Dr. Susan Gustavson Maxwell at "Bassoon Day", Nov. 17th 2011
Presentation of Maxwell Bassoon Profiler at UMKC's Bassoon Day.
(thank you to Marita Abner for the picture!)
University of Missouri - Kansas City, Conservatory of Music
Presentation on the Maxwell Bassoon Profiler
Other special guests included Alan Fox/Fox Bassoon products and
special guest and bassoonists, John Miller.
Maxwell Profiler on Homepage of Kansas State University website.
| ksu_homepage_w_profiler.docx |
Press Release for Maxwell Profiler
Source: Bret Lanz [email protected]
Websites: http://www.amisuccess.com
http://www.bassoonprofiler.com
Photo available. Download at http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/sept11/9-6reedprofiler.jpg
News release prepared by: Amanda Weishaar
Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011
IN HARMONY: ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE TURNS MUSICIAN'S IDEA
INTO BOON FOR BASSOONISTS
MANHATTAN -- It's a project all about hitting the right note.
Kansas State University's Advanced Manufacturing Institute worked in tune
with the K-State Research Foundation and the K-State department of music to
create a bassoon reed profiler, a machine that lets bassoonists make customized
reeds.
The idea and details of the Maxwell Bassoon Reed Profiler belong to Susan
Maxwell, K-State instructor of music bassoon and music appreciation.
"Susan approached the Advanced Manufacturing Institute to improve upon an
idea and make it her own by creating new, custom equipment for making bassoon
reeds," said Bret Lanz, marketing and development manager at the Advanced
Manufacturing Institute.
"These machines have a small market as only serious students or professionals
take the extra step to learn the reed profiling process. I would not say that
profilers are in great demand. However, for those of us who use them, it's time
for a new one to be made available," Maxwell said.
Maxwell sought guidance from the K-State Research Foundation to discuss legal
protection options and facilitate product commercialization. The foundation
contacted the Advanced Manufacturing Institute to produce professional
engineering drawings, make a prototype of the profiler and provide information
on which local companies could manufacture the device.
Maxwell's modernized profiler provides the freedom to experiment with
different thicknesses of reeds while adding convenience by allowing multiple
users of the same machine.
"My profiler uses adjustable knobs with numbered settings to help guide the
user," she said. "As a college studio instructor, this allows for multiple users
of the same machine. Each student simply keeps track of their preferred set of
numbers instead of resetting the machine after each use."
While the Advanced Manufacturing Institute teams up with the K-State Research
Foundation for various tasks throughout the year, the profiler marks the first
partnership between the institute and the music department.
"The K-State Research Foundation knows there are good ideas from all parts of
the university and we hope there will be more opportunities to work with the
music department and others involved in creative works in the future," said
Marcia Molina, foundation vice president.
Maxwell said she was pleased with the results and enjoyed working with the
institute.
"I was ecstatic that we have these capabilities available at K-State, and
being a faculty member I'm excited to be able to work with another part of the
university," she said. "The creative process was charged with energy. Not only
was the Advanced Manufacturing Institute able to take on the challenge of
listening to my ideas, they were actively contributing to the overall
effectiveness of the product. If I am lucky enough to have the profiler be a
successful venture, I would like to explore the development of other reed tools
with the Advanced Manufacturing Institute."
More information about the Maxwell Bassoon Profiler is available at http://www.bassoonprofiler.com.
The Advanced Manufacturing Institute is a part of the K-State College of
Engineering, a Kansas Department of Commerce Center of Excellence and an
Economic Development Administration University Center that provides engineering
and business services. More information about the institute is available online
at http://www.amisuccess.com.