Reply To: Starting on horn in 4th grade–yea or nay?

[nafmeadmin]

I really think that finding the ambitious player is the key to starting an early horn. As far as beginning band literature goes, horn is a difficult instrument because they’re either playing significantly lower or higher than the rest of the students playing in Bb, or F, or other common band keys. But I don’t think that means the kids can’t start on it. They’ll just have to work harder initially.
I also don’t particularly see the benefit in starting them on an instrument before hand. I’m a bassoonist that started on the saxophone in 5th grade, and switched in 6th. As much as I enjoy playing saxophone on the side now, in all honesty it has only negatively effected my bassoon playing (saxophone embouchure is a terrible bassoon embouchure, and will really screw up tone if not monitored). I think that what’s important is that the student is aware that he’s going to have to work harder at first, and that he’s willing to do so. The attitude to learn is what will decide the students’ success.