Primary Handbook for Bassoon [Paperback]

Richard Polonchak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

As a reference text, Primary Handbook for Bassoon provides the woodwind methods students with a thorough background in all aspects of both teaching and playing. As a teaching method, this book will take the student from the beginning to advanced high school levels in a logical and efficient manner. A detailed introduction outlines step-by-step everything needed to start the beginning bassoonist: assembly, hand and playing positions, embouchure, accessories, reed specifications, breathing, care and maintenance, plus a bibliography, all beautifully illustrated in line drawings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 52 pages
• Publisher: Meredith Music (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574630520
• ISBN-13: 978-1574630527
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Polonchak is the former Principal Bassoonist of The United States Marine Band, "The President's Own", and The White House Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He has taught at eight universities and currently teaches at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is the Principal Bassoonist of The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra and a founding member of Shepherd Three, Shepherd's Faculty Wind Trio. He is the author of Primary Handbook for Bassoon, a contributing author to The Woodwind Player's Cookbook and created the bassoon audio/text for Western International Band Clinic's "Embou-Sure".

Mr. Polonchak has worked extensively in bassoon factories in Germany helping the instrument makers redesign instruments exclusively for the American bassoonist. He has presented clinics, workshops and master classes in thirty-five states.

His articles on all aspects of the bassoon have appeared in The Instrumentalist, The School Musician,Woodwind World, The Double Reed, and Bandworld Magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guide for music teachers regarding the bassoon, September 30, 2008

By 

Gaylene M. Comfort - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Primary Handbook for Bassoon (Paperback)

First, my disclaimer! I'm not a music/band teacher, so I really can't say much about the content of this book from an expert's view. I bought the book for my son's music/band teacher who doesn't have much experience with the bassoon but who bravely agreed to help him begin to learn bassoon.

The book looks like a good basic overview of teaching a beginning bassoonist. I believe there is a paragraph saying that the book is meant to be a resource for teachers who are teaching bassoon, but not experts themselves. There are several diagrams throughout the book. The writing is clear and the book seems to be well-organized.

I offered the book to my son's teacher with the caveat that I didn't know if it would be useful or not, and she chose to keep it so she must have felt the content would be useful to her. And, perhaps, the proof is in the pudding; my son is learning and enjoying the bassoon!

It looks like a useful book to me. The only reason I didn't give it another star is that I feel like I am not qualified to completely judge the book's merit with regard to accuracy of the content.