TMEA and Capital Tuba Conference 2011

I am just back from TMEA 2011 (Texas Music Educator Convention, the biggest MEA in the country. Everything is bigger in Texas.) Before that was the Capital Tuba conference at Ft. Meyer in D.C., an annual event. Unfortunately I do not get to hear the performances because the exhibit room is busy constantly.
I had on display the J-870 CC tuba in what seems to be the unanimous preferred mouthpipe angle. The only minor complaints I heard were from very tall players who expect the mouthpipe to be low for them anyway. I took pictures of almost everyone who tried it. You can see for yourself in the links.
Comments ranged from “This is the best horn here.” to “This is the best value on the market.” to Is the J-870 CC tuba in production? Is the mouthpipe angle changed? Can I order one? Yes, yes and yes. The J-700 BBb tuba is also in production. We haven’t had as many come through as we would like but they are coming through. The instrument I have been showing at Capitol Tuba Conference and TMEA IS a production model but it is one that had the ‘over-correction’ mouthpipe and was then modified with the final version mouthpipe. I have referred to it as a ‘proto-type’ because it was modified and the solder marks show. I am experimenting with the fifth valve mechanism on this instrument and therefore continue to refer to it as a proto-type. (Sorry if that confused anyone.) You can order one just like it. If you have trouble locating a store send me an email. (rbarth@gemeinhardt.com).
Thanks to everyone who came to those exhibits to try them. Either you were being kind or they were the best tubas on display at those exhibits. I don’t recall anyone who didn’t like them. Pictures are posted under ‘Capitol Tuba Conference…’ and ‘TMEA 2011’.

So here’s the skinny: Orders placed before **(I previously said 2/8)will arrive approximately 9 weeks later. We continue to work on fit and finish and are resolved to travel to Brazil to inspect every instrument.
Weather and Travel have pushed this back. **February 24 is a more likely date.

The J-700 BBb tuba is also in production. I have yet to meet the tuba player who would not recommend this to any school. In fact band director/tuba players often complain that they just bought 6 #$%^&*&^%$#$%^ tubas and would have specified the J-700 had they known about it. Don’t let them make the mistake. Spread the word. And thanks.

Midwest Convention 2010

I've posted some pictures on the link "Midwest 2010". Our trombones atracted considerable attention. Serveral top players were impressed by the versatility of the patented Dual-Use mouthpipes. Three top players who met for the first time at the booth did an impromptu mini concert to the delight of all in ear-shot. One insisted on taking a trombone home with him. I hope to post a video of the jam on youtube soon. The tubas attracted lots of attention. I think we finally have the right angle on the J-870 CC tuba. There were no negatives and players commented that the J-700 and J-870 were the best tubas at the show. Many college students expressed interest in stepping up to the D-880 or D-780 French horns. I hated to tell them that the cost was actually less than the big brand name they were looking to sell so they could make the move.
Next show is NAMM in Anaheim mid January followed by the Capitol Tuba Conference at Ft. Meyers in DC.

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.