I've had the opposite experience with every one of my students in the past 8 years.
Since I've started teaching in this area (Northern/Central VA), I've found that all of my students only know how to play on the 'F' side of the horn even if they own a double. They're all started on single 'F' horns and when they finally get a double horn, the band directors don't actually teach the kids new fingerings. In fact, I've had many of my students say that the band directors have told them not to worry about the thumb valve (trigger) as it's not really necessary except for extremely high notes. To this point, 100% of the students that have studied with me in this area have come in this way. To this point, all of them have switched to using both sides of the instrument within 6 weeks or less and many in 1 single week. With some of my first students I offered treats (gave a CD of their choice if they did it in one week, McD's $5 gift certificate for 2 weeks, etc.) After I found that it was possible to do this without much effort, I simply told all of my future students how easily all of my previous students had accomplished the switch and used that to encourage them. It almost encouraged an implied competition. Then, at every lesson, if they play it incorrectly (IE using the inappropriate fingerings), I would stop them and have them do it again with the right fingerings. This has so far proven to be 100% effective with no less than 35 students over the course of the past 8 years. Once they're comfortable with the "new fingerings" I usually have them play exercises on both sides of the instruments - meaning entirely on F and entirely on Bb. I like to use the Getchell 2nd Book for this as the etudes are quite approachable and the range is quite decidedly "over the break." For what it's worth, it's also around this time where I start introducing alternate fingerings and usually shortly precedes the time where I introduce Eb transposition. All of this happening in a short amount of time and all seeming to be difficult (but in reality not too bad), it usually gives the student a LOT of confidence - the impression that they can conquer anything the horn has to offer. I don't know if this helps, I just thought I'd give my account. Cheers! Jeremy No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.0/927 - Release Date: 7/30/2007 5:02 PM _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
