>date: Fri, 13 May 2005 16:08:37 -0700 (PDT) >from: Nicholas Hartman Hartman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >subject: [Hornlist] Tone color > >Dear list, > I have a bit of a problem with my tone color. I'm a freshman in high >school, and even though the player above me seems to be physically >incappable of practicing, and therefore, improving beyond the level of a >fourth grade music student, He's the junior and therefore, automatically >first chair. The problem is that he has a very distinct dark sound. When >I started in the orchestra at the beginning of the year, I had a very >bright sound, and now, I can't believe how dark it is. Is there anyway >that I can conciously brighten my sound? It tends to fluctuate from day >to day, depending on whether or not I have rehersal that day. I'm playing >a concert at SPAC this summer, and I would like to have a nice bright >sound to penetrate the hall. Any suggestions? Thanks. > > > Nick
Dear Nick, It's nice that you are aware of tone colors and wanting to fill the hall with your sound. I find that just getting my students to actually listen to what is coming out their bell makes a huge difference. When i get a student who has a sound problem, and a lot do these days because many band programs really don't care about your sound as long as they can hear you, I first have to get them to agree with me on what sounds good and what doesn't. I don't mean that I try to influence them to sound a certain way necessarily, I just mean that we discuss what makes for a good sound. Then we find one note that they can play with that sound. After that it is a matter of moving that sound to the other notes by gradually working out from our good note. I would never go much farther than this with you unless i could actually hear and see you play. At your age, getting into mouthpieces, horns and other equipment things doesn't mean much unless it is an issue of actually "fitting" you. You need to work on your fundamentals with a good teacher. How is your embouchure? Your hand position? Your breathing? Along with your ear, these things are what determine your tone. You need to have a good, efficient vibration first. Any conjecture beyond this is futile in this forum. If all you want to do is play really loud, i think that would be a big mistake at your stage of development. There is a big difference between ugly loud and beautiful loud and it is a "skill to learn" to play loud with a great tone. But i don't get that from your post. I think you are on the right track. Just be diligent and patient and you will succeed. Get your own playing together and don't worry about other people or where you are sitting right now. If you have your fundamentals together you will have a beautiful, resonant tone that will carry anywhere- and people will love to hear you play! Sincerely, Wendell Rider For info about my book, "Real World Horn Playing", and the summer seminar, please visit my website at www.wendellworld.com _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
