BRASS INSTRUMENT ADAPTATIONS
Amend Music Center
South Hill Location
1305 W. 14th
Spokane WA 99204
Phone: (509) 456-0376
http://www.amendmusiccenter.com/AssistiveTechnologies.aspx
For many years AMEND MUSIC CENTER has been working on ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES. We have developed many adaptive mechanisms that have been designed to help musicians that are disabled in any manner. This includes changing fingering mechanisms, adding braces, moving existing parts, building support systems and many other physical adaptations. Our crowning achievement was brought to life by means of a Small Business Innovation and Research Grant that we were awarded by the United States Department of Education. We manufactured and developed a device that successfully takes the place of a person's disabled fingers and allows them to play a musical instrument that would normally require the use of a full set of fingers. We have named the device the AMEND MIAD (Musical Instrument Actuating Device). We have successfully completed development of MIADs for saxophones and baritones. We have plans for many other instruments and are sure that they would work to an extent at least equal to the MIADs we have already built. The following is a reprinted version of an article written for the Spokane Spokesman Review newspaper. It will give you an idea of how we believe ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES can change people's lives.
Ergobrass
Just For Brass
336 Production Court
Louisville, KY 40299
Phone: (502) 365-1429
http://www.ergobrass.com/trpt/eng/eng_trpt_it.html
The history of the ERGObrass trumpet support is based on the ERGObone, the first support device for the trombone. I started to develop a trombone support device in the autumn of 1999 as a result of suffering from frequent, gradually growing pains in my left elbow whenever I played a little more than usual. At times I also suffered from pain in the wrist. I looked for a solution on the trombonists' many homepages, where there was discussion about the problems of trombone playing and also occasionally some talk about the symptoms caused by the tension in the left hand. As a result from these discussions, however, advice was only given on the way the instrument's body should be pressed with the left hand's fingers in order to minimize stress. I finally realized that it was completely useless to wonder how to cope with physically supporting the instrument's weight when the solution would naturally be that a trombone needn't be supported only by hand in the first place! Neither saxophones, bassoons nor violoncellos are supported merely by static tensed hands or knees (violoncello). Even many clarinetists and oboists nowadays prefer to support the few hundred grams of their instruments with their body rather than with their hands only. I also noticed that the chairtube provides essential help for young trombone learners in finding a right playing position, which is, as known, often difficult for them.
pBone
MUSIC SHOWCASE
1505 Wilmington Rd
New Castle, PA 16105
Phone: (724) 658-2141
http://www.pbone.co.uk/product/jiggs-pbone/
The Jiggs pBone is a revolutionary new instrument that was developed in the United Kingdom primarily for general music classrooms to teach basic embouchure technique and pitch and intonation training. Internationally known jazz trombone legend, and Conn-Selmer endorsing artist, Jiggs Whigham, stumbled on to the instrument in the early design phase. Distributed globally by Conn-Selmer, the Jiggs pBone is available in five different colors (red, blue, yellow, green, and purple). The Jiggs pBone brings a fun and intriguing twist to the traditional trombone. With its plastic construction, this lightweight instrument sounds remarkably like typical brass trombones. To look for an authorized dealer use the locator to the right. For more information on the pBone click one of the five colors below.
Kelly Mouthpieces
674 SOUTH PIONEER ROAD
FOND DU LAC, WI 54935-9190
mail@KellyMouthpieces.com
http://www.kellymouthpieces.com/index.asp
KELLY Mouthpieces have developed over the past 30 years. Jim and Sherri have shared a life of music in addition to owning and operating a precision CNC turning facility. This combination of brass-playing and machining-expertise lends itself perfectly to our end result - KELLY Mouthpieces. Our mouthpieces are designed, fabricated, tested, packaged, and warehoused at our plants in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. We are continually expanding our product line.
SILENT Brass
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/winds/silentbrass/
Yamaha's Silent Brass System offers the advantage of playing at times and in places you couldn't before. Additionally, it offers privacy for those a bit timid about having others hear their not so perfect notes. Simply plug in earphones to hear yourself in your own personal performance environment. The internal electronics can also enhance the sound digitally, to mimic the acoustics of a larger room. You can play along with your favorite pre-recorded music by plugging in a CD player and use the output jack to connect to an external amplifier or recorder to share your music with others
Tuba Strap
The Tuba Harness conforms to the shape of your body and evenly disperses the weight of the instrument while absorbing the shock of your movements. The neoprene pad forms a comfortable and stable yoke across the top of the back and shoulders. The cushion stays just where you need it most - no matter the amount of moving and grooving you make while playing. The self-adjusting harness freely glides through the hardware located in the back which increases your mobility without sacrificing comfort. The Neotech Tuba Harness is designed with both men and women in mind to arrive at the most comfortable fit.
