Focal Dystonia (Task Specific)

Moved to "Golf & Music" blog.

Recent showings

My recent brass displays and tuba trips have been a huge success and a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends. I had lunch with Don Little and Alex Cauthen in Denton. We haven’t been all together since our studies with Arnold Jacobs in grad school at Northwestern in 1971. It was also nice to see Vern and Jan Kagarice at UNT. Vern was very complimentary about the Dual-Use trombone and its potential.

The enthusiasm for the J-700 BBb has been unanimously enthusiastic.
Reaction to the J-880 CC tuba has been mixed. Everyone loves the way it plays. Not everyone loves the ergonomics but those that do are adamant that it should stay as is. Those players put the tuba on a stand in a very upright position. They really like the right hand position; no bends, no stress.
The players that do not like the ergonomics of the J-880 will be pleased to know we will add another model, the J-870 with the mouthpipe positioned like the J-700 BBb tuba. This model will have an 18” bell and brass slide tubes like the J-700.

Pictures of showings at Rice University with Dave Kirk and Mark Barton as well as at UTA with Edward Jones and UNT are posted at the right.

NAMM 2010

After the roller coaster that was the end of 2009, Gemeinhardt is back on firm ground. We are emphasizing the Gemeinhardt name and getting away from Gemstone which only served to confuse people. We are Gemeinhardt LLC, selling Gemeinhardt woodwinds and W. Nirschl Brass. We continue as the distributor of Weril and P. Weingrill brass.

Our booth at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) was always packed. The brass was extremely popular. Word has spread about the J-700 tuba. The 3/4 French horn continues to be a hit. And I continue to be delighted with the reaction to the H-700, H-879 and H-880 trombones. When I talk about the Dual-Use capability I see expressions of skepticism, then shock, because it really works. (The patent is complete.) See pictures from NAMM at the link to the right.

Next show: Capitol Tuba Conference at Ft Meyer in DC Jan 27-30. I should have the J-880 CC tuba. I am told it is on the way. Then I will be traveling to Texas for TMEA and a few tuba visits the week after. We now have 3 great tubas, The J-700 BBb, the J-880 CC and the TU2 Rotor BBb as well as a slew of Euphoniums.

Tuba & Euphonium update

The new tubas and Euphoniums will be on display at the Army Tuba Conference January 27-30. http://www.usarmyband.com/tuba/tubaeuphonium_conference.html
I will be at the NAMM show in Anaheim with the J-700 tuba and I-800 Euphonium. Unfortunately I will not have the Weingrill tubas and Euphs but I will have them at the Army show. Plans are to have the Nirschl J-880 CC tuba at that show as well.
Then plans are to take the whole dog and pony show to TMEA in San Antonio February 10-13. I will be in Texas the week following TMEA for special appointments showing the instruments.
I have posted the new professional pictures of the aforementioned instruments on the apporpriate links at the right.

Midwest Convention

Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention 2009 was in McCormick place for the first time.
I, for one, like the new venue. Lots of room; high ceiling/we can talk while people are playing.
Thanks to everyone who came by to look at new product. The French horns were a big hit. It's taken a while for the word to spread about the advantages of the 3/4 double but consensus is that it is great for beginners and a very good horn beyond the beginner stage. College players are always impressed with the D-88O big Kruspe-style nickel horn with all its extra features.
The J-700 4/4 BBb tuba was a big draw, thanks in part to Don Harry spreading the word. I will have it on display at NAMM, the Army Conference in DC and at TMEA. Some dealers have it in stock already, Buckeye Brass, Rieman Music and Griggs Music among them.
The CC tuba and the new Weingrill rotor tuba did not arrive in time but I will have both for the Army Conference Jan 27-30 at Ft Meyer. I will have the new Weingrill compensating Euphonium there as well. It is a totally new design.
I posted some pictures from Midwest on the link at the right.

J-700 Demo Trip

On my September trip I stopped at the Buffalo Philharmonic hall where Don Harry, the principal tubist and also tuba prof at the Eastman School of Music tried the new production run J-700LQ on stage. Also there were tubists T.J. Ricer and Mark Jones. All where impressed with the new tuba, both the sound, construction and features. Considering the playability and price Don said, "This may be the end of the road for all other BBb tubas." Don likes to play the right instrument for the music and likes a BBb tuba for many Russian pieces. This was something he learned from his teacher, the great Bill Bell.
All three players appreciated the cupro-nickel mouthpipe and the MTS case as well as the intonation and "sweet" sound.
Then it was on to Capital University in Columbus, OH. Tony Zilincik, tuba prof, echoed Don's praise of the J-700.

New W. Nirschl J-700 Tuba.

Walter is in Brazil this week inspecting the first production run of the J-700 tuba. If they pass inspection we should have our first batch in Elkhart no later than the end of September. MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price)is set at $6,229 for lacquer and $7,069 for Silver.(See your W. Nirschl dealer for a quote or school bid.)
To see pictures of the proto-type in Walter's shop click the "Geretsried" link at the right. To see the J-700 compared to some historical tubas, click "York Lineage".