Hello Friendly Bassoonist! I wrote this book as a request for Mrs. Nielsen in 1995 - she only wanted a 4 page primer on how to adjust reeds. I couldn't do just that, and spent an hour every day for 4 months to write everything I knew and understood at that point in my life on reed making. This book still has very valid points and is worth reading for high school age bassoonists who are starting to make their own reeds. I hope you consider this book for your own use or for your students

.                                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

What this guide is for

What a bassoon reed is

Definitions of the sections of a bassoon reed

Essential familiarization with the bassoon reed

What to look for in a finished bassoon reed
Essential tools for bassoon reed adjustments
Proper maintenance of a bassoon reed

Basic bassoon reed trimming and fine finishing techniques
A) Proper position of the hands for bassoon reed work (knife)
B) Proper position of the hands for bassoon reed work (files)
B2) Proper insertion of the plaque
C) Use of a lamp
D1) Scraping the reed blades - what is a scraping cycle?
D2) Filing the reed blades - what is a filing cycle?
E) The proper technique of the knife ( motion )
F) The proper technique of the file ( motion )
G) The various scraping areas, the filing areas and the method of moving the wrist
H) The proper nomenclature for the parts of the blade
I) Spine importances, tapering importance, dangers of sections being chopped out, geometrics of a bassoon reed
J) Ledge versus no ledge
K) Using sandpaper
L) Wire adjustments
M) Phases of a finished reeds' life & changes of weather
N) Things to do and NOT do, etc.
O) Storage of reeds in reed cases, versus anything else
P) Reaming techniques

Suppliers list
Final thoughts