Newly released reprint of a classic!

PLUS CD: "Harry Reser & The Clicquot Club Eskimos

PLUS new CD addition: "Harry Reser & The Cliquot Club Eskimos"

Reser's 1927 mail-order course provided one lesson per week. When the students mailed the tests back, they received personalized advice. This book actually includes Reser's notes in his own handwriting!

In this collaboration between Juergen Kulus and Reser's daughter, Geraldine Armstrong, care has been taken to preserve the historical value of the lessons.  In addition, there are Reser's own sketches, intended to supplement his original manuscript, along with solo compositions, "Toothpicks" and "Clicquot March," used as lesson examples.

Kulus has appended a delightful surprise supplement: Harry's promotional materials featuring his cartoon character, Peter Pick!

Review: Jazz Banjo Magazine (JBM)

Jazz Banjo Magazine (JBM) Excerpts of JBM Review, reprinted with permission of John Mumford, Editor

Juergen Kulus has provided the banjo world with a marvelous piece of banjo history with the reprint of Harry Reser's "Complete Instruction for the Tenor Banjo."  With the help of Harry Reser's daughter, banjoists can once again learn from one of the all time great banjo players.

After the success of Harry Reser's first instruction course, for the tenor banjo, he developed a new approach to teaching in 1927.  He divided the material into 20 lessons to take the student from a beginner to an advanced player.  Each lesson came with a test and Reser would comment on each student's test results.

Juergen Kulus has teamed up with Reser's daughter, Mrs. Geraldine Armstrong to reproduce these 20 lessons and make them available to the public. Kulus has included with the lessons other historical information including; correspondence by Reser, hand written corrections, advertisements and pamphlets that were distributed in conjunction with the lessons.

The first few lessons takes the students through the elements of how to hold the pick, read music, when to tremolo, exercises and of course a quiz at the end of each lesson.  By the time you reach the third lesson you are playing a solo "Toothpicks" by Harry Reser.  In the fourth lesson a supplement has been added called "Additional Exercises For the Study of Dotted Notes."  I believe that Kulus has added these supplements to the original printing of the program.

As early as Lesson Seven the student is introduced to the idea of improvising over basic chords.

Try to imagine that Harry Reser, himself would be writing you and encouraging you as you progressed through your lessons.  This reprint is not just lessons but it includes historical information about Harry Reser and I would guess that some of it hasn't been seen by the public in a long time.

This comprehensive series of lessons will help not only the beginner, but the seasoned player as well.