Announcement, Spotlight on Yamaha Wind Instruments

In the wind instrument world, Yamaha is a name synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation. 

Yamaha began to produce wind instruments in 1966, but the history of the company stretches back to 1887 when its founder Torakusu Yamaha, repaired a broken reed organ and not long after this, completed building the first reed organ. In 1897, the Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd (now Yamaha Corporation) was established and in 1900, the company manufactured the first piano to be made in Japan, followed two years later by its first grand piano. In 1987, the company was renamed Yamaha Corporation in honour of its founder – 100 years after he built his first reed organ.

In 1966, Yamaha’s first wind instrument, the YTR-1 trumpet was released - the same year that American professional orchestral trumpeter Renold Schilke joined forces with Yamaha as a brass instrument consultant to market quality musical instruments in the US. This was a relationship that continued right up until Mr Schilke died in 1982. In 1967, the first Yamaha-branded saxophones were launched and in that same year, Yamaha wind instruments were exhibited at the NAMM show in Chicago.

For the next two years and into the early 1970s, Yamaha spent time developing their ‘Professional’ series of wind instruments to expand their line-up. This was a busy time for the Corporation as they launched their high-end ‘Custom’ series trumpets and clarinets and high-end handmade flutes, as well as establishing collaborations with both American classical saxophonist Eugene Rousseau and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The 1970s was also the decade in which Yamaha opened its factory in Toyooka, Japan as the headquarters of its wind instrument manufacturing, and which saw the establishment of the Yamaha Technical Academy (formerly the Yamaha Wind Instrument Repair School) as well as Ateliers in Tokyo and Hamburg. 1978 was a milestone year for their saxophone production when, after consultation with Eugene Rousseau, the YAS-62 was launched – still a hugely popular model today.

In the 1980s, Yamaha established a Research and Development section in New York as part of their continuing mission to produce high-quality instruments with a global reputation. Since this time and right through to the present day, they have continued to push the boundaries of wind instrument development and manufacture, opening factories in Indonesia and China as well as Atelier and ‘Artists Services’ facilities worldwide. These locations serve artists and educators as centres for the design, creation, testing and restoration of the world’s finest band and orchestral instruments, representing the culmination of decades of new instrument diagnostic and restoration technologies. They host numerous events throughout the year, offering the highest level of technical support to woodwind and brass musicians as well as rehearsal, recording and performance spaces.

In 2016, Yamaha celebrated 50 years of woodwind and brass manufacture, but they have not rested on their laurels! In 2017, they launched the ‘Venova’ – a lightweight wind instrument with a compact body, designed to sound and play like a saxophone – ideal for younger players. In 2019, Atelier Services in Paris was opened and in 2020, they launched not only their YBS-82 ‘Custom’ Baritone saxophone but also their first digital wind instrument, the YDS-150 digital saxophone. Developed from a desire to create a saxophone that can be played more easily and with more freedom, the YDS-150 uses a combination of their digital and acoustic technologies to create an instrument suitable for beginner and experienced sax players alike.

At Presto Music, we are proud to offer a range of their student and intermediate flutes, clarinets and saxophones, including the YFL-212 flute, YCL-255S clarinet and YAS-280 saxophone, which are amongst some of the biggest-selling student instruments in the world.