A device, system, and methods for indicating trombone slide positions is disclosed. Namely, a trombone slide position indicator is provided. In some embodiments, the trombone slide position indicator includes a slide position rod mounted in a fixed position in relation to the outer slide of the trombone. Further, a plurality (e.g., seven) slide position indicators are provided along the length of the slide position rod, wherein the positions of slide position indicators correspond to a certain pitch or note. A sensor guide is mounted to the outer slide, wherein the sensor guide moves with the outer slide and in relation to the fixed slide position rod. The sensor guide includes a mechanism for detecting and/or indicating close proximity to any one of the slide position indicators along the slide position rod. Further, a method of using the trombone slide position indicator is provided.

A valved wind instrument including a tubular body having a tuning section, a lead pipe connected to a first end of the tuning section and a bell pipe connected to a second end of the tuning section, said tubular body being configured to allow a vibrating column of air to pass therethrough; wherein the tuning section includes an air inlet port for receiving air flow from the lead pipe at the first end, an air outlet port for delivering said air flow to the bell tube at the second end, a plurality of user operable valves; wherein each valve of said plurality of valves is in fluid communication with an adjacent valve by a first tubular portion so as to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, and wherein each valve of said plurality of valves is user moveable between a first position and a second position and each so as to increase the air pathway length between the inlet port and the outlet port by way of a second tubular portion; and wherein each second tubular portions is coplanar with each other, and wherein the second tubular portions are integrally formed from a polymeric material within the tuning section, wherein the tuning section is provided by molded first and second body member that are bonded together and sealingly engaged along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the second tubular portions.

A valved wind instrument including a tubular body having a tuning section, a lead pipe connected to a first end of the tuning section and a bell pipe connected to a second end of the tuning section, said tubular body being configured to allow a vibrating column of air to pass therethrough; wherein the tuning section includes an air inlet port for receiving air flow from the lead pipe at the first end, an air outlet port for delivering said air flow to the bell tube at the second end, a plurality of user operable valves; wherein each valve of said plurality of valves is in fluid communication with an adjacent valve by a first tubular portion so as to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, and wherein each valve of said plurality of valves is user moveable between a first position and a second position and each so as to increase the air pathway length between the inlet port and the outlet port by way of a second tubular portion; and wherein each second tubular portions is coplanar with each other, and wherein the second tubular portions are integrally formed from a polymeric material within the tuning section, wherein the tuning section is provided by molded first and second body member that are bonded together and sealingly engaged along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the second tubular portions.

A valve block for a valve assembly of a wind musical instrument, said valve block comprising a monolithic structure having a plurality of parallel and linearly spaced apart valve bores extending at least partially therethrough and for receiving a corresponding plurality of valve pistons therein an air ingress port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a first valve bore; an air outlet port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a further valve bore; transverse connecting passageways for providing fluid communication between adjacent valve bores; and a plurality of pairs of tuning section ports with each pair extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a valve bore.

A valve block for a valve assembly of a wind musical instrument, said valve block comprising a monolithic structure having a plurality of parallel and linearly spaced apart valve bores extending at least partially therethrough and for receiving a corresponding plurality of valve pistons therein an air ingress port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a first valve bore; an air outlet port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a further valve bore; transverse connecting passageways for providing fluid communication between adjacent valve bores; and a plurality of pairs of tuning section ports with each pair extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a valve bore.

The resonator (1) is associated with wind instruments (S) of the type comprising a bell (C) located in correspondence of its main opening (A). The resonator (1) comprises a resonator element (2) preferably having a concave shape, supported within or in front of the bell (C) so that said concavity is directed towards the latter and that between the same resonator element (2) and bell (C) is defined a light passage (3). The resonator element (2) is aimed to define an auxiliary harmonic box intended for intercepting and reflecting or diverting the output sound waves from said bell (C) in order to increase its power, vary its timbre and/or improve the sound diffusion.

The resonator (1) is associated with wind instruments (S) of the type comprising a bell (C) located in correspondence of its main opening (A). The resonator (1) comprises a resonator element (2) preferably having a concave shape, supported within or in front of the bell (C) so that said concavity is directed towards the latter and that between the same resonator element (2) and bell (C) is defined a light passage (3). The resonator element (2) is aimed to define an auxiliary harmonic box intended for intercepting and reflecting or diverting the output sound waves from said bell (C) in order to increase its power, vary its timbre and/or improve the sound diffusion.

Embodiments of devices to protect edges of objects are described. The objects can include musical instruments and the devices can be coupled to an edge of the musical instruments. One or more of the devices can be disposed around one or more portions of an edge of a musical instrument to minimize or prevent contact between the edge of the musical instrument and surfaces or other objects that may contact the musical instrument.

Described is a twin valve attachment for musical instruments, such as a trombone. The attachment includes a lever that is rotatable between a B-Flat configuration and an F note configuration. Also included are first and second rotary valves. The first rotary valve is operably connected with the F lever, while the second rotary valve is operably connected with the first rotary valve. F-attachment piping is fluidly connected with both the first and second rotary valves. Thus, a user may rotate the F lever to selectively direct air flow through the F-attachment piping (for the F note configuration) or bypass the F-attachment piping (for the B-Flat configuration).

The disclosure provides an approach for tuning musical instruments. In one embodiment, a tuning application determines frequencies of a series of notes played on a brass instrument, either with open tuning or with a valve pressed. As a musician holds a last note in the series and a tuning or valve slide is moved, the tuning application determines, based on a change in frequency of the last note and the measured frequencies of the other notes in the series, the change in frequency of the other notes. The tuning application then determines a compromise tuning that minimizes the total difference between the current frequencies of the notes and known note frequencies in a frequency table or previously tuned note frequencies if any of the notes were previously tuned. Upon achieving the compromise tuning, the musician or an actuator is instructed to stop moving the tuning or valve slide.