2nd September 2008

Email = btdmartin@xxxxxxxx.com
Shipping Method = United Kingdom
Comments = Thanks for the quick delivery on my last order, as a new clarinet player im finding all of your products really great. Its nice to be able to learn the correct way from the start. Keep up the good work!
Order Number: 2670168_18854

2nd September 2008

Email = philp@xxxxxxxcollege.ac.uk
Shipping Method = United Kingdom
Comments = awesome products - thank you!
Order Number: 6491911_1268

Dear Ms. Downing, We received the charts and could not be happier. I am teaching my daughter and grandson music. With your help, they can carry these charts around and practice fingering all the time. Learning the notes should go much faster now. Thankyou again.

Yours,
Angel Hughes

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra Downing
To: ********@***.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 11:50 AM
Subject: Dr Downing Music Order #122********

Dear Ms Hughes,

Thank you for your order for a Flute Fingering Chart and a 3-valve Brass Fingering Chart. Your order was despatched by airmail today (2nd January) and it should reach you in 10-14 days, hopefully sooner. Please contact us if you have not received your order by 2nd February.

Best wishes,
Sandra Downing

Dear Mrs. Downing,

I just received the book and the chart I ordered couple weeks ago,and I'm very happy to have acquired them. Easy reading with sense of humour, great!!. The book is simple but very informative, answering some important questions and the most interesting, it makes you think in terms of how to explore the instrument in a concious way. Many flute teachers are not aware, or don't know how to explain to the students the best way to achieve their aims.
Congratulations!!! this is a very concise and affordable literature. good Job!!! If you can recommend another flute instruction book it will greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Marcos Cunha

Dear Mrs Downing!

I would just like to thank you for your books on playing the Clarinet.
They have already been most helpful!

I started to play the Clarinet only a few weeks ago, and my teacher is
Polish, so we have a great deal of trouble communicating. He is really
good at playing, but it can be very hard to understand the basic
principles of playing. It seems that a lot of good musicians have
forgotten, or even don't know how to explain the most fundamental things.
That is where the "Technique Doctor" comes in. So thank you VERY much!

Best regards

Thomas B. Gravdahl

Dear Dr. Sandra Downing,
I received my order of your Bassoon reed doctor, bassoon technique and bassoon professional fingering chart today. Thank you very much they are superb. I can get a wonderful Eb now!!!! And your suggestion to totally soak the whole reed for 5 minutes worked an absolute treat. Two reeds I thought were far too hard are real beauties.

I read on John Schroder's website that he has his reeds permanently in a colman's mustard jar full of vodka. They only come out when he plays them. Is this a good idea? Though I would be worried about being breathalysed.

Anyway, thank you again. I can't get over how lovely that Eb sounds.
Very best wishes,

Claire Pullinger.

Time seems to go fast when you are having fun. The clarinet section is amazing everyone including me. Your help has been instrumental in their progress.
Next year Santaluces High School is going to be magnet school for concert band, jazz band, marching band, etc.

George Seamans, Santaluces High School

Dear Peter,

Received your attractive fingering chart. Although, I haven't tried it yet I am looking forward to doing that.

I would like to order a couple of dozen for my students..Please send them and tell me the price, and I will pay for them.

George. Santaluces High School

We thought the Bassoon Reed Doctor was great - nice job!!!

Kim L Wangler, Belcanto Reeds

Potsdam, New York

Dear Sirs/Madam, ..............I am so impressed with the books that they are worthy every penny (or pence ?). Thanks, let me know about your next issues.

Greetings, Mike

From Mike Nahas, New York

From: Bill Luders, NSW, Australia

15th March 2007

Comments = Playing Clarinet is Easy and the Technique Doctor have make an incredible improvement as I teach myself using them in conjunction with New Tune a Day. Thank you so much for all the help these books give.
And Peter has been so helpful also, answering my emails direct and promptly.
Order Number: 2930855_7117

I purchased your Playing the Clarinet is Easy book last year for my wife and she is always telling me how good it is. An excellent tutor!
Thank you.
Allan Horsfield
4th March 2007

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Luders
To: peter.moore@drdowningmusic.com
Sent: February 21, 2007 01.55
Subject: Video clip and WMP

G'day Peter,
Thank you for your prompt reply. I have the latest version of WMP and Broadband ADSL but on a poor phone line.
On the third attempt the clip did work so there is obviously something wrong my end. However after it played I clicked the arrow to have it play again and I got the picture (but still - no movement) and a stuttering sound, and the computer locked up. The only thing I could do was switch it off. I must have a programme problem.

