Follow these steps to prepare your instrument for playing.
1. Before you do anything, take your reed out of its case and put it in a small container of water (an old/clean prescription bottle or similar container will work best). Count to five and then remove the reed and set it aside on a clean surface. The cane will soak up the water it needs and the reed will be sufficiently moist. DO NOT use your saliva. The acid in your saliva breaks down the cane in the reed.
2. Set your case on the floor and make sure the top side is facing up.
3. Open the case. Remove the boot joint and the wing joint. Place the boot joint on the ground and insert the wing joint into the smaller of the two holes in the boot joint. Align the inside curve with the larger hole. Careful not to squeeze any of the long rods connected to the keys.
4. Take the long joint out of your case and place the small end in the larger hole in the boot. Align the left hand thumb keys and engage the locking mechanism that connects to the wing joint.
5. Take the bell out of your case and depress the key with your thumb. Gently twist the bell onto the long joint and line up the rods. The key on the bell overlaps the rod on the long joint.
6. With the thumb keys facing you, hook the seat strap to the bassoon so it comes off the left side of the instrument.
7. Hold the bocal near the cork and CAREFULLY twist it into place on top of the wing joint. Make sure the whisper key pad on the wing joint is in line with the vent hole on the bocal.
8. Place the reed on the bocal and adjust it into playing position.