--- Russ Smiley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Craig wrote: > > > Indeed, Russ' reference to Consumer's Reports > points > > to a need we have in the larger horn community: > the > > need to have access to independent evaluations > > of instruments. > equipment. > > So, where is the Hornplayer's (Consumers) > Report? > > > > Some kind of independent evaluation would be > really > > valuable for many of us (and our students.) > Russ' > > suggestion of an independent compilation is > great: but who might undertake > a project like this? > > > ============================================================= > > Wouldn't it be great if the IHS could sponsor > some graduate horn student to > conduct a scientifically valid poll? It could > make an interesting thesis. > > Russ >
I, for one, was interested in undertaking such a project. I proposed an evaluation process to the IHS many years ago, but was told the IHS did not want to get into recommending one horn over another, let alone one brand over another. I felt that every horn coming off of the production line should be evaluated, with the permission of the maker, for construction, finish, valve compression, and intonation. If the horn met these basic criteria, it would get some type of approval sticker saying that the horn was judged as a quality instrument by an independent evaluator. This was not meant to say that one horn was better than another, but simply that the horn had been judged to meet certain basic standards. We all know that every horn plays differently, so that was not to be part of the evaluation. As I recall, there are certain basic construction standards that MENC (Music Educator's National Conference) adopted for stringed instruments years ago, and I was hoping to emulate that for horns. I found a total lack of interest in this "seal of approval" project, or was it fear? Right now, we have the fox guarding the hen house, so to speak, since makers use their own testers, paid for by the company, for these evaluations. Wilbert in SC _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
