I would imagine that length of travel as well as stiffness (is that what you mean by tactile response?) per keystroke would also play a role in speed. I've had two horns during my limited experience playing the horn and the former one had valves that felt lighter and easier to play than the one I have now. For me, those valves were the one thing I really regret giving up when I changed horns. As I play better that difference could go either way - on one side the difference would become less important as my technique gets better or the lighter valves would enhance my finger speed. Right now the difference between the two horns is not very important since there are so many other things that I need to work on before different valves will make a difference on my finger speed. Since I no longer have the former horn I can't evaluate if the difference still feels like an important issue but I will try the other horn at a workshop and I'll see if it still feels that different and if it has an impact on my finger technique now that I'm playing better.
Tina On Jan 4, 2011, at 2:26 AM, [email protected] wrote: > Plenty of people have fast fingers - but I wonder if we've peaked or what > the limitations are. > > In a related topic to finger flexibility, I think it would be useful to > point out finger dexterity in terms of typing. On a good day I can type about > > 110WPM, and on a bad day 90WPM. This is on a standard keyboard and I've > been able to type this fast since I was at least 15. > > I know that before my time, in the 1970s and earlier, that typing was even > more challenging due to the fact that a lot of typewriters were manual, and > so if you wanted your letters to show up on the paper you had to push down > pretty hard with your fingers. Even keyboards in the early 1980s were > mechanical and required much more force than keyboards do today. I'm using > an > apple keyboard on one pc, and a Razer keyboard on my work computer, and I > notice a far better improvement in typing speed and accuracy on a keyboard > with more tactile response. > > As far as manual typewriters go, Ron Mingo was a record holder in the 1970s > and could type nearly 165WPM on a manual typewriter with 100% accuracy. > > Those that use a dvorak layout (instead of the qwerty) can sometimes reach > 200WPM on modern keyboards - and the current record holder uses that > layout. > > Brass playing isn't the only thing that requires serious finger dexterity. > Piano players have us all beat as far as I can tell. They don't have many > choices for alternative fingerings and the fingerings they use are very > important. I was able to get my piano competency in college, but I was > nowhere > near the level of some of the piano majors (or even piano minors). There > are pianists living today that have finger speed that is almost inhuman - > Martha Argerich or Jack Gibbons for example. There are also no longer living > > pianists that had finger speed that may never be matched (Cziffra, Liszt, > and Alkan come to mind). There's even a recording on youtube of Cziffra > 'improving' as a test of a piano, and in it he breaks into Chopin's first > Etude > at a speed that is at least twice as fast as anybody else can play it. > There are Cziffra transcriptions and Alkan pieces that are so challenging on > the fingers that only the arrangers/composers have ever been able to play > them, too. > > I think we horn players have it easy compared to pianists. > > -William > > > In a message dated 1/3/2011 6:02:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > > Indeed you are right William, there are many horns players out and about > with fabulous fingering technique, some right on this list of ours. > Valerie, while I do not disagree that it is good to free the weight of the > trumpet > to aid in quick fingering, I do disagree with the notion that it is > necessary. The immortal Jimmy Burke, cornet soloist for decades with the > Goldman > Band in NYC had lighting quick fingers (and a multiple tonguing technique > that wouldn't quit). Jimmy, due a condition from birth was a one-armed > player (he could have been a horn player!). By necessity, he supported the > weight and fingered with his left arm/hand. Though I am sure there are many > others, James Burke was one of the greats who's name should be remembered. > He always had a repertoire of several solo pieces at the ready and was > often called upon at a moment's notice (read - no notice) to perform at the > summer band concerts. > > If you don't know about Jimmy Burke, this wonderful website, constructed > in his honor, will provide some nice reading - this will take you to the bio > page. http://www.jfbcornet.com/biographyresume.htm > > Happy New Year to All, > Chris > > > >>>> "William.S.Gross" <[email protected]> 1/3/2011 1:21 PM >>> > Having heard the American Horn Quartet play their arrangement to the > Marriage of Figaro Overture, it was clear really good horn players have > pretty > fast fingering ability. > >> >> ________________________________ >> From: valerie wells <[email protected]> >> To: horn list 2 memphis <[email protected]> >> Sent: Mon, January 3, 2011 12:54:33 AM >> Subject: [Hornlist] FreeNeck - was Alexander 309 triple for sald - DUTCH > AUCTION >> >> Since coming back to horn 5 years ago, I've often wondered if there >> couldn't be a practical solution to many of the shoulder problems I >> hear horn players complaining about. I've seen various methods of >> support from underneath the instrument which seem cumbersome for an >> assortment of reasons, but a strap that doesn't strain the neck looks >> workable. >> >> I've been asked to teach trumpet to a middle school child, so I >> arranged to have a lesson with a local trumpeter. He told me Friday >> the only way to develop the lightening fast finger facility of a >> trumpeter is to totally support the wieght of the trumpet with the >> left hand so the right hand fingers are free & unencumbered. Ah ha! >> So that's how they do it. Seems we hornists could have better >> facility if we didn't have to bear so much weight with the left hand & >> arm. Even a ducks foot or well designed strap still require weight >> bearing from the left hand & arm. >> >> Thanks for the link, Andrew. I saw your reference to this item on the >> IHS website. Have you found greater ease in your finger facility >> since you've been using the FreeNeck or is most of the benefit to your >> shoulder alone? >> -- >> Valerie Wells >> The Balanced Embouchure Method >> http://bebabe.wordpress.com/ >> http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/ >> ----------------- >>> check out the FreeNeck system. It costs about ?100. >> >>> http://www.saxophon- >>>> service.de/homep/prospekte/ergonomic_systems/freeneck.html >> >>> I also had problems with my right shoulder and an Otto full triple. > Using the . >>>> FreeNeck solved it for me. >> >> Best wishes >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> post: [email protected] >> unsubscribe or set options at >> > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/herb_foster%40yahoo.com >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> post: [email protected] >> unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/bgross%40airmail.net > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/cwilhjelm%40pascack.k12.nj.us > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/valkhorn%40aol.com > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/tina.barkan%40mac.com _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
