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This past week the parents of a young student I teach decided it was time to think about buying her a horn. The dad asked about Craigslist, and I was like, I know things come up sometimes, but have me try whatever you find to be sure it is a decent horn.
One brand I had mentioned to him to watch for was Holton, and wouldn’t you know it that very afternoon a listing for a 20 or so year old H177 came up. They set a time the next morning to try it, only a 15 minute drive from our home.
The horn was immaculate. It had been used by the seller’s mother, who had played it in community bands and such. Frankly it looked very nearly brand new, and it played just like it was supposed to. They bought it for her for a very fair price.
Then, on leaving, something unexpected — I actually became overcome with emotion. My parents bought me a Holton H177 back in the fall of 1977 when I was a junior in high school (prior to that I had played a school 6D and then an 8D). I’m sure my band director helped them get two of the Holtons sent up from Wichita Band Instrument, and I picked the horn out between them. I believe it was considered to be my Christmas present. I used it into my junior year of college, but sold it years ago. I also had not played on one for years (the H179 is much more common), and the memories of my parents, the excitement of that first horn, all the music I made on it, it all briefly tapped into some deep emotions. That horn started me on my journey to where I am today.
Thinking about all of that, and that I’m probably not alone in my thoughts on that first horn, led me to put up a Twitter survey. 85 responses is not real scientific, but it did confirm something I had suspected, a lot of people started out with a Holton as their first personally owned horn, even more than had Conn horns as their first. Holton had that Farkas endorsement and it was a relatively compact instrument suited to younger players. With a water key! So many people playing them as their first personally owned horn is a lot of why it is still on the market, even in the face of so many other options at better price points.
And to any lucky reader that got a horn for Christmas, enjoy it! Welcome to your horn playing adventure.
