Rowman & Littlefield Publishers The String Instrument Owner's Handbook

In The String Instrument Owner's Guide, Michael Pagliaro surveys the complete "ownership life cycle" of bowed string instruments. A touchstone work for uninitiated and advanced players, The String Instrument Owner's Guide provides a roadmap for every step of the owning process, from selecting and buying (or renting ) to maintaining, repairing, modifying, upgrading and even re-selling your instrument. The String Instrument Owner's Guide answers, chapter by chapter, such key questions as: Where did string instruments come from? How do they work? What are the different kinds of string instruments? How they are made? How should you choose one? How do you care for string instruments? What accessories are needed and what do you need to know about them? How do string instruments compare to one another? How does one learn to play? And so much more. This work should sit in the library of not only every professional musician but also of students, teachers, technicians, and parents. Review Michael Pagliaro has valiantly attempted to encapsulate the whole history of the stringed-instrument family into a 200-page volume.-- "Stringendo"This volume offers a great deal of information for new and seasoned string-instrument owners. There is a very brief history of string instruments, discussing their predecessors and development. Half the book focuses on descriptive aspects of string instruments: how they work, different kinds of string instruments (based on time period or body style), and information on the makers. The second half is instructional for current or potential string-instrument players: how to buy or rent the instruments; their basic care; the science of their sound; accessories one might need; and a 'diary' for players to keep track of repairs, maintenance, and so forth. The information is useful and well researched.-- "Booklist" About the Author Michael Pagliaro was a professor of instrumental music and musical instrument technology at Marymount College/Concordia College. He is Founder and CEO Emeritus in Counsel of Ardsley Musical Instrument Service, Ltd., and Director of Research and Development for Contemporary Music Laboratories.