Recommended Reed Making Books
Many students have questions about reed making or want to learn more about making reeds on their own. Though I do not have a published book (you get a packet if you study with me), there are many books already out there that cover reed making very thoroughly. Here are a few that I have read and recommend:
Making Reeds from Start to Finish by George Sakakeeny: Though you require an iPad, iPhone or Mac computer to purchase this, it should be a required text for all reed makers and teachers. Mr. Sakakeeny connects the embouchure to the reed, a necessity for excellent reed making and performance. There are videos, pictures and excellent text walking you through the entire process of making a reed to using your air, embouchure and voicing to make your reed sing. I couldn't recommend this more!
Bassoon Reed Making: An Illustrated Basic Method by Christopher Weait: Though he makes reeds slightly different from me, this is an excellent book for novice reed makers. The book is full of very detailed pictures that take you through his entire process of making a reed. As close as it gets to actually watching someone live.
Advanced Bassoon Reed Design by Mark Eubanks: This is a great resource for advanced reed makers. The book is full of detailed information about reeds and their acoustics. Even if you only use the harmonics as an aid, it gives more detail about scraping and finishing a reed than any other book out there. This is a good place to look if you are making decent reeds already but want them to be even better.
Das Fagott vol. III by Werner Seltmann and Günter Angerhöfer: Though this is a part of the six volume set of bassoon method books, Volume III has a great opening section completely devoted to reed making. There are many tricks to pick up from reading through this. If you are interested in the process of hand profiling, this covers that as well.
Making Reeds from Start to Finish by George Sakakeeny: Though you require an iPad, iPhone or Mac computer to purchase this, it should be a required text for all reed makers and teachers. Mr. Sakakeeny connects the embouchure to the reed, a necessity for excellent reed making and performance. There are videos, pictures and excellent text walking you through the entire process of making a reed to using your air, embouchure and voicing to make your reed sing. I couldn't recommend this more!
Bassoon Reed Making: An Illustrated Basic Method by Christopher Weait: Though he makes reeds slightly different from me, this is an excellent book for novice reed makers. The book is full of very detailed pictures that take you through his entire process of making a reed. As close as it gets to actually watching someone live.
Advanced Bassoon Reed Design by Mark Eubanks: This is a great resource for advanced reed makers. The book is full of detailed information about reeds and their acoustics. Even if you only use the harmonics as an aid, it gives more detail about scraping and finishing a reed than any other book out there. This is a good place to look if you are making decent reeds already but want them to be even better.
Das Fagott vol. III by Werner Seltmann and Günter Angerhöfer: Though this is a part of the six volume set of bassoon method books, Volume III has a great opening section completely devoted to reed making. There are many tricks to pick up from reading through this. If you are interested in the process of hand profiling, this covers that as well.