Professor Corno: Put a Water Key on your Horn Already

July 24, 2011 by Professor Ichabod Corno

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OK. Time for a little more straight talk; today the topic is that awesome new invention, the water key. For those unfamiliar with them, you use them to get water out of your horn.

Water Key Professor Corno: Put a Water Key on your Horn AlreadyHorn you say? You mean horns can have water keys?

So you knew that they could have water keys. But your horn does not have a water key. What can you do? It came that way from the factory so we better not add one I guess.

Hello? Don’t be a head case. A water key is VERY EASY for a competent brass repairman to add to your horn. It will play exactly the same after installation except that now you can get water out of your leadpipe much better.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle. Should not be something your horn does if you are serious at all about the horn.

“But wait, if I add a water key the wrong place it may make my high X-flat wobble.” Please. It is not rocket science. Put the key at the low point. Gravity will take care of the water and the acoustics will work out fine.

I think it is all about the power of suggestion. “If I add a water key it will ruin my horn!” No, it won’t; instead it will make it so you can get water out of your horn and will only increase the value of your horn.

What type of key? Any type. They are all good and are all better than nothing.

Oh, did I mention that they now make something called a “water key” that you can use on a French horn to remove water. Smashing idea really. Sure hope they catch on. Might be a real time saver for any hornist and make it so the gurgle gurgle sound is never heard again in a performance.

In conclusion, don’t be a head case. Get a water key already.

articles: PROFESSOR ICHABOD CORNO has led the career of a complete artist. Universally recognized as an international superstar of the horn, he studied with the right people. You would want to hang out with Corno if you could. His students are acclaimed worldwide. "...extraordinarily mellifluous tone..."--Horn Journal Gazette



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Professor Corno: Put a Water Key on your Horn Already
Published on July 24, 2011 by Professor Ichabod Corno

Archived under: Equipment, Humor   |   Ichabod the horn teacher