If professional hornists are having the same trouble playing your horn
as you are, it probably is an equipment issue. You might try fooling
around with leadpipes. Although not "cheap", it is probably what you
should try before looking for a new horn.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Benjamin Reidhead
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 12:04 AM
To: The Horn List
Subject: [Hornlist] Problem fortissimo notes
Hello -
As this is my first time posting to the hornlist (though I have
been reading for quite some time), I figure I ought to introduce myself.
My name is Ben Reidhead, and I am currently a high school junior. I
have been playing horn for nearly 6 years now, and I my current horn is
an Atkinson A800 detachable bell horn (a yellow brass, nickle-plated,
Kruspe wrap horn with a bell size in-between that of a Holton 179 and
177) with a Giardinelli C8 mouthpiece.
I love my horn, and how it plays with the C8 mouthpiece except
for one issue: any note above written second-line g to one octave above
fingered T, T2, or T1 (my horn stands in F) lacks a "core" to the sound
when played at a FF or FFF volume and is not nearly as resistant as any
other nearby notes; it sounds like a sock has been stuffed in my bell,
and feels like the horn gets a lot freer-blowing on those notes.
This problem is especially noticable on written 4th space E, 5th line F,
and the G at the top of the staff; it is almost impossible for me to get
any sort of brassiness or edge to the sound, and the sound is almost
hollow. The only way I can get any brassiness is to press quite hard,
and having fough the too-much-pressure battle already, I don't want to
go back to the dark side!!
I have experimented with firmer corners, more air, etc. and none
of those seem to really affect my sound on those problem notes. I don't
believe that it is an embochure (spelling?) issue, as my private teacher
(yes, I have discussed this with him) and a prominent New York hornist
(who I managed to get a lesson with while there two weeks ago!) both
like my current setup. This has led me to believe it is an equipment
issue. If anyone could offer any (relatively cheap) suggestions as to
how to fix this issue, that would be great!
Thank you in advance,
Ben
--------------------------------
Benjamin Reidhead
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Poudre School District, Ft. Collins, Co.
"No opera plot can be sensible,
for people do not sing when
they are feeling sensible."
W. H. Auden (1907 - 1973)
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