On a happier note I would like to say thank you for your book. I started to teach myself from "A New Tune a Day for Clarinet" three weeks ago with moderate success. Your book arrived yesterday from your Australian supplier and to-day has been a revelation. My clarion notes are better in one half hour session.
And I turned the thumb rest upside down and put a rubber pad on it and obtained immediate relief from the pain in my thumb. I have ordered the Kooiman thumb rest to-day!!

Kind regards and thanks again
Bill Luders

Dear Mr Moore,

Many thanks for safe delivery of the Ton Kooiman clarinet thumbrest which I ordered only yesterday - your service is truly impressive and much appreciated!

I note your comment re the adjustment of the hook, should that be necessary - thanks for that.

The construction of the thumbrest seems quite substantial - do you consider it o.k. to remove the body of the rest after each use in order to store the clarinet in its case? Perhaps this is standard practice, but I do not want to start to do it if it is likely to weaken the mechanism in any way.

Regards,

Reg Heath

Dear Peter,

Many thanks for your answer to my query - that's fine, and yet again you excel yourself with your service!

Regards,

Reg

Dear Mr. Moore,

Thank you for writing the fine material for the clarinet. I purchased your basic book and after seeing it, ordered all of your clarinet materials.

I am a trained musician. I am 53 and have played both classical guitar and trumpet. I have played trumpet for over 40 years. I was lucky to have wonderful teachers on the trumpet.

Well, at age 53 I decided I wanted to try the clarinet. Why? Because I have always loved it. In fact, as I recall, it was my 1st choice as a child, but advice from a dentist to my parents suggested a brass instrument would help my (then) overbite.....oh my.

Well, I decided to have a go at it. I purchsed a couple of DVDs and started in early August. They got me through the 1st few notes. I then saw your page and started using the tips in your books. I can - at just under two months - play a chromatic scale from low E to alt G in tune! Ok, it is slow as my fingers are old learners, but the sound and tone is there.

Your photos have really helped me understand your basic tips.

Today I have been working on your work "Reverie." It is lovely and I am enjoying it. have you ever considered piano parts for these?

Anyway, as I played, I felt I really wished to thank you for help with my new adventure in the wonderful world of music. This is a quick note to do that. I look forward to any new materials you publish. You and Dr. Downing are to be commended.

Thank You

Alan Wallace
USA

From: "Wallace, Alan H"
To: "Peter Moore" <peter.moore@drdowningmusic.com>
Subject: RE: Sorry
Date: 12 October 2006 21:23

Hello!

I found it! Thanks. Very good job. Video when well done - and yours is - can really help. I am doing it correctly as I can hear it. It is nice to see though.

Very clear explanations. I work quite a bit with video instruction in my job as a librarian and yours is excellent.

Thanks for sharing it. Well, time to practice before dinner!

Alan

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Moore [mailto:peter.moore@drdowningmusic.com]
Sent: Thu 10/12/2006 3:16 PM

From: "Ken Tyler"
To: <peter.moore@drdowningmusic.com>
Subject: Clarinet + Saxophone
Date: 15 July 2006 10:04

Hi Peter

This is just a note to thank you for your books and for the Thumb rests you
supplied. My thumb is returning to normal again(!), the rests make such a
difference on my clarinet and Alto clarinet. I am a late learner (58 years
old) and only just starting to play clarinets and saxophones (jazz). My
thumb was getting very painful but is so much better now. It's a pity that
the Ton Kooiman sax thumb rests are so expensive.

I also wanted to thank you for the books (Playing the Clarinet and the
various Technique Doctors). I've been developing my embouchure on clarinet,
alto clarinet and bass clarinet using the technique on pages 18 +19 - using
the speaker key to play the upper register notes. I can definitely see a
difference after one week and can feel my embouchure developing. I find the
F to high C clarion more difficult but it's coming! I'm tempted to move on
to the next bit but will wait until I CAN do it without squeaks or squeals.

