On 3 2, 2006, at 3:01, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
One more thing - why do Horn students start off on an F horn? I cannot see why teachers would want to make life so difficult for them. Do professionals use F horns? Not within 10 000 miles of here - far too challenging! I tried it once, and do not recommend it! David Watson Victoria, B.C. Canada.
I'd put it more simply: starting on the F-horn makes you develop an accurate effective embouchure while you are young and still able to acquire habits easily. (Maybe it's too late to apply the same thinking to adults.)
The Bb side may get you playing high notes sooner, but my (admittedly limited) experience shows that kids driven to play band competition pieces within months of picking up the instrument develop all kinds of trick embouchures to cope, and later find problems with other normal kinds of playing; low notes, pianissimo, wide intervals, nice tone, etc.
(Must admit though, I started on a "tenor horn" (mellophone to you?) simply because I was too weedy to hold the real thing! .... No I didn't. I started on a very long garden hose, 10~15 yards. Didn't need any valves!)
:-) Simon _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
