International Trombone Festival Winners

International Trombone Festival 2010
Austin, Texas
Dr. Jeff Cottrell delights in showing Bryon English the W. Nirschl Dual-Use Trombone.
Winner of the Gagliardi Trombone Competition receives a P.Weingrill TB1 trombone.
Winner of the George Roberts Trombone Competition receives a W. Nirschl Dual-Use Trombone.
See these and more pictures on the link to the right.

Art from Arnold Jacobs' House.
See more on link on right.
See sample at ITEC 2010.

ITEC and Tuba update

Thanks to everyone at ITEC that tried out the newest W.Nirschl tubas. Though some really liked the mouthpipe angle on the J-870, it was not unanamous. Both J-870's sold and there are two more due soon the same way. Thanks to several players that posed for pictures, it appears that the next change should be a 20 degree move to the players right and 10 degrees up.
Betwixt the J-880 and J-870, players were divided nearly 50/50, and adamant, as to which played better. I was surprised by the intensity of opinion and it was divided among top notch players. As to the J-880, it remains unchanged from Walter’s design and is popular with those who play Walter’s 6/4 tuba. It likes to be on a pad.
As to the J-870, it is a little more focused but less broad. Both will have a new thumb ring. (Thanks, Don, for the input.)

J-700 continues to be declared the unanimous best BBb on the market. Thanks for your support. Tell your local band director so your high school students will show up with good equipment.

TU2
Everyone that picks up the P.Weingrill TU2 ends up playing Prokofiev 5 or Romeo & Juliette. It should be sub-titled ‘Prokofiev’. It roars on the low notes and has an even scale all the way up. Perfect for schools that want a rotor tuba and pros that want to excel on those excerpts. Again, spread the word so your high school students will show up with good equipment. (Maybe you can even borrow one when you have a Prokofiev concert.)

See the ITEC pictures at the link on the right and thanks for your enthusiastic support.

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.