A spinner assembly for an instrument having valves and/or slides. A clamp sub-assembly attaches to the instrument while a hand strap sub-assembly encircles a player's conjoined hand. A bearing rotatably connects the clamp sub-assembly to the hand strap sub-assembly about a drive axis (D) that is offset from the natural balance axis of the instrument (X). The clamp sub-assembly includes a mounting plate fashioned with three side-by-side cradles that nest against the horn valves. A lashing holds the cradles in position. The hand strap sub-assembly includes a generally rigid palm plate that fits in the player's palm. The palm plate has a hypothenar end, a web end and a distal edge. The distal edge has a ring finger relief adjacent the hypothenar end. A driver boss is affixed to the backside of the palm plate adjacent the web end. A flexible belt secures the player's hand to the palm plate.

A spinner assembly for an instrument having valves and/or slides. A clamp sub-assembly attaches to the instrument while a hand strap sub-assembly encircles a player's conjoined hand. A bearing rotatably connects the clamp sub-assembly to the hand strap sub-assembly about a drive axis (D) that is offset from the natural balance axis of the instrument (X). The clamp sub-assembly includes a mounting plate fashioned with three side-by-side cradles that nest against the horn valves. A lashing holds the cradles in position. The hand strap sub-assembly includes a generally rigid palm plate that fits in the player's palm. The palm plate has a hypothenar end, a web end and a distal edge. The distal edge has a ring finger relief adjacent the hypothenar end. A driver boss is affixed to the backside of the palm plate adjacent the web end. A flexible belt secures the player's hand to the palm plate.

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.

An airflow indicator providing a visually observable measure of relative airflow through a wind musical instrument which facilitates evaluation proximate the end of the instrument. This allows airflow to traverse the majority of the length of the instrument and particularly to traverse the valve section, so that actions of a player in operating the valves which impair the airflow may be seen. Some examples may be configured to minimize differences in pitch between the wind musical instrument with the airflow indicator in place, relative to the wind musical instrument without the airflow indicator.

An apparatus for operating a tuba comprises a board facilitating mounting one or more foot pedal units. Each foot pedal unit is connected to at least one rotary valve of the tuba, and comprises a pedal mounted to a frame using a drive unit and a chain. The chain is configured to run over a pulley member and is coupled at top portion of the frame. Upon pressing the pedal in sync with air supplied at mouthpiece of the tuba by a user, the chain is pulled through the pulley member causing a mallet shaped shaft to move in upward or downward direction. The movement of the mallet shaped shaft is configured to control movement of a paddle of at least one rotary valve via a cable for enabling the user to play all chromatic notes available within the tuba's range.

An apparatus for operating a tuba comprises a board facilitating mounting one or more foot pedal units. Each foot pedal unit is connected to at least one rotary valve of the tuba, and comprises a pedal mounted to a frame using a drive unit and a chain. The chain is configured to run over a pulley member and is coupled at top portion of the frame. Upon pressing the pedal in sync with air supplied at mouthpiece of the tuba by a user, the chain is pulled through the pulley member causing a mallet shaped shaft to move in upward or downward direction. The movement of the mallet shaped shaft is configured to control movement of a paddle of at least one rotary valve via a cable for enabling the user to play all chromatic notes available within the tuba's range.

A capturing device joins with an instrument to capture an accumulated body fluid in the instrument. The device has a tubular shape for capturing and containing a superfluous amount of fluid that has accumulated inside an instrument from performing on the instrument. The device joins with the instrument, proximally to an instrument fluid accumulation portion. For example, the device is oriented on the instrument to capture the fluid that accumulates in the spit valve. The instrument may require tilting or other manipulations to enable fluid to flow from the instrument fluid accumulation portion to a reception aperture. The device is capped on each end, whereby one of the capped ends form a secure seal for trapping the body fluid inside the device, and may also be removed for removing the body fluid. The device has an absorbent portion to absorb the fluid in an interior region.

A capturing device joins with an instrument to capture an accumulated body fluid in the instrument. The device has a tubular shape for capturing and containing a superfluous amount of fluid that has accumulated inside an instrument from performing on the instrument. The device joins with the instrument, proximally to an instrument fluid accumulation portion. For example, the device is oriented on the instrument to capture the fluid that accumulates in the spit valve. The instrument may require tilting or other manipulations to enable fluid to flow from the instrument fluid accumulation portion to a reception aperture. The device is capped on each end, whereby one of the capped ends form a secure seal for trapping the body fluid inside the device, and may also be removed for removing the body fluid. The device has an absorbent portion to absorb the fluid in an interior region.

A musical wind instrument, comprising a mouthpiece, key mechanism, body, and an alternative material bridge that is couple a first and second opposite facing tube. There is in an alternative embodiment at least one coupling mechanism affixed to at least one of the opposite facing tubes designed to releasably hold the wood based material bridge against the first and second tubes. Alternatively there is a musical wind instrument made of a predominantly first material, comprising a mouthpiece, key mechanism, and body; at least a first and second tube having a portion thereof being spatially opposite to each other respectively, and a bridge, having a first and second end that are coupled to the first and second tube respectively, wherein the bridge is made of an alternative material that is different from the predominantly first material of the instrument.