“Hand profiles” not only present advantages and limitations, but also offer help with the explanation of performance-technical problems, thus making it a key to individual playing technique. The reader can evaluate hands independently by using the measuring sheets included in the book.

All this is based on the only existing systematic documentation of data concerning musicians' hands which Christoph Wagner, the founder and long time director of the Institute for Music Physiology at the Musikhochschule Hannover, has published here for the first time in an enlightening context. “Hand und Instrument” is an instructional method, a reference work and a book of tips and advice all in one – for teachers, musicians, instrument makers, physicians and physiotherapists. It grew out of the collaboration with musicians and can be understood without any previous technical knowledge.

Interesting reviews under www.musikerhand.de.

Further music teaching handbooks are Umfassend Musizieren by Andreas Doerne, Handbuch Üben edited by Ulrich Mahlert and Mensch, Musik und Bildung by Michael Dartsch.