you would never HEAR a bassoon in a Marching band.
Unless you or your school system doesn`t care whether you trash a bassoon...(you could try playing one of those cheapy Lark bassoons or half dead Schreibers)... but do as I did...I was the Drum major.

I play bassoon in a military band which requires marching, using a neck strap. My first year was a real pain because noone knew how I was meant to do my drill movements, so i had to make them up myself. Fortunately for my I`ve never had to play in the rain, although harsh sun is just as bad for the bassoon. I`ve managed to keep my bassoon in pretty good shape too, and although it is true that bassoons are nearly never heard (and also the fact that I always seem to get trombone/baritone bass clef parts), it is an enjoyable and different way to experience playing bassoon.

most bands unless they are REALLY big do not march bassoon or oboe because its hard to control the sound or something to that effect

I have tried marching with my bassoon using a neck strap, but it is difficult to keep a steady tone while moving on any double reed and posture since it`s so heavy. besides...crash symbols are fun if your director will let you do the cool percussion tricks during rests and stuff. such as twirling them it looks cool. no one ever rememers the bassoon anyways

Yep... I begged and pleaded my director to let me march with my bassoon. I did everything, baked her a cake, cleaned the band room, and wore a shirt that said "I love band." It is quite extreme, but I ended up marching. I later found out that it`s a really bad idea, just for the instrument`s sake, the wood warps terribly, you`d know if you ever traveled with one to a warmer or colder place. If you use a bad school instrument though that cna`t get any worse, I don`t see why not. After researching, marching bassoons are actually somewhat common in other places, England especially. And definetely use fibrecane reeds. I also ended up as a drum major though, so no more marching bassoons for me :-)

I think if Mommy or Daddy has the bucks to buy Jr. a bassoon and not care if it is ruined while marching go for it. They can go buy a new one.
For the financial challenged that don`t want to replace their 3,000.00 Renard 220, I hear those Chinese bassoons are the equivalent to throwaway food containers... so go to Ebay and buy a cheapo bassoon, if you can`t ruin it on the football field.... join a punk band and trash it at the end of the set. ;-)

you cant march with a bassoon it`s impossiable cause it isnt an outside marching instrament every other step you take the reed would brake i play bass clarinte and have tryed bassoon and have always wanted to play .you cant not play bassoon in a marching band sorry!!!

typo bass clarinet try playing bari instead!!!oh an exelent idea just came to me the sousaphone Wraps around your body ask some bassoon manufacturer to make the marchin bassoon like a sousa thing .good idea pleez answer back!!!!

Hey,
i play the bassoon in my mid. school n i want 2 b in my high schools marchin band but i know marching a bassoon is dangerous n uncommon so i dont want 2 do it does anyone else have any ideas on what else i could do in the band besides learning another woodwind or brass instrument? email me if you want

alright.. marching with a bassoon is a very very very bad idea!

My band instructor thought it was impossible to march with a bassoon.. well, after I proved that wrong I decided "Hey.. why not trying marching and playing.. how hard can it be!".. so I did.. it is possible.. I wouldnt advise it. The main concern about it is that if you accidently hold a note too long or something.. you`ll pass out.. and its a lot longer fall for you and your bassoon. Its also a lot easier to get lightheaded. Im still on a head rush from today.

How many of you use seat straps? Cause Ive never used one.. Ive always used a neck strap. I stole mine from the baritone saxophone that I know.

silver paw: it isnt impossible.. nothings impossible.. it just isnt easy!

Here`s some good info on sarrusophones to satisfy your curiosity.

http://www.contrabass.com/pages/sarrus.html

my band director doesnt allow it, but i tried it on my own time, i kno band nerd, but yeah its dangerous!!! lets put it this way i was sore most of the week. ill stick with the alto sax. (besides sax isnt too hard)

If you need a neck strap buy a cheap saxophone neck strap that is what I use. I`ve tried to use the "butt" strap as I like to call it but it doesn`t work for my bassoon and I, so I use my old sax neckstrap. I`ve thought that it would be cool to march my bassoon but I don`t actually think that I would ever attempt it besides I should be drum major next year anyways. Pray to god on that one!!

I use a seat strap in band. I don`t really prefer neck straps on a bassoon because you don`t get the correct angle. When you use a seat or "butt" strap as you and a friend of mine like to call it, you only need to hold you bassoon at the correct angle with your left arm. With a neck strap you have to use both. It is much easier playing with a seat strap. You also get an excuse for sitting down.
When I march I play an alto sax. I started playing on alto so marching with it was easy. The fingering a not very alike and you would need to learn treble clef if you haven`t already. Besides that, I say go and play what you like and don`t give up. I play almost every instrument and all I find is fun in the end. It is worth learning new instruments.

uhm not many ppl march w/ the bassoon u can really hurt ur self and not to mention it`s going to be very heavy to carry around ask if u can play percussion or something well laterz bye