Yamaha Percussion Offers Exclusive Factory Video Tours

Drum Corps legend Bret Kuhn and Yamaha Product Manager, Joel Tetzlaff, tour production facilities where Yamaha Percussion instruments are born.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Yamaha Corporation of America, Band and Orchestral Division, now offers rare, behind-the-scenes video tours of Yamaha Percussion production facilities. The exclusive videos can be found by visiting: http://4wrd.it/PERCTOUR.

Featuring Yamaha Artist and Drum Corps legend Bret Kuhn, along with Yamaha Product Manager, Joel Tetzlaff, these fun-to-watch videos showcase the various production facilities where Yamaha Percussion instruments are born. In each of the four videos, viewers are introduced to the processes that help create various Yamaha instruments including marching drum shells. The tours also show how mallet keyboard instruments are tuned and constructed; and how timpani bowls are formed and put together.

"One of the most impressive aspects of the trip to the factory was the attention to detail and quality control," says Bret Kuhn. "I remember seeing the marimba and xylophone bars in a temperature controlled room where they sit for 60 plus days to cure before being put onto an instrument. Also, meeting the amazing workers who create these instruments and seeing first-hand the care and detail of how Yamaha goes about this process was eye opening. Over all the attention to detail and quality control was nothing short of amazing and speaks well for the Yamaha name."

During the tour, Brett and Joel have the opportunity to examine how wood is handcrafted and selected for Yamaha drum shells, a process that is critical in the construction of a drum. Additionally, they meet many employees, including a 25-year veteran of the factory who is in charge of packing and shipping, certainly one of the highlights of the tours.

"Yamaha takes immense pride in the production quality of its instruments. These exceptional video tours display the intense care, planning and passion our company undergoes into crafting the world's top quality percussion instruments," said Troy Wollwage, Marketing Manager, Yamaha Percussion. "It's thrilling to see, from start to finish, how these amazing products come together. Each year, an increasing number of indoor percussion ensembles are depending on Yamaha instruments to keep them going. We want to take make sure they have the opportunity to examine what truly goes into making their beloved instruments. This shows that we do not cut corners, crafting a musical instrument from start to finish out of wood, metal and composite materials takes time and effort, and these exclusive video's showcase the incredible effort Yamaha puts into the process."

For more information on the Yamaha Percussion Factory Tours, visit http://4wrd.it/PERCTOUR, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, e-mail infostation@yamaha.com or visit http://usa.yamaha.com.