3 comments about The Bassoon Reed Manual: Lou Skinner's Techniques.

1. I waited over a year for the book and it was worth the wait. It is well documented and well worth the cost of the book. It will definitely be a well used and valuable reference in any serious bassoonist library. It may be too advance for a beginning reed maker (Popkin & Glickman, Chris Weait, or Mark Eubanks reed books may be easier for them to follow). Thank you Mr. Skinner for sharing your knowledge.



2. I bought this book on the recommendation of my repairman, James Keyes.
   
   The contents of this book are interesting, giving some (not much, but some) insight into how a reed actually works. However, a sketchy quality of writing makes it hard to follow with the very few examples provided.
   
   It doesn't end there. The instructions and methods provided to produce the various reed models mentioned in the book are completely useless; every reed I've made following his instructions has failed even if I followed them to the exact letter.
   
   Interesting if you want to see how Louis Skinner worked. But if you want to use the book for practical purposes, don't bother.



3. Each of us makes our reeds to our own specifications right down to the colour of the thread. This book details some of Lou Skinner's later techniques for producing remarkable bassoon reeds. While it is targetted at a more advanced bassoonist, hence written by a college professor, it breaks down to the smallest detail the nuance of making a personal reed design that works for each of us.
   Skinner, like all good academics, stressed open-mindedness. He encouraged bassoonists to continue experimenting to find the palette of colours most suitable for themselves.
   Anyone who can't produce a fine reed from this book should work with Professor McKay to find what crucial element they are misinterpreting.
   This is the foremost publication on the subject of reeds to be produced to date.

1 comments about Bassoon: Book 1 (Standard of Excellence Series).

1. A basic method, with the usual treatment of rhythms, pitches, assembing the instrument, fingerings, and so forth. The fingering chart on the last page is not entirely accurate, however. The fingerings there will work, but may result in pitch instability on some instruments.

1 comments about The Art of Bassoon Playing (Revised Edition).

1. The book had a very nice dicription of the bassoon. The different kinds and about taking care of it and your reeds. The only problem I had with it is that the fingering chart was confusing. Overall I think it was good.

No comments about Rubank Elementary Method Bassoon.

No comments about 50 Years of French Bassoon Music, 1950-2000.

No comments about Bassoons for Christmas.

No comments about Rubank advanced method [for] bassoon (Rubank educational library).

1 comments about My First Weissenborn: Bassoon.

1. The cover has catchy artwork. The pages are of quite adequate paper and all notes are clearly printed. Let's face it, when it comes to a beginner bassoon music book, "My First Weissenborn" is a classic. If you enjoyed this review, please check out the ones I wrote reviewing the fabric care instruction labels on sweaters I purchased from the Land's End website.

2 comments about Guide To Teaching Woodwinds (5th Edition).

1. I was able to use this for my woodwind studies, and at a fraction of the cost!



2. Classic text with not many changes over the years.
   
   Newest edition (5th) is 1989. The second newest is the 4th edition of 1985.
   
   I have even looked at 2nd Edition of 1974! I haven't done a page-by-page comparison, but it looks very much the same as well.
   
   Ok, so maybe you don't need an appendix with "Phonograph Recordings" (!)

5 comments about Practical Method for the Bassoon.

1. I am in the 7th grade, and my band class is so boring that I almost quit. Then my instructor bought this great book for me, and as soon as I opened it I went, "My gosh! I never knew that bassoon music could be so exciting!" Each page is full of challenging music for me to work on and improve my bassoon playing skills. I recommend this to every "Bored Bassoonist" out there!



2. I was shocked to see only a single, though wonderful, review of this crucial text. Weissenborn's etudes follow a logical approach to the various pitfalls of bassoon playing, helping the student conquer it's traps in a gradual manner that improves your chances of success. Some of the earlier etudes are only for beginning on the bassoon, but many of the later etudes present challenges that always serve a purpose in a bassoonists practice time. The advanced studies added to this addition are treasures as well, giving your fingers the kind of fundamental workout that has made Rubank such a standard band method. A good choice for bassoonists of all ages and styles. This book grows with you and goes where you need to go.



3. This is THE basic book for learning bassoon, and it is very good. I was very impressed with the prompt service in receiving the book from the seller.



4. I had originally ordered this book from a company that specializes in music products. It was back ordered, but my daughter needed it right away in order to prepare for an audition. I was pleased to find it on Amazon and it arrived even sooner than we expected.



5. "THE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT OF BASSOON WILL FIND A WORKING KNOWLEDGE of the rudiments of music indispensable to rapid progress, and for the easy acquisition of such knowledge the study of another instrument, preferably the piano, is recommended.
   
   This instrument not only promotes great agiligy in the fingers of both hands, but it involves the use of the bass clef and also offers a comprehensive view of practical harmony, a subject which is also of the utmost value to the bassoon player....."
   [from the book of the foreword]