How to transport a bassoon without a car???

[Ohyoubadbadkitten]

Dd is going to have to be bringing her bassoon home from the a bus stop a mile away from next week. ( normally she uses the close bus stop, but due to rehearsals she misses her usual bus and all the other buses stop at the other bus stop.)

There is no way in a million years she or I can carry it a mile and I can't drive cos of health stuff, so we need a creative solution. Do you reckon it would fit into one of those granny trolleys, or is there another sort of trolley that would be better? I'm going to have to take it up to her and then us walk back, unless I were to get some sort of bike trailer and then one of us could cycle it back.
Bit stuck here!!

What about those wheels that you can strap suitcases onto - the things that are sort of like a mini sack barrow?

That could work. We could drag it behind us then. I've been looking at gig bags after weighing dds bassoon case. Her current case when empty weighs 12lbs and a gig bag would weigh about 7 lbs plus has padded shoulder straps rather than the single hard carry handle. So that might be doable. Bassoon weighs 6lb.
I have a feeling that this is all faintly ridiculous!

Younger children in our area use trolley wheels (9-11) but they have to be very careful not to bump the bassoon too vigorously over pavement kerbs and stairs. Most of these kids are using the beginner plastic bassoons issued by the Local Authority.

When the children progress to an adult size bassoon (possibly 11+) the kids are normally old enough (and tall enough) to carry the bassoons on their backs and tend to use a gig bag. Those who need to travel by bus to school, but who also have to walk, use a gig bag as wheels are no longer 'cool' but sometimes struggle a little with their other school bag of books.

Gig bags I think start at circa £100 but there are second hand ones that come up from time to time on eBay. If your child is going to become a reasonably serious school bassoonist and travel to local orchestras then it is worthwhile trying to get a semi rigid one. Absolutely everything to do with bassooning is expensive so good luck.

Thank you Cheque that is brilliant advice. Hadnt thought about the bumps!
dd is on an adult bassoon. In the end we went for a Tom and Will gig bag (had to make a decision as we need it for Monday due to unforseen circs). dds violin case is tom and will and it seems pretty good. Rather nattily her case and her gig bag are in matching colours. It arrived today and it seems pretty good to me. Wouldnt send the bassoon in an airplane in it but it seems very well padded and pretty light.
Not sure how she will manage with her school bag (and her violin!) but its the path she is choosing!

I was going to suggest a gig bag. She will have to be pretty careful with it in the gig bag though, though I'm sure she will be! I only ever used my rigid bassoon case (it had backpack straps) but in hindsight I wonder how I ever managed, especially when I was in the later years of school and carrying my enormous French dictionary too.

I think she will be incredibly careful, she doesnt let anyone else but me touch her instruments. Im a bit concerned that school might not be happy as it is their bassoon but I figured they are less likely to say no if we have already bought it and it is under our insurance.

I have no idea how you managed for years with a rigid case, I can barely get dds up the stairs!

Instrument teacher will soon let you know if he/she unhappy with carrier but Tom & Will one is very popular. Sounds like you have a talented musician in the making so I'd start saving hard, even just for the reeds.

Our school has the bus company's 'lost property office' on speed dial but insist the kids speak to the bus company themselves to resolve if they leave instruments on the bus.

Also one parent who'd bought her son a rather expensive cello tells the tale of how she delivered it and him to school one icy morning. Just before she drove off he and his instrument took a header and both landed head long on the ground. She said instinct kicked in... she darted out the car and rescued the cello ...

reeds!! now there is another subject. Her teacher has spares but obv. isnt there always, so I invested in one for dd for her concert she was playing in just in case of catastrophe (and got dd to play using it for a couple of sessions because I didnt know if they needed breaking in or not) I had no idea which one to choose and so we went for a medium soft oxford as the picture matched the one she has. I think it was the right choice but I have no idea - it is a whole different universe to me. I havent got a clue when it comes to instruments.

I dread the day that dd leaves the instrument on the bus. Fortunately they don't leave her side (yet) but it would absolutely panic her.

I like the story about the parent and cello - sounds about right!!!!

What weight is the case? My son swapped his case for a very light-weight rucksack type case and he can carry it a long distance. He's 11.

However I have transported one in a suitcase before! There is a bag called "the tube" which may be of use.

Tom and Will bag has not been good. Very cumbersome and not that light weight.

That's a shame as that's the one we've bought! What is the make of your ds' please?

Just to update, first journey with gig bag went really well. It felt like a rucksack packed for a walking holiday. V. Comfy and very doable. It got the approval of her teacher too.

Result. The next stage up of gig bag would be from £250+ . Local mother has recently bought one for her child. However, she has also bought the instrument as well and theirs gets transported by bus at least twice a week so she is protecting her investment.

It might be worth finding out what your music service policy is on providing instruments such as bassoons. Not all authorities have enough adult size instruments to go round so they might ask for it back after a year and give you notice to finding your own... and that can be eye watering as the above woman discovered.

Nothing to add just thought the title was transporting a baboon which made me giggle.

Fortunately it is provided by the school Cheque :) they bought 2 of them and told us that dd can use it until she leaves the school. Its incredibly good as they are also subsidising the lessons by 50% It does put pressure on her though to play in the school orchestras, they need something back for their investment.

GingerPCatt, I reckon some sort of Phil and Teds would do that job