As part of my Master's work in college during the early 1970s, I had to present a researched public lecture on a topic within my degree field. I chose "Starting Beginners on F or Bb Horn," as my subject, and came down on the Bb side (pun intended) because I was playing a Paxman single Bb at the time, and I knew how much it had improved my playing over the double horn, a Schmidt, I had been using before the Paxman.
During my research, I found that there were several studies done by the brass editor of "School Musician" magazine, during the 1940s, and these were printed in his monthly column. According to him, every student he started on a single Bb progressed faster, made All State Band sooner, and just simply became better players than the F group. He even took a group of his Bb players to a few national music conventions to demonstrate this fact. I believe his name was Philip W. L. Cox He later moved to Alaska, and was a member of the horn society until his death at age 90 plus. So, after all these years, I'm still pro Bb. I'm convinced it works better, especially in this day and age of parents expecting immediate results. There are seven school districts in my county, and some of them have been starting students on Yamaha single Bb horns for years. I had nothing to do with that. They simply found it worked better for them. The other districts start students directly on double horns. Still playing in Bb, too, although right now it's on an Alex 107 descant. I have been playing professionally, admitally at the outer and lower fringes, for more than thirty years, and no one has ever complained about my tone, or found it deficient in any way. Yes, I do crack a few notes every day, but my tone is fine. Wilbert in SC _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
