Plenty of people have fast fingers - but I wonder if we've peaked or what the limitations are. In a related topic to finger flexibility, I think it would be useful to point out finger dexterity in terms of typing. On a good day I can type about 110WPM, and on a bad day 90WPM. This is on a standard keyboard and I've been able to type this fast since I was at least 15. I know that before my time, in the 1970s and earlier, that typing was even more challenging due to the fact that a lot of typewriters were manual, and so if you wanted your letters to show up on the paper you had to push down pretty hard with your fingers. Even keyboards in the early 1980s were mechanical and required much more force than keyboards do today. I'm using an apple keyboard on one pc, and a Razer keyboard on my work computer, and I notice a far better improvement in typing speed and accuracy on a keyboard with more tactile response. As far as manual typewriters go, Ron Mingo was a record holder in the 1970s and could type nearly 165WPM on a manual typewriter with 100% accuracy. Those that use a dvorak layout (instead of the qwerty) can sometimes reach 200WPM on modern keyboards - and the current record holder uses that layout. Brass playing isn't the only thing that requires serious finger dexterity. Piano players have us all beat as far as I can tell. They don't have many choices for alternative fingerings and the fingerings they use are very important. I was able to get my piano competency in college, but I was nowhere near the level of some of the piano majors (or even piano minors). There are pianists living today that have finger speed that is almost inhuman - Martha Argerich or Jack Gibbons for example. There are also no longer living pianists that had finger speed that may never be matched (Cziffra, Liszt, and Alkan come to mind). There's even a recording on youtube of Cziffra 'improving' as a test of a piano, and in it he breaks into Chopin's first Etude at a speed that is at least twice as fast as anybody else can play it. There are Cziffra transcriptions and Alkan pieces that are so challenging on the fingers that only the arrangers/composers have ever been able to play them, too. I think we horn players have it easy compared to pianists. -William In a message dated 1/3/2011 6:02:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Indeed you are right William, there are many horns players out and about with fabulous fingering technique, some right on this list of ours. Valerie, while I do not disagree that it is good to free the weight of the trumpet to aid in quick fingering, I do disagree with the notion that it is necessary. The immortal Jimmy Burke, cornet soloist for decades with the Goldman Band in NYC had lighting quick fingers (and a multiple tonguing technique that wouldn't quit). Jimmy, due a condition from birth was a one-armed player (he could have been a horn player!). By necessity, he supported the weight and fingered with his left arm/hand. Though I am sure there are many others, James Burke was one of the greats who's name should be remembered. He always had a repertoire of several solo pieces at the ready and was often called upon at a moment's notice (read - no notice) to perform at the summer band concerts. If you don't know about Jimmy Burke, this wonderful website, constructed in his honor, will provide some nice reading - this will take you to the bio page. http://www.jfbcornet.com/biographyresume.htm Happy New Year to All, Chris >>> "William.S.Gross" <[email protected]> 1/3/2011 1:21 PM >>> Having heard the American Horn Quartet play their arrangement to the Marriage of Figaro Overture, it was clear really good horn players have pretty fast fingering ability. > > ________________________________ > From: valerie wells <[email protected]> > To: horn list 2 memphis <[email protected]> > Sent: Mon, January 3, 2011 12:54:33 AM > Subject: [Hornlist] FreeNeck - was Alexander 309 triple for sald - DUTCH AUCTION > > Since coming back to horn 5 years ago, I've often wondered if there > couldn't be a practical solution to many of the shoulder problems I > hear horn players complaining about. I've seen various methods of > support from underneath the instrument which seem cumbersome for an > assortment of reasons, but a strap that doesn't strain the neck looks > workable. > > I've been asked to teach trumpet to a middle school child, so I > arranged to have a lesson with a local trumpeter. He told me Friday > the only way to develop the lightening fast finger facility of a > trumpeter is to totally support the wieght of the trumpet with the > left hand so the right hand fingers are free & unencumbered. Ah ha! > So that's how they do it. Seems we hornists could have better > facility if we didn't have to bear so much weight with the left hand & > arm. Even a ducks foot or well designed strap still require weight > bearing from the left hand & arm. > > Thanks for the link, Andrew. I saw your reference to this item on the > IHS website. Have you found greater ease in your finger facility > since you've been using the FreeNeck or is most of the benefit to your > shoulder alone? > -- > Valerie Wells > The Balanced Embouchure Method > http://bebabe.wordpress.com/ > http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/ > ----------------- >> check out the FreeNeck system. It costs about ?100. > >> http://www.saxophon- >>> service.de/homep/prospekte/ergonomic_systems/freeneck.html > >> I also had problems with my right shoulder and an Otto full triple. Using the . >>> FreeNeck solved it for me. > > Best wishes > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/herb_foster%40yahoo.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/bgross%40airmail.net _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/cwilhjelm%40pascack.k12.nj.us _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/valkhorn%40aol.com _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
