I dont think this a good idea, as all horn players should be firm in using both sides of the horn in all ranges to take advantage of better tuned notes of both sides, better sound, easier arpeggios, easier & precise attack, etc.
Yes, I agree, that starting the students on the Bb-side would result in less cracked notes, but just for a while. But it will be terrible difficult to teach the BB-beginners the right tone quality later by using the F-side then. The "malaise" will be then for sure. And Bb-beginners will complain about the difficulty fingering #-tonalities, life long complain, life long squeezed fingers. So there is just one solution to reach the top target: Start on the F-side & stay with it until can play Strauss no.1 (nearly) perfect. Find out how much easier #-tonalities are on the F-side. Switch to the Bb-horn use in the 5th year, but cultivate the "combined" horn (fingering in a way, taking advantage of both sides without no limitation to range) after a four to six weeks introduction to the Bb-horn, by playing every note on the Bb-side. >From then, start cultivating the "right use of the double horn" - see many examples on my Web Site. But this requires that the teacher does the same, but I doubt this, as too many teachers are stubbornly staying with the exclusive F (Vienna) or (nearly) exclusive Bb (Germany, GB, Scandinavia except Finland, Russia, Czech Rep., Japan, etc.) or breaking at a certain point e.g. c2 (USA & related). Reason for the (Most) use of the Bb: recordings, safety, clarity - sound doesn´t seem to matter any more. But this should be our great chance with the sound. =========================================================== -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Scott Pappal Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 8:13 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Hornlist] F horn/Bb horn Someone, I don't recall who, remarked earlier today that they start beginning hornists on the Bb horn, citing easier pitch-targeting as the reason. While I'm firmly in the F horn camp, I'm not going to argue or open up another discussion about something which has already been kicked around the list before. Rather, I'd like to ask if there has been any serious research into the F vs Bb horn question. (I do recall one Instrumentalist article from the '50s in which some rather well-known American principal horns, including Phil Farkas, debate this very question.) While this is rather academic, it would be quite fascinating...we could start two classes of beginning horn players of approximately the same age, with similar physical and mental characteristics. One class would use F horn, one would use Bb horn. After five years of instruction, we could have them play for a panel of ten professional horn players and teachers for an adjudication, and see who comes out ahead. Or, we could wait and see which group has more students reach the professional level. Any researchers want to try this project? I would, but I'm too busy teaching my F horn players:) Cordially Yours, Scott Pappal P.S. I wonder what all the professional horn players/teachers on this list started on? Of course, we all know professor Pizka started on the F and natural horns, but what of the others of you who play and teach professionally? As a matter of fact, what did you amateurs all start on, F or Bb? __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/ _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hans.pizka%40t-online.de _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