I was wondering if the same technique can be used to develop the embouchure
on my saxes - play a note in the lower register and then press the octave
key. This seems to work fine on my tenor and alto but I have difficulty
with my soprano. However, I've always had difficulty with upper register
intonation on my soprano; I was told to put it away for 12 months until my
embouchure had developed.

It all gets a bit confusing for a beginner, so any comments on any of the
above would be very gratefully received.

Thanks again.

Kind regards,
Ken

From: ""
To: <help@drdowningmusic.com>
Subject: Thank you very much for having sent to me "Flute Tone-Ups" and "Flute technique doctor"
Date: 28 September 2006 16:46

Both those books will help so much, I have no words.

Please accept all my thanks again,

Yours faithfully,
Parisian amateur intermediate flautist
46 years old.

From: R Meacham
To: <help@drdowningmusic.com>
Subject: TON KOOIMAN "ETUDE"
Date: 26 February 2006 19:09

Dear PETER and  SANDRA &crew, I received the items i ordered in about six days from your process date. I was in a bit of trouble straight away with my installation of the thumb rest. did not check the hole sizes on my noblet clarinet. got the screws in halfway and they would go no further . decided not to force them. I decided to use the original screws which my clarinet thumbrest was drilled for. and it worked great. So if someone doesn’t bugger up the holes too badly they may be able to recover and use the original screws, which i might suggest they try first. Not much chance with the original screws of doing more then ending up with a loose fit.

 Thanks for the advice on my order about if the rest gets loose what to use to tighten it up. 
Now for the great news. once i installed the "ETUDE " thumb rest a whole new world of comfort opened up for me. This Ton Kooiman thumb rest is great.   No more feeling like i was going to drop the clarinet. and by the advice from you on alignment of fingers top and bottom i reversed the origineal thumbrest and achieved almost perfect temporary alignment of fingers. BUT, and i stress this, that reversal is no substitute for the Ton Kooiman "ETUDE" feel free to use any part or all of these comments as needed. PS each time i got into trouble since i am not using an instructor due to financial reasons. will do so later. My motto is if in trouble go to the dr downing books you purchased. and READ VERY SLOWLY EACH AND EVERY JEWEL YOU HAVE GIVEN US. THE INFORMATION IN CLARINET PLAYING IS EASY, THE TECHNIQUE DOCTOR BOOKS AND REED DOCTOR BOOKS ARE WORTH TEN TIMES WHAT YOU CHARGE. THANKS A MILLION OH AND BEFORE I FORGET THANKS FOR ANSWERING E MAILS . MOST COMPANIES NEVER REPLY. SOOO NEEDLESS TO SAY I NEVER BUY FROM THEM EVER AGAIN, YOU ALL ARE GREAT.     R. MEACHAM VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA USA  

23 February 2006

FAO Sandra and Peter,

I placed an order yesterday for the Flute Technique Doctor, Flute fingering chart and Flute Tone Ups Book 1.

I would like to thankyou for your excelent customer service as I recieved my order in under 24 hours, this is even better than firebox!

I purchased my first Flute exactly one week ago today and have been struggling with my embouchure!!

I am well on the way to improving my embouchure and my Flute playing technique.

Once again, thankyou!

Regards

Louise Earley

Dear Sir / Madam

I would just like to say a big thank you and well done to your company. I received my order (cello tone ups and tenor clef is easy) this morning and am thrilled to bits with the excellent and fast service. I will certainly recommend you to my musical friends and I will be also purchasing from you again in the future.

May I also wish all the staff at Dr Downing Music a Very Happy Christmas and New Year!

Thanks again!
Mr Graham John Wilson
Barrow-in-Furness,Cumbria,England,UK.
http://www.cumbriacoastalway.co.uk

23rd February 2005 re Playing the Clarinet is Easy!

Dear Peter,

Your book is so full of good & new ideas that I find I cannot digest it very quickly.

