How to Set-Up Your Instrument
The bassoon disassembles into six main pieces, including the reed. The bell (6), extending upward; the long (or bass) joint (5), connecting the bell and the boot; the boot (4), at the bottom of the instrument and folding over on itself; the wing (or tenor) joint (3), which extends from boot to bocal; and the bocal (or crook) (2), a crooked metal tube which attaches the wing joint to a reed (1)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassoon)
1) 
While assembling your instrument, remember to soak your reed!
2) 
With the case on the ground in front of you, open the case.
3) 
Get your seat strap out and place it underneath your bottom on your chair.
.
The hook need to be on the right side of your chair.
4) 
Hook the boot to the seat strap with the bigger hole closer to your chair. In this picture, the hook is on the back of the bassoon. On most bassoons, the hook will attach to the BOTTOM of the boot.
5) 
Using small twisting motions, put the wing joint into the smaller hole of the boot (the hole farther away from your chair). If done correctly, the wing joint should look like it is hugging the other hole. Be careful not to squeeze any keys while twisting.
6) 
Using small twisting motions, put the long joint into the bigger hole of the boot (the hole closer to your chair.) If dont correctly, the side with the most keys should be in the back (facing you)
7) 
Connect the two joints together with the latch located on the long joint. This latch goes into a hole on the wing joint.
8) 
Using small twisting motions, add the bell to the long joint. 
Pay attention to the connecting rods between the bell and the long joint. If you are squeezing the wrong keys, you could bend and damage these connecting pieces.
9) 
Using small twisting motions, insert the cork end of the bocal into the top of the wing joint. Make sure the hole in the bocal can be completely covered by the pad (controlled by the whisper key)
10) 
At this point you need to adjust where the height of your bassoon. MAKE SURE YOUR BODY WEIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE BOOT STRAP FROM NOW ON!!! If your seat strap is holding the weight of your bassoon and your body doesn't hold the weight hanging on the seat strap......
11) Using your Left Hand to pull on the seat strap and your Right Hand to hold your basoon, adjust the bassoon so the bocal comes to your mouth NOT your mouth going to the bocal.
GOOD = 
BAD = 
12) Place your reed on your bocal, stamp down
13) 
Correct Final Playing Position 
Incorrect Final Playing Position