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Dr.
Donald S. Reinhardt combined in his brilliant career a superb
background in all forms of music, a rare gift of pedagogy, an
exceptional analytic talent and a singular ability of expression
through the written and spoken word. An alumnus of Philadelphia's
world-famous Curtis Institute of Music and Combs College of Music,
he sought in addition the tutelage of eighteen master music
instructors and continued in the profession to acquire an enviable
reputation as a performer on the Trombone.
He possessed a Doctorate in his chosen field. His wealth of
experience, plus a natural power of apt and vivid presentation,
resulted in teaching accomplishments that quickly made him one of
the most successful brass authorities in the world. The
foremost performers of the symphonies, the studios and the name
bands sought his assistance and advice.
His
investigations into brass problems include the acoustics of
instruments and mouthpieces, and daily associations with the
celebrities of the brass world provided unmatched opportunity for
research and experimentation. Dr. Reinhardt was a consultant
for the leading brass instrument manufacturers both here and
abroad, the designer of PIVOT SYSTEM Plastic Mouthpieces and Don
Reinhardt Metal Mouthpieces. These numerous achievements,
together with his famous clinics to large groups of music
supervisors and professionals through the world, have earned for
Dr. Reinhardt the respect, love and endorsement of the finest
teachers and brass men in the world, both then and now.
Dr.
Reinhardt passed away May of 1989 -- undoubtedly one of the
greatest minds in brass pedagogy. His ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE
PIVOT SYSTEM marks the culmination of over sixty years of
dedication to the brass players of the world in achieving their
maximum potential with the resources available, i.e. within each
performers' physical limitations. Regardless of teeth
(long, short, slanted, crooked, missing), muscles (strained,
injured, misused), combinations of teeth, lips, muscles or any
myriad of embouchure problems, Dr. Reinhardt would find a way
for it to work for them.
For
every great and famous player that Doc worked with (and there
were many), there were hundreds and hundreds who simply found
joy in achieving their goals on their respective instruments.
As controversial as he was, the controversy always stemmed from
those who did not study with him. Only a Reinhardt student
would know the truth - and that is that "Doc" only abandoned
tradition when "it stepped on Mother Nature's toes"
Although Donald S. Reinhardt can never be replaced, especially his problem solving abilities one-on-one in his studio, he did leave a wealth of written material, a handful of
students who are now teaching his principles, and players great and small who might otherwise have given up. Those how knew him and studied with him loved him. The
Reinhardt Foundation honors his memory.
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