Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
I must second Robert Ward's mention of the Bremner mute. Years of traveling on business and practicing at the same time have resulted in my trying most of the brands available. In my opinion the Bremner is the best of lot, with minimal back pressure and quite satisfactory quieting. Michael Houle - Original Message - From: "Robert N. Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Horn List" Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:07 AM Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... Also you might consider the Bremner Ssshhh Mute - I find it to be very good. http://www.sshhmute.com/ Bob ** Robert N. Ward Principal Horn San Francisco Symphony [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Aug 13, 2008, at 9:49 PM, Ben Reidhead wrote: I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. Its available at http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many ill effects from it. I'm quite happy. Ben --- On Wed, 8/13/08, Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... To: horn@music.memphis.edu Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 10:33 PM Hi folks, I'm temporarily living in an apartment where the neighbors object about my horn practice even though I'm done by 7:30. I tried using my standard non-transposing mute. While a lot quieter, it's just not the same as practice without. In my search for practice mutes, I found a Wick for ~$75 and this "Yamaha SB39 Silent Brass System" (for French Horn). It purports to not have the back pressure of a standard mute and let you hear your playing as if you are not muted - but quiet to others. It consists of their special mute with a microphone in it and a small sound processing and headphone amplifier. The internet price is ~ $142. Here's a link to one place it's available: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-SB39-Silent-Brass-System-for-French-Horn?sku=360205 I'd really like to try it first but have not found a place that actually stocks it. Sooo Do any of you folks have any experience with it? Or with practice mutes in general? All experience and advice welcome. Tnx, Toot, Tony ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/rnward%40comcast.net ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/renehoule%40worldnet.att.net ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
I guess I was thinking about a concert situtation (e.g. playing offstage horn in Mahler 2, or after a long tacet movement in an opera, etc), where mics aren't usually used. Thanks though, for the heads-up - it would have never come to my mind otherwise! Ben --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Jeremy Cucco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Jeremy Cucco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > To: "'The Horn List'" > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 9:07 AM > >From a recording engineer's perspective, I would > advise *NOT* to do this. I > promise you, my mics will pick up even a tiny, barely > audible note through a > practice mute. I can't tell you how many expletives > I've heard during > recordings that were muttered under breaths, or little airy > burps revealing > the trombone player's affinity for Taco Bell prior to > the concert, or slides > being pulled and lightly clanking against the instrument, > or spit being > violently emptied through a spit valve, etc... > > Sure, the audience won't hear it, but if it's being > recorded for posterity > or for commercial sale, every person listening carefully in > their living > room will. > > Cheers- > Jeremy > > -Original Message- > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:53 AM > To: The Horn List > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > I haven't tried that (I'm not that brave and > I've not come up across any > situations where that might be needed) but I could see the > potential for > doing so. I guess that if I were to find that necessary, I > would only do so > during loud orchestral tuttis, or only warmup in the lower > register. > > Ben > > --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Steve Freides > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > From: Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > To: "'The Horn List'" > > > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 8:22 AM > > > -Original Message- > > > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:50 AM > > > To: The Horn List > > > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > > > > > I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your > list. > > Its > > > available at > > http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've > > > been playing with one quite a bit recently due to > some > > > > > extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed > many > > ill > > > effects from it. I'm quite happy. > > > > I took a look at this web site - they mention using > this > > practice mute > > _during_ a performance to warmup for what might > otherwise > > be a cold > > entrance. Is it really _that_ quiet? > > > > -S- > > > > ___ > > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > > unsubscribe or set options at > > > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com > > > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/jeremy%40sublymerecords.com > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
If it's really that quiet, it would be good for that nasty Quoniam from Bach's Mass in B-minor. Paul On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM, Ben Reidhead <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I haven't tried that (I'm not that brave and I've not come up across any > situations where that might be needed) but I could see the potential for > doing so. I guess that if I were to find that necessary, I would only do so > during loud orchestral tuttis, or only warmup in the lower register. > > Ben > > --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > From: Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > To: "'The Horn List'" > > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 8:22 AM > > > -Original Message- > > > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:50 AM > > > To: The Horn List > > > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > > > > > I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. > > Its > > > available at > > http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've > > > been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some > > > > > extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many > > ill > > > effects from it. I'm quite happy. > > > > I took a look at this web site - they mention using this > > practice mute > > _during_ a performance to warmup for what might otherwise > > be a cold > > entrance. Is it really _that_ quiet? > > > > -S- > > > > ___ > > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > > unsubscribe or set options at > > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com > > > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/parsifal560sec%40gmail.com > ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
