Comments on: Welcome! http://newhornist.com Learning the horn again! Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:19:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: amygabb http://newhornist.com/#comment-1256 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:19:28 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-1256 Hey! I too am a french horn player. I am the only on in our high school band. think it’s so great that you are doing something you always wanted to pursue. I nominated you for the Most Versatile Blog award, here’s a link for the details: http://spellcheckaholic.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/me-im-so-flatered/

]]> By: newhornist http://newhornist.com/#comment-999 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:02:04 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-999 Hi Mark,
Thanks for writing! I’m selling my Otto horn but not because I don’t like it. I think Otto horns are great horns and they sound great. My initial issue was sound but that was me playing badly, not the horn. I, fortunately, fixed that issue with the horn but developed a physical problem while playing a 1969 8D that I got in the spring. The Conn is a heavy horn my already bad tendonitis in my left shoulder got worse to the point of not being able to hold the horn up to play it. I ended up practicing with my elbow on a table to relieve the pain. Consequently I started looking for the lightest horn I could find and I ended up with a Schmid which is why I’m selling the Otto. My shoulder problem isn’t solved but it’s a whole lot better.
As far as servicing an Otto, that probably depends on where you live and how you feel about shipping your horn around. Scott Bacon at Seigfried’s Call sells them and has mine there. He’s in Beacon, NY. Houghton Horns in Dallas, TX also sells them. Both are great dealers and first rate to do business with.
Feel free to email me if you want to chat more. tina.barkan@mac.com.
Sincerely,
Tina

]]> By: Mark Duncan http://newhornist.com/#comment-998 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:45:47 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-998 I’m not sure if this is the correct place to ask (I’m not au fait with blogging)… however, I’m interested to hear about your Dieter Otto horn.

I have been unable to find many online reviews of Otto horns. I’m yet another late life returnee to horn playing (haven’t played since 1979) and I would like to start out with a horn that I can keep for years, rather than upgrade models constantly. The Otto appeals to me at this stage but I’m a bit concerned about your experience of finding it difficult to get a good tone. Also, I’m wondering if they are more difficult to get serviced?

]]> By: Eric McDonald http://newhornist.com/#comment-915 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 05:01:36 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-915 Its so encouraging to read these posts. I too took up the horn late. Its a great thing to fill your time with such a worthwhile activity. I f youre retired you have the time and for older people there are wonderful health benefits esp keeping the respiritory system fit. Good luck and enjoy music making on this great and beautiful instrument.
Eric

]]> By: Don Spaulding http://newhornist.com/#comment-914 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:29:10 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-914 Hello Tina,
Just keep playing! I’m a (burnt out) NY broadway pit player that needed to explore other professions for a while. I can honestly say that it something that never leaves you. No matter what I sound like that day, I’m a happier person after playing. I can definitely offer some help. What gets me in shape the quickest is 2 things. Air and buzz. Make sure you’re using enough air from the first note of the day. I’ve gone through entire routines only to find a half hour later that I never took a complete breath! Playing a HUGE old conn, you an see the problem. The other is buzz. Practice with the rim only. It gets the metal out of the way of the air. I sound so much more focused when I’m feeding the horn the correct pitches. Lastly, when you feel confident, record yourself. Mirrors and recorders don’t lie!
Please stay in touch. It looks like you’ve got one of my friends here in VA – Jeremy posting as well.
Cheers,
Don Spaulding

]]> By: Forrest http://newhornist.com/#comment-887 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:26:58 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-887 Hi Tina
While dealing with a serious 1-on-1 with cancer I started thinking about things I wished that I had done. Because I’ve been blessed and lucky most of my life the list wasn’t long, but at the top was the horn. I had not played horn since I was a senior in High School, forty nine years ago. My wife knew somone who played in a Brazosport Wind Ensemble and said we should go to a rehearsal and listen. Next Monday night we were there. After about an hour a very nice lady handed me a folder of music and told me to pick one of the school horns and showed me where to sit. I couldn’t even remember the fingerings and I could barely read the music because of the tears in my eyes.

That was six months ago. My wife let me buy the horn of my dreams, an 8D. I always have a mouthpiece in my pocket. I did not remember how hard a horn is to play but its worth every hour of practice because once in a while it’s all there, even if only for a few measures and you hear something so beautiful that you forget that it’s coming from the instrument you are holding.

To anyone who ever played, it doesn’t matter how “good” your are. There is no pressure to be First Chair. There is the joy of sharing with others something only a few people cand do: I can play horn.

BTW, Scooter I saw your post above. I love the Yamaha.

Regards to all
Forrest Mobley
Angleton, Texas

]]> By: newhornist http://newhornist.com/#comment-754 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:01:06 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-754 Hi Lyn,
Yes, it was an amazing week. I also wish I could have gone to BTI and I hope that next year the two programs won’t be back to back. I too hope our paths cross again – maybe at the BSO Academy next year. There is always email!
Tina

]]> By: Lyn Banghart http://newhornist.com/#comment-752 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:59:23 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-752 Hi Tina,
It’s Lyn from the BSO Academy….Such a wonderful week. It’s been very difficult coming home for both John (tuba) and I. Not many of our friends understand what an experience we just had.
I wish I could have gone to the BTI this week but it just wasn’t possible. Anyway, it was great meeting you. I think we should have talked more. I, too am totally obsessed with the horn. I absolutely love it! And I admire you for the progress you have made! I hope our paths will cross again someday!
Lyn Banghart

]]> By: David Bryan http://newhornist.com/#comment-476 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:37:09 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-476 Tina
A year later and I have some updates. I too started my own little website but it does not have the traffic you have. I also went to BTI and it was great and am going back agian this year.

I am also writing an article for “The Brass Herald” (UK publication gaining a following here in the U.S.). I am covering the Barry Tuckwell Institute this year but am I also doing a second article on folks like us. Those that took up an intstrument later in Life or those, like me, who after 3 decades, dusted off the horn and played again.

I plan on speaking to several folks for this second article and I hope some folks will leave post at my blog as to why they started or came back.

Hope you are well. Thanks for the inspiration!

Dave “Scooter” Bryan

]]> By: eric mcdonald http://newhornist.com/#comment-474 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 01:30:26 +0000 http://newhornist.wordpress.com/?page_id=28#comment-474 It is so encouraging to meet the community of like minded horn players.
I took up horn i my early 50s and now that im retired its my major interest. I play in a community orchestra and im learning jazz horn. I dont have a teacher yet.
Good luck and keep practicing.

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