Hans, I have no idea what level Jeremy plays at or even whether he can even blow a note on the horn. But the question he asks suggests he is very new to playing the horn. I merely wanted to give him some help on the question he asked and provide a subtle suggestion that he seek help from someone knowledgeable who is located near him if he hasn't already done so. My hope is that he might be encouraged to find out more about the horn and, if he isn't already taking lessons, perhaps he will be motivated to do so in the future. If he is taking lessons then perhaps he (as well as his instructor?) can learn something from the materials. Or perhaps he has just discovered a horn is grandfather or other relative who played horn decades ago for a little time while in the middle school and which has been hidden away in a closet ever since. And yes, the slides and valves all makes logical sense to someone who understands how the horn works. But it makes little sense to someone who has seen the horn perhaps for the very first time. At least he was curious enough and desired to know how to tune the horn enough to ask the question to the list. I remember when I was a begining player and understood little about the horn worked. It was a very frustrating experience. Without much encouragement and guidance I would not have continued playing the horn. I only wanted to pass on a little encouragement rather than discourage by going into technical details that most likely will only serve to confuse. Although this is a list dominated by professonal and more or less advanced players its members should have a little toleration for those who are not as far along the playing path. Lamentations and wailing about a lack of knowledge of the instrument does little to improve the situation. In reality there is little we can do to help Jeremy beyond offering him some encouragement and guidance. Why not give it?
Dan Beeker Hans Pizka wrote: > Question: is it really necessary to read an article about how to tune a horn, > single or double, Bb or F - all follows the same principle. Oops, another > question: does anyone know any valve on any horn, which is NOT operated by > amy finger - thumb be also a finger, or not ? > > Theory: > first find out, what is the main tuning slide, situated between mouthpiece & > entrance to the valve section (except with the Viennese horns). This is also > with double horns or compensating horns, which are nothing else (in > principle) than Bb-horns with an F-extension. So tuning the Bb-side first is > wise. > > Basic tuning must use the best notes on any horn, which is the concert "f1" > on the Bb-side (our written c2, second space from top), but not together with > the same note from the tuner or the piano, no-no, but with the concert "a" > from tuner or piano, and tune the horn with a third interval between f & a. > Next comes the F-side using the same concert "f" (our 2nd space c2 on the > F-horn), tuning it also in relation with concert "a" from piano or tuner. > > This has the double effect, that a player without proper ear-training is lost > completely. He must fall in complete desperation then. In reality, such a > person has zero chances to play in tune ever. > > The valve slides must be adjusted accordingly: Thumb rule: F-slides: 1st > valve out for 0,4", 2nd valve 0,3", 3rd valve 0,5-0,6", the slides for the > Bb-side all a bit less. > > If the main tuning slide is slided out more than usual, all valve slides must > be out a bit more than usual also. > > It is absolutely insane, to tune the horn with given concert "a" by playing > the same note on the Bb-side with 2nd valve involved. I witnessed that at an > audition for my orchestra. As concert "a" might be a bit flat on the F-side > also, it is not the right note on the horn to tune the instrument. In > relation to concert "a" = YES, with a played concert "a" = NO. > > I find this discussion somewhat grotesque, as it is the duty of EVERY horn > teacher, to instruct the student ONCE, only ONCE, how to tune the instrument > properly. > > But there are some individual players, who insist that they play in tune > always, because they get their instrument tuned by the repairman during the > summer repair !!!! I thought, this would be only for contrabasses ????? > > *************************************************************************************************************** > > > Am 18.11.2009 um 20:25 schrieb Dan Beeker: > > >> Jeremy, >> >> Go to http://educators.conn-selmer.com/brass/ and download the how to >> tune an 8d article. It is in a word document. If you can't open it, send >> me your e-mail address and I will send you a pdf file. It will give you >> instructions on adjusting the main tuning slides. Unfortunately the >> instructions are useless for understanding how to adjust the slides for >> the finger operated valves. Somewhere I have an old mimeographed copy of >> the "original" instructions for tuning the 8d but I may reach retirement >> before I find it. Perhaps someone alse has a copy of it they could send you. >> >> If you are taking lessons or live somewhere with a band or symphony I >> bet you could contact them and find a horn player that would be willing >> to show you how it is done. In principal it is easy but in practice, a >> trained ear helps. >> >> Dan Beeker >> >>>> How do you tune a Conn 8D? I can't figure out what slide does what. I'm >>>> confused! :( >>>> >>>> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> post: [email protected] >> unsubscribe or set options at >> https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/hpizka%40me.com >> > > > -- Dan Beeker _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