>From a recording engineer's perspective, I would advise *NOT* to do this. I promise you, my mics will pick up even a tiny, barely audible note through a practice mute. I can't tell you how many expletives I've heard during recordings that were muttered under breaths, or little airy burps revealing the trombone player's affinity for Taco Bell prior to the concert, or slides being pulled and lightly clanking against the instrument, or spit being violently emptied through a spit valve, etc... Sure, the audience won't hear it, but if it's being recorded for posterity or for commercial sale, every person listening carefully in their living room will. Cheers- Jeremy -Original Message- From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:53 AM To: The Horn List Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... I haven't tried that (I'm not that brave and I've not come up across any situations where that might be needed) but I could see the potential for doing so. I guess that if I were to find that necessary, I would only do so during loud orchestral tuttis, or only warmup in the lower register. Ben --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > To: "'The Horn List'" > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 8:22 AM > > -Original Message- > > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:50 AM > > To: The Horn List > > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > > > I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. > Its > > available at > http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've > > been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some > > > extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many > ill > > effects from it. I'm quite happy. > > I took a look at this web site - they mention using this > practice mute > _during_ a performance to warmup for what might otherwise > be a cold > entrance. Is it really _that_ quiet? > > -S- > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/jeremy%40sublymerecords.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
I haven't tried that (I'm not that brave and I've not come up across any situations where that might be needed) but I could see the potential for doing so. I guess that if I were to find that necessary, I would only do so during loud orchestral tuttis, or only warmup in the lower register. Ben --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > To: "'The Horn List'" > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 8:22 AM > > -Original Message- > > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:50 AM > > To: The Horn List > > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > > > I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. > Its > > available at > http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've > > been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some > > > extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many > ill > > effects from it. I'm quite happy. > > I took a look at this web site - they mention using this > practice mute > _during_ a performance to warmup for what might otherwise > be a cold > entrance. Is it really _that_ quiet? > > -S- > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
> -Original Message- > From: Ben Reidhead [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:50 AM > To: The Horn List > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > > I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. Its > available at http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've > been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some > extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many ill > effects from it. I'm quite happy. I took a look at this web site - they mention using this practice mute _during_ a performance to warmup for what might otherwise be a cold entrance. Is it really _that_ quiet? -S- ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
Also you might consider the Bremner Ssshhh Mute - I find it to be very good. http://www.sshhmute.com/ Bob ** Robert N. Ward Principal Horn San Francisco Symphony [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Aug 13, 2008, at 9:49 PM, Ben Reidhead wrote: I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. Its available at http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many ill effects from it. I'm quite happy. Ben --- On Wed, 8/13/08, Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... To: horn@music.memphis.edu Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 10:33 PM Hi folks, I'm temporarily living in an apartment where the neighbors object about my horn practice even though I'm done by 7:30. I tried using my standard non-transposing mute. While a lot quieter, it's just not the same as practice without. In my search for practice mutes, I found a Wick for ~$75 and this "Yamaha SB39 Silent Brass System" (for French Horn). It purports to not have the back pressure of a standard mute and let you hear your playing as if you are not muted - but quiet to others. It consists of their special mute with a microphone in it and a small sound processing and headphone amplifier. The internet price is ~ $142. Here's a link to one place it's available: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-SB39-Silent-Brass-System-for-French-Horn?sku=360205 I'd really like to try it first but have not found a place that actually stocks it. Sooo Do any of you folks have any experience with it? Or with practice mutes in general? All experience and advice welcome. Tnx, Toot, Tony ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/rnward%40comcast.net ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
I would add the Ion Balu practice mute to your list. Its available at http://www.ionbalu.com/more_products.html. I've been playing with one quite a bit recently due to some extended time in a hotel room, and not noticed many ill effects from it. I'm quite happy. Ben --- On Wed, 8/13/08, Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Hornlist] ?Practice mutes... > To: horn@music.memphis.edu > Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 10:33 PM > Hi folks, > > I'm temporarily living in an apartment where the > neighbors object > about my horn practice even though I'm done by 7:30. I > tried using my > standard non-transposing mute. While a lot quieter, > it's just not the > same as practice without. > > In my search for practice mutes, I found a Wick for ~$75 > and this > "Yamaha SB39 Silent Brass System" (for French > Horn). It purports to > not have the back pressure of a standard mute and let you > hear your > playing as if you are not muted - but quiet to others. It > consists of > their special mute with a microphone in it and a small > sound > processing and headphone amplifier. The internet price is ~ > $142. > > Here's a link to one place it's available: > > http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-SB39-Silent-Brass-System-for-French-Horn?sku=360205 > > I'd really like to try it first but have not found a > place that > actually stocks it. Sooo > > Do any of you folks have any experience with it? Or with > practice > mutes in general? All experience and advice welcome. > > Tnx, Toot, > > Tony > > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/corno42%40yahoo.com ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] ?Practice mutes...
