The Bassoon Reed Manual: Lou Skinner's Techniques
"This book codifies the practices of a man who devoted his life to researching and developing practices to improve the art of reedmaking - Louis Skinner... This is the written account of what in the past has been an oral (and aural) tradition passed down from the bassoon teacher to the students... Lou Skinner catalogued his reed experimentation, and over the years developed these unique techniques that are unknown refinements to the traditional reedmaker. Only those persons who went and studied with Skinner directly were made aware of them in the past." - Ronald Klimko, University of Idaho, Moscow "Reading Skinner's comments one is struck by the logic and clarity of his analysis, thinking, and explanations. His consideration of reed characteristics is universal; he accounts for all of the physical factors: embouchure, air supply, pitch level, cane strength." - Christopher Weait, Ohio State University