Beginning Band: How to Care for the Bassoon

INTRODUCTION

Bassoonist Emma Plehal will walk you through the basics of putting together your bassoon and taking care of it.

STEP-BY-STEP instructions

• Before putting your instrument together, soak the reed.

• Take the boot joint out of the case. Hold it somewhere stable using your left hand with the large hole facing left.

• Take the wing joint out of the case with your right hand and fit it into the smaller hole of the boot joint. Gently turn it so the part with no keys faces the inside.

• Take out the long joint and fit it into the larger hole of the boot joint. Gently twist it into place so it is hugged by the wings of the wing joint.

• Finally, add the bell on top of the long joint, lining up the rods.

• Carefully take a bocal out of your case.

• Put the cork side of the bocal into the hole at the top of the wing joint.

• Gently turn it back and forth until it is secure.

• Line up the tiny hole in the bocal with the pad at the top of the wing joint.

• Attach the seat or neck strap to the bassoon and adjust as needed. Add the reed.

• After practicing, disassemble the bassoon in reverse order and return the pieces to their case.

• Clean condensation from the boot and wing joints using a swab.

• Make sure to secure your case with its zipper or latches before you pick it up.

Print this and keep it in your case or band folder!