davewerden

A reader wrote recently asking about a horn for his 10-year-old son, who is excited to learn to play euphonium. They are renting a Bach b1104 for the time being, but he wondered if:

• Is the bell-front design a bad thing to learn on?
• Is it a limitation to have only 3 valves, or is it just better to learn right off the bat on a 4-valve horn
• Should he stick with the Bach or look into buying a used Conn (or similar)?

My bottom line was that he could probably stay with the horn he now has for a while. It is nice to avoid too much financial outlay before you can see the students level of interest. My reasons are below.


The Bach is probably as good as a Conn, especially for a younger student. Front valves are OK to start with (I played them through high school). If he really gets/sustains "the bug" he will notice that the pro's use side-valve models, and that would be a good time to think about getting a better horn. But (if he were my son, anyway) I would wait to see if his interest is going to stick. I also would not worry about the 4th valve just yet. The 3-valve model is lighter, which is better for younger players. At least by high school, it would be good for a serious student to get a decent 4-valve horn. Maybe before if he really shows potential.


One possible concern would be if the other players in his band have side-valve horns. That means the bells would point in opposite directions, and there is potential for physical collisions (and dents).


Aside from the number of valves and bell direction, student instruments have other differences compared to mid-level or pro horns. But these are features that a student may need. The student horns are often easier to handle. They are lighter, there is less tubing to clean around, the valve caps are often made with courser threads so they are easier to remove/replace, valve tolerances might be a little more forgiving, etc.


You mostly want a horn that is good shape so it plays well. It may also be important to have a horn that looks good. If it is dented and if half the lacquer is worn off, the student may have less pride and satisfaction in playing it and caring for it.


You should start with a clean horn, inside and out. If you are using a used instrument, it may need to be professionally cleaned to be sure the tubes are all clear of "gunk." I would also suggest that the student be taught to oil the valves by squirting some oil down the leadpipe, then blowing air through (hard!) while working the valves rapidly. This avoids the danger of dropping the valve while taking it out and helps keep the leadpipe cleaner inside. As he/she progresses, it will be a good time to learn to take the valves out and wipe them off before oiling.


The student should also be taught to clean the mouthpiece every weekend (just as a convenient way to remember). Buy a mouthpiece brush, which should be used with a little mild soap and warm water to clean the backbore of the moutpiece. But the mouthpiece rim and cup should also be cleaned with soap and water.


The outside of the horn should be cleaned with a damp, soft cloth, then dried/polished with a dry, soft cloth (assuming the horn is lacquered).