Forrests Music

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Woodwind Instruments And Supplies Forrests Music was established as a repair shop in 1947 by "Dutch" Forrest, a former band director, on Kittridge street in Berkeley. Gradually the firm expanded into sales of new woodwind instruments and accessories, and flourished by selling and renting school instruments in the rural areas of northern California. After Mr. Forrest's death in the early 1950's, his widow Kathryn continued operation of the business, with the support and encouragement of Ben Meltzer. She subsequently moved to larger quarters at 1908 Shattuck avenue in Berkeley.There she succeeded in obtaining the services of Bill Shiek, a highly regarded woodwind technician, whose clients were the oboists and bassoonists of the major orchestras in the San Francisco bay area.To better serve these local client's needs, as well as those of their students, Forrests began to carry not only oboes and bassoons, but also their related woodwind accessories. Although Forrests became known as a double reed specialty firm, it also sold all band instruments, as well as guitars and drums, since the local market could not possibly support a firm with a narrow specialty such as double reeds.

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