LEFT HANDED TRUMPET PLAYER
DM in MA
He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
in playing?
Debra
Jerry Houston
authoritative answer for you, but my advice is to let him operate the valves
with his right hand.
Both hands are important, Debra, and although some dexterity is required to
move the valves quickly and precisely, it's really a simple and easy
movement that can be done with either hand with very little training.
I'm right-handed, and play trumpet, flugelhorn, and alto using my right hand
on the valves, because the instruments are all designed that way. But my
true love is the horn, which is played with the left hand on the valves.
I've never felt that I was handicapped at all by being right-handed.
(Again, there's plenty for both hands to do.)
DM in MA wrote in message
<199809071648...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
Chris Stratton
> I'm right-handed, and play trumpet, flugelhorn, and alto using my right hand
> on the valves, because the instruments are all designed that way. But my
> true love is the horn, which is played with the left hand on the valves.
> I've never felt that I was handicapped at all by being right-handed.
> (Again, there's plenty for both hands to do.)
>
In a similar position, I find a slight sluggishness in fingering
a horn with my left hand, but it is slowly going away the more
I play that instrument. (Some of this is probably a result of
having to use the thumb valve at the same speed in certain technical
passages).
I'd suggest trying to make do with the right-handed trumpet.
One can always experiment with fingering it with the left hand
(I've done that for kicks). Reverse wrapping a trumpet is possible,
a good repair tech could do a hack job of it, and Bach at least
lists it as an option in theory. (Doing it right would require a
reversed valve cluster, or at least turning it around).
It would have minimal consequences, as one can switch hands easily and
there are no seating concerns as with a backwards-built horn.
--
Christopher C. Stratton
Engineering Consultant, Horn Player, and Brass Instrument Maker
http://www.mdc.net/~stratton or http://bounce.to/stratton
344 Boston Avenue Medford, MA 02155 (781) 393-0034
Stanton
I have a friend who is a righty, who began playing left handed after a
temporary hand injury. He is, coincidentally the son of a former Chicago
Symphony player and is a fine trumpet player in his own right (or left
<G>. He said it took him about 2 weeks to make the adaptation after
playing righty for many, many years. When his hand healed, he continued
to play lefty.
Another very good friend of mine is a drummer and used to tour with a
number of popular groups. When teaching a left handed student, he would
first suggest to learn to play righty, if only so developing the
opposite side would ultimately allow him greater versatility. He reports
that once learned, the lefties generally continue to play right handed
once learned that way.
You may or may not know this, but French horn is fingered with the left
hand. When I studied the French horn, I did not feel that I was hampered
by left handed fingering. I've never seen a left handed woodwind.
Pianos are all build one way.
What I'm getting at is that I don't think it matters. If it were my
student, I would just have him play the normal "right handed" way. If
nothing else, it will be more comfortable from a gripping standpoint, as
I find a left handed grip a bit awkward, though the left handed
fingerings don't seem to bother me.
HOWEVER... The thing that concerns me about a 9 year old is his physical
size relative to the length of a trumpet. I know Brian Moon may jump all
over me for this one, but I sometimes see very bad posture (hence bad
breathing skills) in students who's instruments tend to dwarf them. I
would respectfully suggest staring your child with a cornet until he's
10 or 11, depending on his size.
Sincerely,
Stanton Kramer
ma...@ibm.net
DM in MA wrote:
> I am new to this list, and have a 9 year old son who is starting the trumpet.
> He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
> in playing?
> Debra
I have an older daughter that plays Trumpet and Bass guitar. She's left
handed... no problem whatsoever. My Son (also left handed) is playing Trumpet and
guitar... again, no problem. Point is, kids adapt quickly and easily. Don't
instill any bias about this and let him learn to play. My other daughter who is
right handed also plays... you guessed it... Trumpet and is learning keyboard.
All 3 have no bias towards the fact they are right or left handed... they just
play the instrument(s).
Regards, KM.
Regards, KM.
Carl Dershem
> hand. When I studied the French horn, I did not feel that I was hampered
> by left handed fingering. I've never seen a left handed woodwind.
> Pianos are all build one way.
PDQ Bach wrote for left-handed sewer flute, but that's about the only woodwind
that would be held differently anyway - most of them require both hands and are
held along the center line of the body, so handedness is kind of a moot point.
My stepdad's a left-handed bass player (plays on a left-handed bass), and my
(right-handed) brother learned to play it when he was in high school, and now
plays almost eually well either way. I think it's more practice than anything
else.
Then again, Slide Hampton plays left-handed trombone, and that's *really* odd to
see.
cd
--
The differenece between Immorality and Immortality is "T".
I prefer Earl Grey of Darjeeling.
Bruce A. Richardson
NOT encourage him to play with his left hand on the valves. His right hand
will develop the proper coordination by the time his embrochure and
airstream are developed.
--
Bruce A. Richardson
Purple Iguana Productions
bandm...@sprynet.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/purpleiguana
DM in MA wrote in message
<199809071648...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
Tom
I started playing in 4th grade... if I remember right.. I was..9 or
10, I can't remember if I started before or after my birthday.
Anyways, I'm left handed, and I thought it would be weird that I have
to use my right hand instead of my left hand to opperate the valves,
but after my teacher taught me the basics, I did great. I've been
playing the trumpet for around 6 years (I'll be 15 on Sunday). I
would say that if your son likes playing the trumpet, and keeps at it,
he'll have no problems at all. Oh yeah, and practice too, can't
forget that. I remember my teacher saying, practice makes perfect,
then he corrected himself halfway through the year, perfect practice
makes perfect. Oh well, I think I got a bit off the topic. I hope
this helps you out.
