Welcome to WindSong Press

WindSong Press, Limited was formed in 1996 by Brian Frederiksen for the publishing of Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind. Currently in the sixth printing, the first printing was sold out in three months! WindSong Press is half educational and half business with educational activities preserving the Jacobs legacy.

Soon we sold the breathing devices Mr. Jacobs used in his studio. Mouthpiece rims and buzz aids were added including Mr. Jacobs’ ideas to use delrin for rims and increasing the holes in buzz aids for more air flow. We worked with Mr. Jacobs for the reproduction of the Variable Resistance Compound Gauge, a tool he used for decades.

WWW.WindSongPress.com came online in 1997. Articles, Biographies, audio and video files, and transcripts of masterclasses have been added. On the business side, we have added secure online ordering.

October 7, 1998 was a sad day for musicians with the passing of Arnold Jacobs. For us, we lost our Honorary Chairman of the Board. The torch had passed to his students to continue the Jacobs tradition. We worked with the Jacobs family to create the Arnold and Gizella Jacobs Collection of books, recordings, photos and other material used by Mr. Jacobs. Brass journals worldwide published tributes which we have on our website. Another tribute, the Portrait of an Artist CD was produced by Summit Records. In 2002 the reissue of The Chicago Symphony Trombone and Tuba Section recording arrived.

As we exhibited at shows, we noticed a trend in the music business towards micropublishers. We first started with Ed Kleinhammer’s Mastering the Trombone and have since added over a dozen companies.

Through electronic medium, in 2003 Mr. Jacobs masterclasses returned through Arnold Jacobs Almost Live, a series of ten presentations featuring videos from Mr Jacobs’ classes creating a new generation of Jacobs students. Arnold Jacobs Almost Live has been a part of a number of conferences including the National Flute Association,

Generations

International Horn Society, Australia’s Melbourne International Festival of Brass, regional and international conferences of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and various universities including three day continuing education classes.

Most important, we are continuing the Jacobs tradition for future generations.

About Brian Frederiksen

Brian Frederiksen was born into a family of flute players as his mother and aunt were the flute section of the Albany (NY) Symphony. Eventually, he began playing the tuba when eleven years old. He he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy, the American Conservatory in Chicago (BM), and Northwestern University (MM).

During his studies in Chicago beginning in 1973, he started a long relationship with Arnold Jacobs. Besides being the legendary tubist of the Chicago Symphony (1944-1988), Jacobs was the teacher recognized as the expert on breathing for wind instruments.

During twenty-five years with Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Frederiksen was a student and then his assistant with masterclasses, first at Northwestern University and then throughout the country. He wrote Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind, and formed WindSong Press Ltd. carrying books, CDs, music and breathing devices. After Mr. Jacobs passed away, he worked with the Jacobs family to preserve the Jacobs legacy for future research by creating the Arnold and Gizella Jacobs Collection. www.windsongpress.com was created as the web’s most complete source about Arnold Jacobs.

Mr. Frederiksen brought Mr Jacobs’ masterclasses back through Arnold Jacobs Almost Live, a series of ten presentations featuring videos from Mr Jacobs’ classes creating a new generation of Jacobs students. Arnold Jacobs Almost Live has been featured at a number of conferences including the National Flute Association, International Horn Society Austrailia’s Melbourne International Festival of Brass, regional and international conferences of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and various universities including three day continuing education classes.

Very simple - we hate spammers and telemarketers and refuse to do this or sell customer information to anyone. Once in a while we might do a mailing for a new product that would be of interest. In the past this was done for the Arnold Jacobs Portrait of an Artist CD and the Chicago Symphony Trombone Section CD.

Due to photo copiers and CD/DVD burners, we cannot accept any returns on books, music, CDs and DVDs. If they are defective we will replace them. Breathing devices are designed for single patient use, for sanitary reasons we cannot accept any returns unless defective. We will re-glue the gauge on the Variable Resistance Compound Gauge if needed.

With the development of e.Commerce, secure ordering systems for small companies have been developed. We are using X-Cart, off the shelf software that has been adapted for use with our web page. While there is a major advantage having a secured webpage but there are some problems!

Prices have increased on most everything, which we are absorbing (such as the fifth printing of the book whose printing price rose less than one dollar) but there are some items that have risen more mainly because of the value of then euro.

In the future, we will set postage at the price of a Priority Mail stamp (now $4.95). These are the first price increases we have done since 1996!

For many years we have been exhibiting at various conferences. One thing we have noticed is the lack of large publishers leaving the slack for small publishers. There is another problem - many of these small publishers are symphony players who, for the most part cannot travel to these conferences due to their orchestra's commitment. Many times they are on tour delaying shipping so we may fulfill an order for them. There are publishers outside the United States we represent who would like to have distribution in North America. We hope to get more exposure for a number of small publishers by represent them throughout the year.

If you are a small publisher and would like us to represent you, please email us at info@windsongpress.com .

A myth, legend, urban folklore - not true!
While Mr. Jacobs' lung capacity was low for most of his career, he had two lungs!

Aren't these breathing devices just a gimmick. Why should I use them? The most common problem students came to Mr. Jacobs was due to shallow breathing. This has been a life long habit and in many cases, is career threatening as one ages and vital capacity is naturally reduced. There are habits that are difficult to break especially using the instrument. By developing a new skill away from the instrument using these devices, Mr. Jacobs could accomplish in weeks and months what would normally take years.

Different players have different requirements. A large male with a vital capacity above 6 liters can easily fill the Voldyne that has a capacity of only 5 liters. Most women have a vital capacity under 5 liters - why spend $10 more for a 6 liter bag? It is suggested to use an exercising device (Inspiron or Breath Builder) with a measuring device (Voldyne or Air Bag).

Both are exercising devices and the air can be varied. The Inspiron must be constantly turned upside down (for exhalation) which can be difficult to use especially with young students. The Breath Builder is a low-tech device that is easier to use however, for brass players, it cannot be used buzzing the mouthpiece.

No. The purpose of a mouthpiece rim is to isolate the lip's musculature. It really doesn't matter about the curvature of the rim or the sharpness of the edge. Mr Jacobs would never let a student buzz without isolating the lip with the rim.

This was an idea that we came across using the idea that the purpose of a rim is to isolate the lip's musculature. It is made of inexpensive delrim and the edges are routed to avoid sharp edges. The tuba rim is the same size as a Conn Helleberg and the Tenor Trombone / Euphonium is the same size as a Schilke 51, Bass Trombone based on a Bach 1 1/2G. These are cheaper than brass and are great to use in the car since they do not have temperature extremes.

The tenor trombone buzz aid is too small, the bass trombone is too big. There is none made for medium bore euphoniums - Sorry.

All of this was used by Mr Jacobs at various times during his 60+ years of his teaching thousands of students. Major brass players and teachers throughout the world use these devices and have their students order them.

WindSong Press Limited
P.O. Box 146 - Gurnee, Illinois 60031 U.S.A.
Phone 847 223-4586 - Fax 847 223-4580
Email info@WindSongPress.com