I keep going back to different sections of it. Frankly it is a gold mine of information..............................

George Seamons

Dear Mrs. Downing,
I just received the book and the chart I ordered couple weeks ago,and I'm very happy to have acquired them. Easy reading with sense of humour, great!!. The book is simple but very informative, answering some important questions and the most interesting, it makes you think in terms of how to explore the instrument in a concious way. Many flute teachers are not aware, or don't know how to explain to the students the best way to achieve their aims.
Congratulations!!! this is a very concise and affordable literature. good Job!!! If you can recommend another flute instruction book it will greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Marcos Cunha

Dear Mrs Downing!

I would just like to thank you for your books on playing the Clarinet.
They have already been most helpful!

I started to play the Clarinet only a few weeks ago, and my teacher is
Polish, so we have a great deal of trouble communicating. He is really
good at playing, but it can be very hard to understand the basic
principles of playing. It seems that a lot of good musicians have
forgotten, or even don't know how to explain the most fundamental things.
That is where the "Technique Doctor" comes in. So thank you VERY much!

Best regards

Thomas B. Gravdahl

Dear Dr. Sandra Downing,
I received my order of your Bassoon reed doctor, bassoon technique and bassoon professional fingering chart today. Thank you very much they are superb. I can get a wonderful Eb now!!!! And your suggestion to totally soak the whole reed for 5 minutes worked an absolute treat. Two reeds I thought were far too hard are real beauties.

I read on John Schroder's website that he has his reeds permanently in a colman's mustard jar full of vodka. They only come out when he plays them. Is this a good idea? Though I would be worried about being breathalysed.

Anyway, thank you again. I can't get over how lovely that Eb sounds.
Very best wishes,

Claire Pullinger.

We thought the Bassoon Reed Doctor was great - nice job!!!

Kim L Wangler, Belcanto Reeds

Potsdam, New York

Dear Mrs. Downing

The order was received in good order and in time for . Thanks so much as well for the flute and clarinet bookmarks and cards – they were a lovely touch and the perfect solution to my predictable last-minute gift-giving panic. The Flute Technique Doctor and Flute First Aid books are terrific and my daughter has already relieved me of both, so I’ll be ordering same for myself again shortly.

Merry and best regards

Ben Harrison

Switzerland

What a great service, thank you. You're in the UK, I
assume? (I'm from Maidstone)
Barry Evans

Barry Evans, 217 Second Street, Eureka, CA 95501
707 476 8317
Camino de Santiago photos: http://us.geocities.com/barryevans9/camino

Dear Sandra,

Thank you for revising my order. It's always fun to do business with great people.

Respectfully,

Pru Mendez

Thank you. FYI your saxophone doctors revolutionized my playing at age 44. I've been playing for 30 years.

Ralph D Sherman

Peter,
The book came yesterday and my wife loves it. Thanks for such a good book and a speedy delivery.
Thanks again,

Roland Gerheart

Hi there,
I received the technique books and immediately my playing has improved with your description of improving my embouchure! What a simple thing and so well described. I added two more notes to my range and my tone has improved, too. Thank you so much for your materials and for your prompt service and sense of humor.
A satisfied customer,
Bruce Malin

Dear Peter,

I am amazed at the fact that I can play the high register so easily. You are so correct in your method.

So that you understand:-I have been instructing high school students with no private instruction and very limited ability so that it was necessary to un-teach their habits while at the same time guiding them with your method. It has been successful in that they have grasped the concept with a few exceptions.

When they experience the ease of attaining high notes it should erase any doubts in their minds as to applying your approach with a more concentrated effort.

A friend of the band director teaches in a private elementary school and has asked me to work with his clarinet students. It will be a mixture of new and one year students.

You mentioned that you teach the upper register along with the chalumeau. You also mentioned that you have music that you use, but did not identify the music in terms of how it is used. You also said the music was available.

I am very interested in the music you use. Please, send me any appropriate music that you feel will be beneficial.

With sincere thanks.

George

Dear Sirs/Madam, ..............I am so impressed with the books that they are worthy every penny (or pence ?). Thanks, let me know about your next issues.

Greetings,\Mike

From Mike Nahas New York