Tom
Les
>DM in MA wrote:
>
>> I am new to this list, and have a 9 year old son who is starting the trumpet.
>> He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
>> in playing?
>> Debra
>
>
>
>handed... no problem whatsoever. My Son (also left handed) is playing Trumpet and
>guitar... again, no problem. Point is, kids adapt quickly and easily. Don't
>instill any bias about this and let him learn to play. My other daughter who is
>right handed also plays... you guessed it... Trumpet and is learning keyboard.
>All 3 have no bias towards the fact they are right or left handed... they just
>play the instrument(s).
>
> Regards, KM.
>
>
> Regards, KM.
>
>
Les
Les
Les
DECA Design Inc.
>I am new to this list, and have a 9 year old son who is starting the trumpet.
>He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
>in playing?
>Debra
And nobody has mentioned "Wingy" Manone, the chicago-style cornetist
of the thirties and forties-- He didn't have a right hand, and if I'm
not mistaken, he had a prosthetic right hand which held his horn on
the right side, then used his left hand over the bell tubing to finger
the valves!! I think I've got this right...
Mark D. Dibner, Ph.D.
>
> I am new to this list, and have a 9 year old son who is starting the trumpet.
> He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
> in playing?
> Debra
age (and then switched to the french horn so i guess i don't count in
this conversation), but, my left handed nine year old son is now
starting on the trumpet, right handed. seems to be having no problems.
Have him play the instruent as it is meant to be played...he will
probably do fine. Lefties learn to do what we have to do.
good luck. mark
DM in MA
that he will have no problem playing with his right hand. You have all given
him a lot of encouragement.
Debra
Robert L. Carroll
> >DM in MA wrote:
> >
> >> I am new to this list, and have a 9 year old son who is starting the trumpet.
> >> He is left-handed. My question to anyone left-handed: What's the difference
> >> in playing?
> >> Debra
> >
My daughter is a left-handed trumpet player. Last year as a senior in high school,
she was ranked, thru competition, the top trumpeter in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This year she is a freshman at Florida State University, and auditioned as the best
trumpeter in the freshman class (freshmen aren't allowed to compete with upper
classmen there). She never had any difficulty playing the trumpet in the right-handed
fashion.
Bear in mind that most musical instruments require use of BOTH hands to play. For
example, a saxophonist (as I am) must develop equal ability in both hands, since each
note is produced by depressing a combination of keys. It is irrelevant whether one is
right handed or left handed for playing these instruments. For this reason, I think
that few if any trumpeters would be handicapped because of their handedness.
Carl Dershem
> of the thirties and forties-- He didn't have a right hand, and if I'm
> not mistaken, he had a prosthetic right hand which held his horn on
> the right side, then used his left hand over the bell tubing to finger
> the valves!! I think I've got this right...
We have a local player here in San Diego named Howie Roberts who's missing his
right hand, and who plays like Harry James. The *only* problem I've ever
noticed him having is quick page turns.
cd
--
The difference between Immorality and Immortality is "T".
I prefer Earl Grey or Darjeeling.
IKNDIGIT45
DEBRAH
I am a left-handed trumpet player . Although i play with my right hand i
find its no different than when i play with my left .
hope that helps
BRIAN SCHNEIDER
JB
IKNDIGIT45 wrote in message <19980917191927...@ng94.aol.com>...
CHEZ
IKNDIGIT45 wrote:
> DEBRAH
> I am a left-handed trumpet player . Although i play with my right hand i
> find its no different than when i play with my left .
>
> hope that helps
> BRIAN SCHNEIDER
I am also left handed .
one benefit I have found , is playing the flugel horn with your left hand .
This means you can switch to your trumpet (in right hand ) within the same
measure of music .
TRY IT .
ALAN CHEZ
trumpet
LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
CHEZ
>
>
> > I am a left-handed trumpet player . Although i play with my right hand
> i
> >find its no different than when i play with my left .
> >
> >hope that helps
> > BRIAN SCHNEIDER
Brian , I just posted I don't think it went through---
I am also left handed .
It help's when you are able to play your flugel with your left hand ( For me
it is the Kanstel Copper flugel .)
It is a little hard to hold with one hand but you can get used to it really
easy.
Then switch within a measure to your trumpet that is still in your right hand
( my FLIP OAKES WILD THING TRUMPET ).-----------GREAT HORN ---------
Always practice your flugel with your left hand and it becomes second
nature after a while .
I don't think I can get around the flugelhorn right handed any more . kidding
.
but I must say it helps to be able to switch that fast.
give it a shot.
ALAN CHEZ
trumpet
LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
flip oakes wild thing trumpet / kanstel copper bell flugel
dennis
> ALAN CHEZ
> trumpet
> LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
>
> flip oakes wild thing trumpet / kanstel copper bell flugel
>
that chez guy has impeccable taste.
dennis hill
trumpet
can't stay awake long enough to watch letterman.
Albert Lilly
"dennis" <wdh...@NOSPAMhome.com> wrote:
>that chez guy has impeccable taste.
Not to mention that, from what I hear of him on the show, I think he is
one heck of a great trumpet player.
>
>dennis hill
>trumpet
>can't stay awake long enough to watch letterman.
Buy a VCR.......fast forward through to the 30 seconds that you get to
hear the band, and the top 10 list.
>
>flip oakes wild thing trumpet / kanstel copper bell flugel
Similar tastes create good dining partners.
E-Mail Address available at <http://www.scican.net/~alilly/address.html>.
Pursuant to US Code Title 47, Cht. 5, Subchapter II, A7227, all unsolicited
E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee of
$500 US. Sending such E-mail denotes acceptance of terms.
