy Baker and I at Bassoonapalooza in Pittsburgh, PA!

Hi! I’m Josh Faiella, founder of Reedcrest. I’m a Pittsburgh-based bassoonist, freelancer, educator, and reed maker. Teaching students has remained the most fulfilling aspect of my work as a bassoonist, and I am passionate about helping players of all ages and experience levels reach their goals. I have maintained a private teaching studio for the past five years and am always excited to welcome new students.

I studied Bassoon Performance at Carnegie Mellon University before ultimately completing my B.A. in Biology at Slippery Rock University, along with a minor in Music. During my undergraduate studies, I served as a studio assistant, regularly teaching group lessons, private lessons, semester-long reed making courses, and reed making masterclasses. These experiences helped shape my approach to teaching and reinforced my commitment to making high-quality instruction accessible to a wide variety of learners.

My educational background is varied. With a foundation in both music and biology, I bring a scientific approach to bassoon playing and pedagogy. Topics such as posture, breathing, perioral muscle engagement, and hand function play an important role in my teaching. As an adaptive teacher, I have worked with students who have diverse physical and motor-function needs, including neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. My focus is on modifying technique, equipment, pacing, and learning strategies to help each student find an approach that works for their unique circumstances, abilities, and goals.

Reed making is equally important to me. My experience in reed making is extensive, built through many years of research, experimentation, practice, and study. I have been fortunate to learn from outstanding teachers and mentors including Jim Rodgers, Nancy Goeres, and Amy Baker. I am continually exploring new techniques and methods to refine both my playing and the reeds I provide to students and customers.

My goal is to offer reeds that are responsive and playable right out of the box, allowing bassoonists to spend less time troubleshooting equipment and more time making music. Because every player is different, I offer multiple reed shapes and styles to help bassoonists find the setup that best complements their embouchure, anatomy, playing style, and musical goals.

Outside of music, I am a full-time hydroponic farmer. I enjoy horticulture, cooking, baking, and spending time with my cat, Pebbles.

Please note: While I have experience adapting instruction for students with a variety of physical and motor-function challenges, I am not a healthcare professional. I do not diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. Any instructional adaptations are offered solely within the scope of music education.