I am going to buy a new horn today. Do I need one? Of course not, but that's not the point.
I received my first horn seven years ago from husband--an extravagant birthday present. It was a fine Yamaha horn and suited me well as I relearned the instrument. After a couple of years, I was ready for a bigger, more professional model and bought a Conn 8D through Ebay. I sold the Yamaha on Ebay as well, so it was almost an even trade.
The Conn is considerably bigger and heavier and requires more air to push out the notes. But I worked with it and improved my breathing techniques enough to play in public. I have done well with this new horn, but by nature it does nothing to help with accuracy--the horn is considered one of the most difficult instruments to play because the valves are only suggestions for what note you hit, not really a guarantee like with other instruments. It can be nerve-wracking, which is why so many professional horn players are alcoholics. When I play complicated rhythms or higher notes, I sound a little sloppy, sometimes a lot sloppy, and I occasionally miss the pitch after a few measures of rest. I have been working on those problems for a couple of years with a teacher at a college, a teacher who is also a horn dealer for Atkinson horns, but I still have so far to go.
My teacher loaned me an Atkinson horn to play last spring, and it was so noticeably easier than my Conn, so much cleaner and with a greater range for someone at my level. It's the same size as the Conn but made with thinner metal, so it is naturally cleaner and smoother. So, now I am ready to buy the thing--I have been playing it for a week, and I am so happy with it.
Pretty, wouldn't you say?
I received my first horn seven years ago from husband--an extravagant birthday present. It was a fine Yamaha horn and suited me well as I relearned the instrument. After a couple of years, I was ready for a bigger, more professional model and bought a Conn 8D through Ebay. I sold the Yamaha on Ebay as well, so it was almost an even trade.
The Conn is considerably bigger and heavier and requires more air to push out the notes. But I worked with it and improved my breathing techniques enough to play in public. I have done well with this new horn, but by nature it does nothing to help with accuracy--the horn is considered one of the most difficult instruments to play because the valves are only suggestions for what note you hit, not really a guarantee like with other instruments. It can be nerve-wracking, which is why so many professional horn players are alcoholics. When I play complicated rhythms or higher notes, I sound a little sloppy, sometimes a lot sloppy, and I occasionally miss the pitch after a few measures of rest. I have been working on those problems for a couple of years with a teacher at a college, a teacher who is also a horn dealer for Atkinson horns, but I still have so far to go.
My teacher loaned me an Atkinson horn to play last spring, and it was so noticeably easier than my Conn, so much cleaner and with a greater range for someone at my level. It's the same size as the Conn but made with thinner metal, so it is naturally cleaner and smoother. So, now I am ready to buy the thing--I have been playing it for a week, and I am so happy with it.
Pretty, wouldn't you say?
Comments
HAPPY NEW HORN DAY!!!!!!!
PF
Too many horn? no way. I once owned three trumpets a trumbone and managed to use all of them. Now I'm down to two trumpets one acoustic and an electric guitar.
I'm glad you spent some time getting to know it before buying it. Now you know that it will sound great.
Enjoy!