Simon, you are right about the rigid system of education, which is not only in Japan, but in many countries. Many band instructors around the world contribute much to this rigid system, as they are lacking most of the basic instructions themselves, thus being victims of these rigid systems themselves.
Does it really matter, who got the first valves added, trumpet or horn ? When the horn got its first valve after or the same time as the trumpet, the horn was chromatic allready, but the pitches were not equal in strength & accuracy. So the first valve, more important than others obviously, was added as a full step. The second was added soon to correct these inaccurate pitches (semitones), and the 1 1/2 valve was added finally. As it is used much less than the others (1st valve, full step is most used), it was added behind the two other valves. The WHy & WHEN is absolutely of NO importance for students of these rigid systems, as there is ZERO chance to convince them. They just think about memorizing everything so they can pass the tests. After the tests their memory seems to be erased completely. I also had some students, whom I told to correct f2 by 1st valve when on the Bb-side & the pitch was flat. Yes, yes, I understand. And it was mentioned by myself, that this fingering were necessary, if the f2 were to play very openly & as a held note longer than 1/8. Yes, yes, I understand. - Sorry, it worked just ONCE & was forgotten the very next second due to the inadequate instructions by the rigid system, where trumpet instructors instruct horn players or where stupid & ignorant instructors write the study books which become a part of the ministerial rules about every study of every instrument. If we do not break these rules frequently, we will end up in the trees like monkeys. Regarding design, you should remember, what was the old design. The Uhlmann Viennese of 1824 never had the problem of the third slide protruding verse the bell nor had the Paris models any difficulty. By the way, I remember two or three single instruments, where the valves were assembled as 1-2-3 as 1/2-1/1-1 1/2 steps, but I suspect, that they had just the slides inserted the wrong way. I had some students there in my master classes, telling them to adjust ALL slides, if not, I would not accept them the following day. But they returned the following day with all slides in fully. When I asked them, why they did so, they responded: our band teacher said to do so - or my idol, Mr.xy, has his horn set that way. To continue teaching in such HOPELESS situation, is "throwing pearl before swine". _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
