New musical training, fidget tool on the market thanks to K-State’s Technology Development Institute
Emily Harmon had a unique idea for an educational tool that bridges the gap between music practice and sensory use, but she needed help bringing it to life.
Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute, or TDI, partnered with her to make it happen.
Harmon, a young innovator, developed the idea for the Trumpet Fidget, an alternative to the widely known fidget spinners that provides a musically focused outlet for students and other individuals to concentrate their energy.
A music major at Washburn University, Harmon had the idea for the product as she was searching for a similar device, but she was unable to find anything that would meet her needs. After an unsuccessful search at various retail and online outlets, Harmon took matters into her own hands and began designing her own device. She reached out to TDI for help with developing and manufacturing her new product idea.
“I am so grateful for the entrepreneurial ecosystem we have here in Kansas,” said Harmon, founder of Pocket Keys, LLC. “From winning the Community Innovation Challenge at Washburn University this year to working with the team at GO Topeka and the assistance provided by TDI, I would have never been able to get to where I am today without all of these great resources and mentors along the way.”
The Trumpet Fidget device replicates the size, feel and resistance of actual trumpet valves. With this product, musicians can practice their talent with a small, handheld device rather than having to find an empty space to practice on their instrument. Beyond its musical benefits, the Trumpet Fidget is also a sensory-friendly alternative to traditional fidget toys, such as spinners and cubes.
TDI assisted Harmon with the final design and 3D printing of prototype devices, which were used to prove the concept and the potential market for the devices. Together with Harmon, they worked with manufacturers to get production quotes for the tooling and final parts. With that information, Harmon began scaling up production, searching for distribution partners, and developing packaging and point-of-sale display boxes for retailers.
Her sales plan targets online retailers as well as more traditional retail music stores that could offer her product as counter display items that might pique customers’ interest.
Manning Music, a well-established music retailer with stores in Topeka and Manhattan, has become the first official distributor of Trumpet Fidget devices by Pocket Keys, LLC, making them available to local students, educators and families.
Harmon continues to explore additional distribution partners in the music and education industries to expand the product’s influence.
Bret Lanz, TDI commercialization director, said that when people see a product in the store, they often do not realize the amount of effort that went into getting it there.
“From idea to design, prototyping, testing, revising, tooling, packaging … there are a lot of moving parts,” Lanz said. “Emily’s story is a testament to how creativity, persistence and collaboration can bring an idea from concept to market. TDI is a rare example where a land-grant university resource is able to provide technical services to entrepreneurs and existing business that results in true economic impact for the region.”
K-State’s Technology Development Institute in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is the recipient of a grant from the Research and Entrepreneurship Federal Matching Grant Dollars Fund. TDI provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies.
https://bit.ly/TrumpetFidget
