Bassoon Instrument Assembly

P​lease do not try this on your own for the first time!
Wait for your band director or lesson teacher.
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Prepare your Reed:

• Fill your soaker cup with fresh room temperature water.
• Insert your reed. It should been fully submerged.
• Soak for 2-3 minutes while you assemble your bassoon.
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The bassoon is a very sturdy instrument and is not easily damaged once you know how to handle the instrument.

Assembly:

• Put your closed case on your chair or on the floor.
• Open the case. Some have latches, zippers, velcro, etc.
• Grasp the boot with your left hand.
• Place the boot on a chair. The boot should be turned so the small side is on the right. The round hook will be facing you.
• Pick up the wing joint with your right hand.
• Do not put your thumb on the silver "pancake" shaped key, this can bend the key that overlaps the joints. Do not turn past the post on the boot nearest the pancake key.
• Insert the wing joint into the small opening and align the curve with the hole using small turns only. There may be small scratches in the wing and boot to help you align.
• Now grasp the boot with your right hand.
• Pick up the long joint with your left hand and insert it next to the wing joint.
• Line up the hole and insert the lock pin.
• The last wooden part is the bell. Grasp it with your left hand and depress the key on the bell and hold it down as you connect the two parts.
• The final part is the bocal. This is another point where you need to be careful. Grasp the bassoon with your left hand and grasp the bocal by the curve. Be sure not to depress the small round button "the whisper key" or the "pancake key" on the boot joint as you insert the bocal. These keys operate the key next to the bocal. If it is depressed, the pip on the bocal will tear out the pad on the whisper key and possibly the pip on the bocal.
• Swivel the bocal into position.
  
  Walking with your Bassoon
• When you walk with the bassoon you should remove the Bocal and put it reed end down into the bell. Never put it into the Bocal receiver backwards. It could easily be bent or the tip could tear the lining.
• Keep your seat strap hooked on. Wrap it around your hand and grab the boot with your right hand. Grab the long joint with your left. Now you may safely walk.
• Be careful going through doors. Your instrument is very tall.