Thank you to my amazingly talented and generous brother, Tony Cope, for donating his time and skill recording and editing the videos and photos in this volume.

Thank you to technology expert Kevin Angstadt for donating his time and skill teaching me how to format this combination of videos, illustrations, photos, and text.

I am so thankful for the wonderful mentors, educators, pedagogues, and colleagues who have helped me along my journey.

Dr. Robert Palmer, my high school band and choral director who suggested I try the bassoon, introduced me to the joy of sharing musical performance, and inspired me to major in music.

Dr. Virginia Tillotson, my only clarinet teacher and my first bassoon teacher.

Mark Popkin, former principal bassoonist of the Winston-Salem Symphony and bassoon professor at UNC School of the Arts; for the wonderful reeds and lessons on breathing.

Darlene Jussila, former principal bassoonist of the Buffalo Philharmonic and bassoon professor at SUNY Buffalo and the Brevard Music Center; for lessons on the bassoon, reed-making, and life.

Marjorie Perkins, former principal bassoonist of the Asheville Symphony; for bassoon lessons and mentorship that got me accepted into music school.

Robert Hart Baker, former music director of the Asheville Symphony, for supporting and mentoring me through my first season as a “professional bassoonist” playing second bassoon in the ASO as a high school senior.

Melanie Mattson, former adjunct instructor of bassoon at UNC-Greensboro, for helping me see the hard work ahead of me and showing me how to do it.

Richard Lottridge, former contrabassoonist of the Chicago Symphony and professor of bassoon at UW-Madison, who taught me how to play Milde and helped me find my musical voice.

Dr. James Smith, former clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony and former Director of the UW Wind Ensemble, who taught me the fine art of musicianship through ensemble playing.

Dr. David Becker, former conductor of the Brevard Music Center Youth Orchestra and former director of the UW Symphony Orchestra, who introduced me to the amazing world of orchestral playing and inspired me to pursue an MM in bassoon performance.

Otto Eifert, former principal bassoonist of the Cincinnati Symphony and bassoon professor at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, for sharing so much in every single lesson.

William Winstead, god of the bassoon, former principal bassoon of the Cincinnati Symphony and professor of bassoon at UC-CCM, for giving my bassoon playing a complete overhaul with his “laundry list” and showing me how to really play the bassoon.

Carl Nitchie, former principal bassoon of the Atlanta Symphony, for helping me prepare all of those orchestral auditions.

Dr. Donald Hodges, UNC-Greensboro Professor Emeritus, for teaching me about the human need for beauty and music, and for developing my desire to be a life-long learner.

Dr. Michael J. Burns, professor of bassoon at UNC-Greensboro, current principal bassoon of the Asheville Symphony, and mentor and pedagogue extraordinaire who taught this old dog lots of new tricks during my DMA studies!

With great appreciation to the musical colleagues who taught me so much over the years.