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