Thompson Music News

January '10
Just arrived from Brazil, 4 crates of Marcus Bonna Cases! Check out the availability of your favorite ones on our Marcus Bonna Case pages! December '09
Monette has introduced many new trumpet mouthpiece sizes, which are now available at Thompson Music:
• the B4LS S1—Adam Rapa's new custom lead mouthpiece
• the B3F S7 and C3F S7—the Rapa custom size for all-around playing
• the B3F FL and C3F FL—the Rapa custom trumpet-shank, flugelhorn cup mouthpiece
• the B2G S3 and C2G S3—a slightly deepened version of the B2 S3 designed for Charles Gorham
• the B2L S3—a new lead mouthpiece designed for Rashawn Ross, the Dave Matthews Band's incredible lead trumpet player
• the B6 S1 and C6 S1—a SLAP-cup version of the B6 made for Ron Turner
• the B1-5 S4 and C1-5 S4—a new SLAP-cup version of the 1-5 designed for Count Basie Band leader Scotty Barnhart
• the BL2 S3—a Bobby Shew-style lead trumpet mouthpiece
• the BLW S1—a variation on the original Monette lead mouthpiece designed for John Chudoba
• the B1-3 S5 and C1-3 S5—a custom orchestral size made for L.A. studio player and San Diego Symphony principal trumpeter Calvin Price
• the B4 S3 and C4 S3—the SLAP cup version of the very popular 4 size
Also, all Monette C trumpet mouthpieces are now available in a lightweight body, ideal for small or dead rooms or for players seeking a brighter and more intimate C trumpet sound.

November '09
A price increase is scheduled for all Monette mouthpieces on January 1st, 2010. To be sure you can still get the current, lower prices, place an order by December 22nd of this year.

Browse the recent additions of Schilke Symphony Series trumpet mouthpieces, Denis Wick trumpet mouthpieces, Stork trumpet mouthpieces, and Stork French Horn mouthpieces to our site.

Thompson Music is now a Courtois Trombone dealer!

September '09
We've just received our first shipment of the new Schilke HD C Trumpets. These outstanding new designs combine the intonation and playability of a Schilke with the projection and power of a Bach. The HD's are ideal orchestral instruments, well-suited to solo and chamber playing as well. Also available in Bb: Schilke HD Bb Trumpets.

Browse our new Marcinkiewicz Trumpet Mouthpieces and Marcinkiewicz Trombone Mouthpieces pages. These well-crafted mouthpieces are particularly popular with jazz players, lead players, and Los Angeles commercial players.

August '09
Thompson Music is now a dealer of the Wedge Trumpet Mouthpieces. New in 2007, the unique, innovative Wedge rim design is one of the most exciting recent developments in brass instrument design.

In continuing to develop our association with The Brass Spa---the custom shop at Stomvi USA in Los Angeles---Thompson Music has become the exclusive United States dealer of the Stomvi USA Titan Bb trumpets and Stomvi USA Titan C trumpets. These state-of-the-art instruments are currently being played by the entire trumpet section of the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, among many other fine players.

July '09
The GR Trumpet Mouthpieces pages of our site have been extensively updated, with specifications on each of the hundreds of standard GR models. If you have specific needs of a mouthpiece and are looking for one that's exactly suited to the demands of your playing, the GR line offers the most extensive range of options on the market. Get to know this excellent equipment.

June '09
We've added a page to the site where you can watch all of Jeff Curnow's Blackjack Orchestral Mouthpieces videos.

Thompson Music is now a dealer of the German-designed and -built B&S Trumpets. The Challenger I series presents an affordable option at the professional level, where the Challenger II series takes its place as one of the industry's leading collections of high-grade custom designs.

Take a look at our new Bags from Spain Trumpet Cases page, which has been redesigned and features the popular new EcoFiber SuperBag cases.

May '09
Schilke Music Products introduced their new HD Bb Trumpets and HD C Trumpets at this year’s International Trumpet Guild Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Mike tested these horns and was very impressed with Schilke’s first C trumpet designed for big orchestral work. Reserve yours now! The first production will be available in late fall.

April '09
Thompson Music is now the nation's only dealer of V~Raptor and VRII trumpets. Built by The Brass Spa at Stomvi USA, these trumpets have an amazing sound and efficiency that you have to experience to believe. Stop in and try one out!

The Jim Manley and K.O. Skinsnes masterclass was a great success! Jim Manley, a freelance jazz lead trumpeter from the St. Louis area, led a masterclass called "Playing the Trumpet is Supposed to be Fun!" He surprised everyone with his combination of extremely powerful playing and a "less air" mantra, revealing a unique pedagogical approach and inspiring those in attendance to rethink many received notions of trumpet technique---and to practice! K.O. Skinsnes, acoustic engineer and instrument designer at Stomvi USA and founder of The Brass Spa, gave an enlightening presentation on equipment optimization, explaining and demonstrating the V~Raptor trumpets of his own design. The evening finished with an impressive concert featuring Jim and other local Omaha musicians. We had a great turn out for the event, drawing an audience from the Omaha community and throughout the Midwest. This event also marked our status as the only US dealer of the V~Raptor and VRII trumpets. If you would like to be notified about future events like this one (and we're already planning one for the fall), drop us an email and we'll put you on our email list.

March '09
Thompson Music annual student recital! We are very proud of all the students! You all played beautifully!

October '08
Thompson Music is now a Conn-Selmer dealer. A longtime industry standard, Conn-Selmer's retooled post-strike instruments are much improved---very consistent and easy to play.