Windsong Press

06/11/2025

Born June 11th 1915 today marks the 110th birthday of Arnold Jacobs the master of brass playing and teaching. For those of us fortunate to have known him and have been his students it is a day to remember all he means to us and for those that never had the opportunity a day to listen and learn from his recordings and teachings.

His tuba sound, even in his reduced capacity the last years of his life, was still huge, resonant and full of life. His voice was equally so when signing or speaking. No student will ever forget the first time we spoke to him on the phone (usually after jumping through some hoops assigned by Mrs. Jacobs) that famous "Hello" coming through the phone.

If you do not own Arnold Jacobs Song and Wind and are a brass player this is a must buy item. Get it and other Jacobs related information and merchandise at: https://windsongpress.com/product/arnold-jacobs-song-and-wind/

And of course CHI Brass has many models based on Mr. Jacobs' own mouthpieces available including the Canadian Brass Jacobs mouthpiece and currently a used and quite rare Warburton Arnold Jacobs. See what we have available at: https://chibrass.com/product-cat/

06/11/2025

Arnold Jacobs was born on June 11, 1915 – 110 years ago today. Happy Birthday Mr. Jacobs! To celebrate this I invite everyone to visit the Arnold Jacobs Legacy Series. There are ten videos from his masterclasses with Mr. Jacobs discussing: The Performer; The Teacher; Breathing – Physiology; Air Flow/Air Pressure; Shallow Breathing; Breathing Devices; Breathing Exercises; The Tongue; The Embouchure; SONG and wind. Whether you are discovering his teachings for the first time or one of his students over his seven decades of teaching looking for a refresher course, take a look at one of the world’s most legendary teachers of wind instruments! These videos are at

  Legacy Series Videos The Performer (28:30) With a career spanning seven decades with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphonies, Arnold Jacobs has earned a reputation as a world-class performer. The Performer explores Arnold Jacobs’ legendary performing career with rare photos, video r...

09/17/2024

We are pleased to announce CHIBrass Arnold Jacobs mouthpieces, a joint project with CHIBrass and Windsong Press to make them available to others and continue passing on Jacobs’ legacy of teaching, artistry, innovation and brass playing philosophy. These are reproductions of some of Mr. Jacobs' favorite mouthpieces including his adjustable cup mouthpiece. Take a look -

02/05/2024

One of the most popular parts of Mr. Jacobs' masterclasses were breathing exercises that he developed over the years. He stated "The exercises are to be done away from music to establish normalcy as a person, and we do this by teaching inhalation and exhalation. There are simple studies, you can take anybody and have them blow their breath out until they're as empty as they can achieve, in other words, and then wait with empty lungs until a need for respiration occurs." Take a look -

Breathing Exercises One of the most popular parts of Mr. Jacobs’ masterclasses were breathing exercises that he developed over the years. He stated “The exercises are to be done away from music to establish normalcy as a person, and we do this by teaching inhalation and exhalation. There are sim...

10/07/2023

Twenty five years ago, on October 7, 1998, Arnold Jacobs passed away. With a career spanning seven decades with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphonies, Arnold Jacobs has earned a reputation as a world-class performer. Equally significant are his teachings. During his career, thousands of students have passed through his studio. We invite you to view video tributes. First, a part of the Chicago Symphony's Tribute to Arnold Jacobs from December 17, 1998. Here is a recording of the Romanza from the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto with pictures of his life and career. This is followed by the Chicago Symphony performing The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition along with tributes from his colleagues. Mr. Jacobs, you have not been forgotten!

Tributes to Arnold Jacobs With a career spanning seven decades with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphonies, Arnold Jacobs has earned a reputation as a world-class performer. Equally significant are his teachings. During his career, thousands of students have passed through his studio. H...

09/14/2022

It is with great sadness that I report that Floyd Cooley is currently in intensive care after coming out of a coma. This occurred from a complication during surgery in Portugal, where he has lived the past few years. For thirty-one years he was Principal Tuba of the San Francisco Symphony and also gave solo performances throughout the world. During his career, he has taught world-wide especially for the last twenty years after he turned his career exclusively to teaching. For more about Floyd please visit his website, www.floydcooley.com . Please keep positive thoughts for Floyd. Thank you.

05/19/2022

When I came out with the book in 1996, Mr. Jacobs told me "Why would someone want a book about a has-been." Yesterday I picked up the tenth printing. I am happy to tell Mr. Jacobs that he is not a has-been - you are still remembered!

05/04/2022

Just released! The Amazon Kindle version of Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind (Canción y Viento) Libro Electronico is now available. Here are the Amazon sites that it can be obtained:
Brazil - https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B09YMJKRRR
Mexico- https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B09YMJKRRR
Spain - https://www.amazon.es/dp/B09YMJKRRR
United States - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YMJKRRR

Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind (Canción y Viento) Libro Electronico (Spanish Edition)

01/17/2022

Windsong Press' 25th anniversary is coming to a close, for our last video of the month here is Mr. Jacobs talking about The Tongue. Next to problems with respiration, the most common problems with which students come to Jacobs are those concerning the tongue. The tongue is an unruly organ and has nothing to do with vibration, but can easily get into the air stream and negatively affect the tone’s production.

The Tongue Next to problems with respiration, the most common problems with which students come to Jacobs are those concerning the tongue. The tongue is an unruly organ and has nothing to do with vibration, but can easily get into the air stream and negatively affect the tone’s production.     F...

12/14/2021

This month's video is the Control of the Body. Many students that came to Mr. Jacobs attempt to control the body’s musculature while playing their instrument. Mr. Jacobs talks about one of his most famous phrases is “Think of the product, not the methodology.” Roger Bobo shows a great example of this (Thank you Roger!). Many times the result is “Paralysis by Analysis.” Take a look -

Many students that came to Mr. Jacobs attempted to control the body’s musculature while playing their instrument. While Jacobs’ reputation is for his studies related to the physical aspects of playing an instrument, his thoughts on the mental elements of music are equally important. According to...

12/06/2021

Just arrived, our first translation! Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind (Canción y Viento). Now available in Spanish translated by Christian Morabito and Julio Briseño! - https://www.windsongpress.com/product/frederiksen-arnold-jacobs-song-and-wind-cancion-y-viento/

11/15/2021

For this month's video celebrating Windsong Press' 25th anniversary we get into mouthpiece buzzing. Mr. Jacobs learned the benefits of mouthpiece buzzing at an early age - hear him explain this! Buzzing should only be done for a short period of time and can also be done on a mouthpiece rim. The signal from the brain passes through the seventh cranial nerve to the lips as demonstrated by Adolph Herseth who sings, buzzes and plays the Promenade from Pictures at an Exhibition.

Mr. Jacobs learned the benefits of mouthpiece buzzing at an early age – hear him explain this! Buzzing should only be done for a short period of time and can also be done on a mouthpiece rim. The signal from the brain passes through the seventh cranial nerve to the lips as demonstrated by Adolph H...