Bassoon care
1. Using bassoon stands for resting the instrument on stage or at home:
- ALWAYS swab out the bore if the instrument will stand for any length of
time over a minute or two, re-assemble the joints and then use the bassoon
stand.
- Turn the instrument so that the finger holes point up (towards you) and not
down (towards the floor) . . . any water left in the tenor joint bore will then
flow down the side opposite the finger holes, instead of directly into the holes
- creating a permanent 'river line' towards these holes.
- if you are a professional and use the stand, warn your colleagues that they
should at all costs avoid bumping into it (it will be safe if they treat it with
the same respect afforded clarinets and oboes on stands). But if you play in a
school, civic, or semiprofessional orchestra, it is better not to use a bassoon
stand!! Don't tempt fate -- just disassemble the instrument and put it safely in
its case during intermissions.
2. Keep a protective cloth between the wing joint and the bass (long) joint
of your bassoon in the case. This will always protect it from scratches, but
particularly during travel.