It's true about the beginner problem. Beginners method books (eg Rubank) start only with open notes, and that's exactly right. But it's hopeless on a valved horn to expect the beginner to stick to just open notes for any length of time; the kids take the horn home and start trying to play the 'Smurfs' theme song all on their own anyway. And the siblings play the horn. And the neighbors get a crack at it (so to speak), and so on. So, even if one had the luxury of having a newbie start on a natural horn, unfortunately that's not realistic. In my territory, the beginners are likely to come to you from their junior high bands, and they are already playing the banged-up school-supplied single F. Their teachers are preparing the bands for competitions, and the new student is squeezing out wobbly high As as you walk into the studio, and you see Karel Husa's 'Prague 1968' sitting in their band folder. And if you GIVE them a natural horn, they'll probably hide it in shame from their bandmates because it seems 'weird' or something... sort of like still having training wheels on their bikes.
Bob Dickow Lionel Hampton School of Music -----Original Message----- From: horn-boun...@memphis.edu [mailto:horn-boun...@memphis.edu] On Behalf Of Hans Pizka Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 8:39 AM To: The Horn List Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Natural horn for kids ? ...<snip> Yes, I agree, it is lost time to start beginners with "the fingerings" and it is wrong, as they will stick on the fingering method for lifetime, wasting valuable time, and not to talk about their future troubles with transposing etc. <snip> _______________________________________________ post: horn@memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
