[Edition 59] The cultured teen said he liked to fantasize in front of the mirror, pretending he was playing first bassoon in one of Europe’s major concert halls. He said he thought blowing into an imaginary woodwind reed, in addition to its escapism value, was a wonderful way to release pent-up teenage angst.

The air bassoonist ‘going off’ during the concerto’s lively presto movement

[Edition 59] ADELAIDE, Sunday: A cultivated male teenager was last night observed inside his bedroom, playing “air bassoon” in front of a full-length mirror.

The 17-year-old student was rapturously miming syncopated bassoon fingering along with a Brahms concerto which was playing loudly on his CD player.

The cultured teen said he liked to fantasize in front of the mirror, pretending he was playing first bassoon in one of Europe’s major concert halls. He said he thought blowing into an imaginary woodwind reed, in addition to its escapism value, was a wonderful way to release pent-up teenage angst.

“Often when I go to live recitals, I like to stand right up the front with the other teenagers so I can air bassoon with them in the moshpit,” he said.

The boy’s parents said that in previous years they’ve also caught him in his bedroom playing air oboe, air timpani and air French horn.