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PSA: How to Position a Hand Strap on your Left Hand
At least a half dozen or so times I have seen horn students use a strap-on type hand strap but position it incorrectly. This type of strap (the Fhrap is one example) is a very handy thing but used...
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High Notes, or Why you need a New Horn or Upgrade Leadpipe
Nothing can inspire you to practice more than a horn that clearly plays better than what you have been playing. In my case, I have really been enjoying practicing lately as not only does my new horn...
View ArticleWater Keys 102
So, you decided to install a water key or two or three on your horn. You just take it to your technician and say, “Put on a water key.” Right? Not so fast, there, horn player! You have to actually...
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How to Test a Different Leadpipe on your Horn
Among horns I have owned over the years I have tried and changed several leadpipes. A change of leadpipe continues to be a popular upgrade for horns and it is not difficult to try a new one. It was a...
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What is a “Dual Bore” Horn?
While I am not using it at present, for some years I played a Paxman 25A horn. It is a big horn and it is “dual bore.” What they did with this model is make the F side bigger than normal. The photos...
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Then: Double Horn and Descant at the Audition. Now?
Before (and after) winning Third Horn in Nashville in 1991 I took a lot of auditions. Early on, I owned just one horn, and in a fairly early audition I advanced and had to play a very high excerpt from...
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Named Your Horn Yet?
This past week I helped my niece purchase a new flute. At the store the manager asked her if she had named her old flute and told her to be sure to name the new one, because without a name “it won’t...
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Name that YouTube Horn
Embedded in the article yesterday was one of the more recent videos of horn solos by Steve Park. It gave me a case of the game lots of horn players play, “name that horn.” In his older videos he used a...
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Ask Dave: “Why Do Valves Clank?”
K asks, “Why do valves clank and what can be done about them?’ * * * Dave replies: Valves clank because something is loose. The loose parts are given momentum when the valve lever is depressed or let...
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Thoughts on ‘Quality’ and an Overview of Trusted Brands in French Horns
As someone who works in marketing and advertising, I respect the value and power of word-of-mouth opinion. While big-name consumer brands – like McDonald’s and Sony - manipulate popular opinion and...
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Ask Dave: Slide Grease Residue and Finding a Competent Repair Technician
I can only say, “Wow!” When I suggested that my repair articles become an “Ask Dave” feature, I had no idea that I’d get such a positive response! Keep those cards and letters coming, folks! * * * Ed...
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Mailbag: “Wolf” Notes on the Horn
A question recently came in relating to “wolf” notes on the natural horn, but it also relates to valved horn as well. The question included also information that in exploring the problem note the owner...
View ArticleTrusted Brand Names of French Horns: Composite and Age Group Results
This is the first of several documents that will be posted. In this chapter, composite and age group results are reported. Open publication The next report will include experience level data and a...
View Article‘Trusted Brands’ Report Update: New Results with Focus on Experience Levels
UPDATE: 20 November, late PM. A revised version has been uploaded – it restates the margin-of-error, adds a bar chart to the composite results and fixes a few bugs and layout errors. * * * This is the...
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A Garland on Your Bell: Not Just Bling
One option out there from a few horn makers is a garland, an extra band of metal added to the edge of the bell near the rim. The idea is an old one; in this first photo is the garland on my Seraphinoff...
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Ask Dave: How Can I Improve My Grip?
Ginger asks: Dave, I’ve been having a hard time with my left hand grip. My horn came prepared for a huge hand and mine is smaller with a shorter thumb. How flexible can you make the thumb valve? I’ve...
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Make Your Own Custom Horn
Interested in owning a custom horn but hesitant about the cost? There is a resource out there worth checking into. I have mentioned a couple times in this site that I made a natural horn as a Doctoral...
View ArticleAsk Dave: What Can I Do About a Horn that Plays Flat?
Eric J asks: I recently bought a new horn about two months ago. Everything is in working order, great sound, projection, ergonomic, light, just a great instrument overall. There is only one problem:...
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Brief Review: The GigBag Horn Mute Bag
A new product I was sent recently for review is the GigBag horn mute bag. As the website states, “The GigBag is a carrying case for multiple horn mutes and music accessories, designed specifically for...
View ArticleAsk Dave: Clanking Parts and the Valve Levers
Bruce B. asks: Following up on your article on clanking valves. My horn (Holton 179, early 90s vintage) will clank if I am careless about adjusting the string position relative to the valve rotor....
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