BIR Resources

For Band Directors, Students, and Professionals

It's Gotta Work - NOW Clinic for Band Directors 

• Video: It’s Gotta Work-NOW! pt. 1
• Video: It’s Gotta Work-NOW! pt. 2
• Video: It’s Gotta Work-NOW! pt. 3
• Video: It’s Gotta Work-NOW! pt. 4
• Video: It’s Gotta Work-NOW! pt. 5
• Handout: It’s Gotta Work-NOW!
• Handout: Yamaha large brass valve guide installation  

More related care/maintenance information 

• Article: Cork Template: Harmon Wow-Wow Mute (PDF)
• Video: Trumpet Nomenclature
• Video: Trumpet Nomenclature Practice
• Video: Oiling Rotary Valves
• Video: Oiling Piston Valves
• Video: Clarinet Care and Maintenance
• Video: The BIR Program at Red Wing
• Handbook: Brass Instrument Maintenance (PDF)
• Article: Lubricating Piston Valves (PDF)
• Article: So, you’re itching to modify your trumpet (PDF)

For Student and Professional Repair Technicians

National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians, Inc.

• Atlanta 2019 NAPBIRT Clinic video: "Faster/Better/Smarter"
• Mark Metzler Holding Jig

Casing and Piston Repair

• Casing/Piston Repair Clinic 2017 (136 MB PDF)

NAPBIRT Conference Trombone Clinic Support Videos

• Buffing Trombone Outer Tubes
• Making Trombone Outer Slide Nosepickers
• Wrapping a Trombone Cleaning Rod
• Straightening a Trombone Slide Stocking
• Trombone Clinic 2012 (54MB .ppsx)

Machine Tool-Related Videos

• Common Lathe Operations
• Adjusting a Lathe Compound Slide To Square
• Grinding Tool Bits
• Basic Lathe Operation

Tool Making and Neat Stuff

• Making Solder Bench Pliers
• Making Seamed Brass Tubing
• Cross Brace Saw Blade Clip
• Flattened Bell Rim Hook Puller
• Horn Bell Rim Patch
• Nosepickers (Trombone but applicable to others)
• Bending a Trumpet Mouthpiece
• Thread Restoring Valve Cap Pliers
• Bending butter knives for dent work
• Making a Penetrating Oil Feeding Tube
• Cool Tools Presentation (NAPBIRT 2014, 60 MB PowerPoint)
• PVC Throat Roller
• Trombone Inner Slide End Plug
• Using Dial Indicators
• Making Crook Supporting Molds

BIR Suppliers

• Allied Supply
• Anderson Silver Plating
• Badger State Repair and Supply
• Caswell Inc Plating Kits
• Ferree’s Tools
• Hetman Products
• J. L. Smith
• Kraus Music Products
• MDRS
• MSC Direct
• Music Medic
• Rio Grande Jeweler’s Supply
• Travers Tool
• Votaw Tool
• United States Plastics

Acoustics-Related Sites

• Australian Acoustics - Journal August 2000
• Bell/Mouthpiece Effect
• Benade Archive
• Cryogenic Article (PDF)
• Schilke Brass Clinic (PDF)

Machine Tool and Parts Vendors

• Micro-Mark 7" X 16"
• Sherline Lathes
• Taig Lathes
• LittleMachineShop.com lathes

Mini-Lathe/Sherline Related Sites

• J.L. Smith
• LittleMachineShop.com
• Steve Bedair's 9x20 Lathe Site
• Varmint Al's Mini Lathe Page

Career Development Resources

• Career Services at southeastmn.edu
• Application and Interview Preparation (includes Cover Letter and Resume information)
• Minnesota State Job Seeking Resources
• NAPBIRT Classified Ads