How do people march with a bassoon???

Question:I have tried marching with a bassoon, and for me its really really difficult. How do some bands have bassoons marching???

and for people who don't think there is any marching band with a bassoonist, think again and go to this video to see for yourself. You get a really clear view of them between 1:50 and 1:60. there are 3 bassoons.

so yea for people who know, what is there secret, lol

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have tried marching with a bassoon, and for me its really really difficult. How do some bands have bassoons marching???

and for people who don't think there is any marching band with a bassoonist, think again and go to this video to see for yourself. You get a really clear view of them between 1:50 and 1:60. there are 3 bassoons.

so yea for people who know, what is there secret, lol

A bassoon is not meant for marching. Most bands do not use a bassoon simply because it's VERY VERY DIFFICULT to march with a double reed, the instrument is too expensive to risk marching with, and the setup needed to play with a bassoon cannot be used when marching.

The bands you're seeing might have a special bassoon made for them to march with, but any intelligent band director will not march with a bassoon. Besides, what kid wants to risk accidentally hitting themselves in the face with a double reed? That's like running into a knife.

We can't see your video if you don't link it, by the way.

After you posted the link I watched it...I even saw some oboes before the bassoons. Consider that this was only during a parade, only forward motion and not on a lumpy grassy field where they have to maneuver quickly. Double reeds are a rarity to see on the field simply because they'll get buried in the sound. Yes, many other woodwinds will get buried as well, but if you get enough flutes, saxes, or clarinets on the field they can have a presence, but you're not likely to find enough people to play oboe or bassoon in a marching band because they don't need a lot in a concert band setting.

Secondly, go back to what I said above--playing with a double reed is pretty dangerous for a kid on the field. I've knocked myself in the teeth and busted my lip while playing a clarinet on the field, but can you imagine trying to march and doing a quick "horns up" motion with a double reed? That's like trying to aim a knife between your lips without cutting yourself. Bassoons also have a strap that goes under their butt to stabilize the horn because all they have is a thumbrest to support it -- the bassoons you see probably have a harness, but it's still a challenge to balance the bassoon.

Not only that, but can you imagine the horrible intonation?! Marching band intonation is challenging enough, but with double reeds included that will be nothing short of making ears bleed! It might be okay in the early fall, but when it starts to get cold outside, the intonation will only go further south.

Too risky, in my opinion -- I could deal with the intonation, but the chance of cutting themselves is too great.

I suggest that you can only march with a standard bassoon with extreme difficulty. I agree with the other answerer. What link? between 1:50 and 1:60 what/

Most bands don't march their bassoons. Bassoon players are typically given auxiliary percussion instruments- cymbals are popular choice. I would imagine that it's quite hard to march with a bassoon.

Most marching bands don't march double-reeds...mine hasn't and doesn't. Our double reed folks are spread out in the sax, clarinets, and percussion section.

I played oboe in school, and ended up switching to clarinet for marching cuz it cost me a fortune in reeds trying to march with the thing. I dont have any sercrets for you dealing marching with a double reeded instrument, which is why fumbled my way thru clarinet when it was time to march. Good luck!

Wow, I was so shocked to watch that video and actually see bassoons AND oboes! I was very skeptical at first and couldn't believe my eyes. :-)

I agree with the first response - the intonation would be horrible, those valuable instruments would be at the mercy of the elements, and a nice cut to the mouth would be an unwelcome exclamation point to the "bassoons don't belong on the marching field" argument.

Are you a bassoonist and would like to keep playing in the marching season? As an oboist, I really feel your pain, gal. But, after fighting it for a while and finally losing the battle with my band director, I gave in, but I made it fun, too! Each year during high school and college I played or did something different, learned something new. From mellophone to clarinet to trombone to drum major, I just tried to make the most of it!

To answer your original question about the marching bassoonists, "what is their secret?", my guess would be a really effective neckstrap, and patience with not sounding nearly as good as usual! If you do get to try it, best of luck to you and congratulations on being one of the very lucky few who get to keep their lovely double-reed status from August to November. :-)

I just started playing a bassoon and left the oboe in the dust. Marching with THAT is hard enough! I say that no one should march with a bassoon, no questions asked!

You are correct - it is not easy...the bassoon, in and of itself, is difficult enough to play well when sitting still. And, they are even more volatile when you start to move and introduce them to the outdoor weather. Though most of the marching band world has left the double reeds inside, there are still some purists who use them outdoors.

I never marched them in my bands, but I have seen directors who did. Typically they used a saxophone strap or harness in place of the typical strap that you sit on when you play the bassoon. They said that the harness was better, because it gave the instrument more stability, and the player had a little more control.

Other than that, there is no real secret...other than to practice doing it. I never recommended it, because my bassoon prof in college warned us against it...for a lot of well founded reasons.

PS - I enjoyed the video clip...a very very traditional group in a warm weather climate...