On Behalf Of Christopher Mudd > When players talk about a horn that wasn't the right horn for them..... > What did you experience playing a horn that just wasn't a good fit for you? > Even if it was a fine instrument.
As someone with a small hand, "fit" is a big issue. If I can't reach the levers and the thumb comfortably, and I cannot easily make the necessary adjustments to correct this, then the horn isn't right for me. If I can't hand stop the bell -- well -- it's not a make-of-break for me, but it is a point to be considered. I play off the knee. If the horn is too heavy, or is balanced incorrectly making it difficult for me to hold up, then it isn't right. (And yes, I do lift weights.) Intonation is another issue. If you play with it for a couple of weeks and still can't find the tuning, then I'd say the horn doesn't work for you. How's the sound, especially in the register you use the most (high or low)? How's the register? Can you play your full register? Something again to think about. You might be able to make some changes with a new mouthpiece, but you should be able to figure this out pretty quickly. Margaret Margaret Dikel, horn / librarian Symphony of the Potomac symphonypotomac.org [email protected] _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