Hi folks, I'm temporarily living in an apartment where the neighbors object about my horn practice even though I'm done by 7:30. I tried using my standard non-transposing mute. While a lot quieter, it's just not the same as practice without. In my search for practice mutes, I found a Wick for ~$75 and this "Yamaha SB39 Silent Brass System" (for French Horn). It purports to not have the back pressure of a standard mute and let you hear your playing as if you are not muted - but quiet to others. It consists of their special mute with a microphone in it and a small sound processing and headphone amplifier. The internet price is ~ $142. Here's a link to one place it's available: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-SB39-Silent-Brass-System-for-French-Horn?sku=360205 I'd really like to try it first but have not found a place that actually stocks it. Sooo Do any of you folks have any experience with it? Or with practice mutes in general? All experience and advice welcome. Tnx, Toot, Tony ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] practice mutes
In my experience the Silent Brass practice mute is oddly out of tune on enough notes to be very annoying. And the electronic gizmo makes the whole thing sound just weird. It is truly "silent", but I use it only as a last resort. Dan ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] practice mutes
On Jun 24, 2008, at 5:37 AM, Kerri Bridges wrote: > On the same note, what's the opinion of practice mutes? Are they > worth it or > should one just resolve to disturb the neigbours? > > Thanks, > Kerri > ___ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/ > options/horn/p_mansur1%40comcast.net >I think mutes can be very useful for practice. I think the verdict is still out on practice mutes. I personally don't like them, but a lot of folk use them to advantage. I am reminded that Barry Tuckwell related several times that because he traveled a great deal on his concert tours, he had to practice in hotel rooms. When he needed to do this he did not want to annoy the neighboring guests. His solution was to turn on the television, preferably to find Bonanza or other Western movie with a pretty loud sound track. Then he would practice with a mute. He said that in all his years of concertizing on the road he never had a complaint registered from a guest to the hotel management about the sound from his room. I find that mutes increase the resistance of whatever you are playing and you can simulate a pretty rigorous playing session in a short time. It then becomes a great relief to get the mute out and find that playing has become much easier, physically. >CORdially, Mansur's Answers I use a regular mute to quiet the horn when necessary. I would like to add that using your regular mute for a sound buffer helps you get used to how your mute works and sounds. Different materials make mutes sound different. But, you also have an affect on how it sounds by how you are playing your horn. Learning different sounds you can use your mute for is an integral part of your playing. Whether or not you sound bad or good using a mute is important. Is the muted part you are playing in tune with other the music? Is your sound brash when the part is calling for soft muting? I recently played in a concert where one of the lead horn players yelled at another horn player for their sound being way too loud and brassy compared to the sound of the rest of the horn section. It was kind of a double wammy for the poor person because they were using a totally different mute than the rest of us as far as material (that person's was all metal) and style of how it was made also affected how it sounded. Plus, they were just plain playing too loudly compared to the rest of us. If 1/2 the horn section is without a mute then you need to blend your sound with their hand muting. You shouldn't be that obvious that you have a mute and the others don't. Does your horn stay in tune in various octaves with the mute or do you need to adjust your embouchure to correct the tuning? It just makes sense to use your regular mute more often than just a few measures once every month at a concert. I have never used a practice mute but my sensitive ears can not stand to have sound going directly into them. I can't use headphones or any such device. I have no choice but to use a regular mute when I need to practice in quiet. Dawn Marie ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Practice mutes
Dear List- Speaking of practice mutes, I heard a story from my horn teacher about a band director who was needing to buy mutes for his horns. He saw in the catalogue, "practice mutes" and bought several of those, thinking that he would upgrade his horn players to "real mutes" when they got good enough. He wasn't sure what to do when, after receiving the mutes, he couldn't hear the horns at all. Ha ha. That story is up there with the story of the band director who got his brass players in tune and then soldered the slides in place so that they would always be in tune. I hope that these are only stories, but I'm not so sure. William Foss Paul Ingraham's advice to young horn players: Find a good teacher. Practice diligently. Watch what you say to your colleagues. _ Valentines Day -- Shop for gifts that spell L-O-V-E at MSN Shopping http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctId=8323,ptnrid=37,ptnrdata=24095&tcode=wlmtagline ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] practice mutes
I use a Silent Brass mute, which is pretty good [in my opinion] because it offers less resistance than most other mutes. Dave On 02.03.2005, at 15:24, Julius Pranevicius wrote: Hello, I'm looking for practice mute, but I couldn't find much reviews on them. Please share your experiences on various practice mutes: which you find good, less good, or terrible? Which mute has best quality for reasonable price? I found that Humes and Berg and Dennis Wick mutes are cheapest and at the moment they are at the top of my list. All recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance Julius - Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/morganp2%40msu.edu ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] practice mutes
> From: Julius Pranevicius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello, > > I'm looking for practice mute, but I couldn't find much reviews on them. > Please share your experiences on various practice mutes: which you find good, > less good, or terrible? Which mute has best quality for reasonable price? > > I found that Humes and Berg and Dennis Wick mutes are cheapest and at the > moment they are at the top of my list. All recommendations are welcome. I have the DW and the Yamaha Silent Brass. The Silent Brass without the electronics is by far my preferred tool, but for warming up Farkas style on the F side, where I prefer a stopping mute. I think mine is a Paxman (lacquered brass). The resistance certainly challenges ones breath support musculature to be into a state of awakeness. Klaus ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] practice mutes
Hello, I'm looking for practice mute, but I couldn't find much reviews on them. Please share your experiences on various practice mutes: which you find good, less good, or terrible? Which mute has best quality for reasonable price? I found that Humes and Berg and Dennis Wick mutes are cheapest and at the moment they are at the top of my list. All recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance Julius - Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web ___ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org