My 2¢: It has been my experience that leaking valves led more to inefficiency, less precise attacks, and (possibly) flatter pitches. I have two very similar horns, one with valves less tight than the other, at it has the better high C.
My suspicion (others who know better, please comment) is that tapers and their combinations (mouthpiece, lead pipe, and bell) have more to do with what high notes are 'easy'. For the A, try 'alternate' fingerings (open or 3rd), and see if you can make it speak easier. Also, when your G and B flat are tuned, see which of the fingering for As is best in tune, too. You're in luck if the alternate is both easier and in tune. Russ Smiley Marlborough, CT ----- Original Message ----- From: "kerri c davies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 7:22 PM Subject: [Hornlist] Re: Horn testing > Mark L., Wes and List: > > To suggest that Wes did not do well as a performer in the music business > is NOT at all what the intention of my post was. I apologize, Wes, I > didn't mean for it to sound that way, I know you're a fabulous horn > player; please don't take it that way! I hope I have not insulted you. > > And I would love to hear your two cents on my question, if you could > answer it. Like I have posted a few months ago I am getting a new 8DRS > and am still anxiously awaiting its arrival. By the way, anyone else who > is buying a Conn, are you still waiting for your dealers to get new > shipments in from the Conn horn factory? Mine was supposed to have beem > sent from the factory on July 15, but it still hasn't made it yet. I am a > litle worried that the big delay means a drop in consistancy or quality, > but I have heard otherwise from fellow Conn players, so I am sticking for > now with my 8DRS. I'm just curious now about how the factories go about > producing all these horns with relative consistancy, hoping that the two > that are arriving in the shop will be of decent quality, and I won't have > to make them order a new one, wait six more months, etc. They find me > annoying as it is already, I am sure. > > As for my embouchure and mouthpiece pressure issues, I have reduced my > playing hours from five to four a day, becuase five is doing more harm > than good. I think I should master enduring four hours first before I > dive into five, do all of you agree? I've been playing five hours per day > for a month and it isn't improving my playing, so I think it must be too > much. Is this a safe assumption? I hope so, hopefully my playing will go > back to the way it was before I obsessed over it and tried to change it. > > I hav another question. If the upper register is really hard to play o a > horn, is it possible that the valves are leaky? I am thibking that this > is contributing to my problem, but I don't know for sure. My Conn 6D's A > above the staff is particularily difficult, while the Bb above that is > easier to hit. That is what leads me to this theory. > So, what do all of you think? > Thank you for all of your replies, > Brittany > _______________________________________________ > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/rsmiley%40cttel.net > _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
