Hughes Hall was filled with bassoon enthusiasts from around the state Saturday as it hosted Ohio State’s 14th annual Bassoon Day, which was organized by OSU professor of music, Chris Weait.Ellen Lurie, a 17-year-old from Troy, Ohio said her music teacher gave her the nickname “burping bedpost” when she first began to play the bassoon.”I could only get the low notes, and they came out really short,” Lurie said. “That’s the first thing my teacher thought of, and ever since, it’s been the best way to describe the bassoon.”Special guest Bruce Gbur, professor of double reeds at Kansas State University, welcomed the crowd of about 30 by playing his contra bassoon, which is twice as long as a regular bassoon and can play the lowest notes on the piano.”He knows more about bassoon music than anyone on the planet,” Weait said.Thirty years ago, Gbur began playing the bassoon after his music teacher told him it was the closest band instrument to the bagpipe, which was the first instrument Gbur learned to play.He began playing the contra bassoon 27 years ago, while he attended a music camp in Michigan.”One time in rehearsal, the director asked if anyone would like to play the contra bassoon, and I was the first to raise my hand,” Gbur said.Also participating in the event were distributors from Winc Research in California and Miller Marketing of Columbus.Winc Research brought a leg hook, which was invented by John Wisenski about a year ago. The leg hook, shaped like an upside-down letter “u” is attached to the bassoon, allowing bassoon players to rest the instrument on their leg, and play more comfortably.”I developed this because I was having troubles with shoulder pain, and also could not move my fingers very quickly,” said Winsenki, who works for Winc Research. He has been playing the bassoon for 15 years.”There’s a similar device in England that costs about $800, but ours is only $140,” Wisenski said. “Plus, unlike the English version, ours is not permanently attached to the instrument.”Miller Marketing brought devices that make reeds. “It is difficult to manufacture high quality reeds for oboe and bassoon,” said Justin Miller, the importer for Miller Marketing. “Most bassoon and oboe players make their own reeds.””It is easier to manufacture reeds for single reed instruments such as the clarinet and saxophone,” Miller said. “Also, there is a very low demand for double-reeds from a marketing standpoint.”While at Bassoon Day, students who ranged from junior high to college, received playing tips from Weait and also learned songs, which were performed at a half-hour long farewell concert.Also at the farewell concert, Gbur introduced and played two “mystery reed” instruments to the audience: the Scottish bagpipes and a soprano sarrasophone.”The sarrasophone is a French double reed instrument that is equivalent to the double reed saxophone,” Gbur said. “It is used in many French military bands.”Weait was especially looking forward to this year’s Bassoon Day. “We had to cancel last year’s because of the weather,” he said.