Archived under: Equipment | Descants & Triples
Just Clean It (your horn, that is)
I would say I have been pretty good about cleaning horns over the years. Any horn I am playing gets a good cleaning at least every six months or so. However, I basically set aside my triple horn for the entire fall semester and did not clean it before I set it aside. I have been trying it again the last few weeks. The one thing I noticed the most was it smelled like an old tuba! It really stunk and badly needed good cleaning.
My general routine for cleaning a horn involves snaking out the lead pipe, snaking out and rinsing the slides, and then blowing water through the horn to remove as much crud as possible. Finally, you re-lube the slides and oil the valves.
So I did the routine on the triple today. On the triple there is a valve in the lead pipe so this you can only snake up to near the valve, not through it. End result: the horn does not smell bad and it plays better! Play clean!
I took a break from the triple this fall. I was using it as more or less a super double horn with a high F side. Then I started working on my recent project to improve my B-flat horn fingerings. With that progressing I decided to give it another try, but to change it so it stands in B-flat and to treat it more like a super descant or super single B-flat horn. The problem with really all triple horns is the low F side is stuffy, so to focus technique around the B-flat horn and avoiding the use of low F horn fingerings makes it feel like a whole new horn. Depending on how practice goes the next few days for the works I have coming up for the next major performance I have on the schedule (at the Missouri Horn Day) this may be my approach.
Related to this article
- How do you Clean the Leadpipe if There is a Valve in the Middle of it?
This question was posed to me today and I realized there is nothing in my writings that address this question, one that does come up. You don’t want a lot to build up and cake in there over years of use on any horn but especially... - What would a Horn Soloist do?
One thing I have been thinking about lately is the topic of equipment and fingering choices in relation to orchestral and solo horn playing. Most horn players in the USA are essentially orchestral players in their equipment and outlook. Which is fine, but it does lead... - Play Clean
One booklet I have had for some years is the 1977 publication Super Power Embouchure by “Brass Teacher & High Range Coach” A. A. “Sandy” Adam. This book is a program of isometric exercises for the embouchure. One side topic that was important to the author however... - Playing it on the Right Horn, or, How Many Horns do you Really Need?
There are really two approaches to the question of how many horns you need, at least as an advanced horn player. One approach is that you have one horn and mouthpiece that you use for everything. I started out there. I think all horn players do.... - Pitch in Relation to Fingerings
A topic that has come to mind for me recently is facility in the use of alternate fingerings. Some teachers really push this, especially facility in B-flat horn alternate fingerings. But my teachers did not. Which is fine but, as a result, I have at this... - Horn in E-flat Means What?
One topic that has come up for me as a question a number of times over the years is that of horn in E-flat. As in, why are the parts in E-flat? They could be in E-flat for a number of reasons. If it is old... - Philip Myers on Playing a Triple Horn
I recently noted a link to a 1998 interview with Philip Myers, Principal Horn of the New York Philharmonic. He is a very notable advocate of the triple horn and explains at length his reasons. This reason for me really sticks out above the rest: Accuracy....
Internet Memes 'Sad Keanu' and 'Strutting Leo' with French Horns, I
Random Monday: More Riots, Humor and Clammy Critics
Review: A Complete Guide to Brass?
