dcbrown1

Just wondered if anyone's seen a left-hand flugel. We have a french horn player in a church group who wants to play flugel...but can't get the hang of right-hand fingering. I'd appreciate any tips. I'm thinking about contacting Kanstul...but I'm thinking the price might be pretty hefting for this person's budget. Thoughts? Thanks, Dave Brown

Tootsall

There have been several lengthy discussions on various trumpet forums over the past few years about the wisdom of deliberately seeking out a "left-handed" instrument. The prevailing belief seems to be that it is far better for the development of the brain to learn to play either left or right handed: that right-handed people who learn to valve with their left hand seem to improve their dexterity when they switch back to the right hand and vice versa.

My eldest daughter is a french horn player and music instructor and she's had no difficulty at all with the valving on a trumpet... but then, she's right handed to start off with and I suppose one's natural "handedness" has a lot to do with the relative ease of switching back and forth from her "regular" instrument. If your acquaintance is naturally left-handed then it may be a bit more difficult but still should come with some regular effort and practice.



Then there are those who can play with the instrument held upside down.... TRENT!

FreshBrewed

Back in 1991, there was a gentleman from South West Texas University who played on all left handed built horns. I can't remember his name but you may be able to find him and ask him where he purchased them by searching there music department website. All of their staff has pictures with their instruments. He was in his early 30's so he may still be there. I believe he was playing on Getzen built horns.

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Mike
Eclipse MHY Bell
1949 Olds Ambassador

Listening has nothing to do with moving your mouth!

crash

Here's your left handed flugel horn... Unless they reversed the image...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:EF:US:11

GitRdoneJazz

When I busted my right hand, I played both my trumpet and my flugel left handed. I wasn't near as fast with my left hand, but I did just fine on slower songs. If I can do it for 8 weeks, somebody who's naturally left-handed shouldn't have any trouble playin that way permantly...

Take a peek at my avitar. It appears as though Larry plays trumpet lefty too...

:)

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Grandpa's last words were "Be careful that things loaded"...

trumpetdiva1

I'd studied briefly with John McNeil. He plays left-handed instruments. If I remember correctly, he plays a left-handed Kanstul flugelhorn. Hope that this helps!

Janell

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Janell Carter

Dave Mickley

I'm going back a few years [20?] but I remember seeing a Schilke fl. hrn. and it had the bell on the other side. Schilke Fl. weren't very popular so one may be hard to find. Dave

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formerly known as old geezer Dave
C7
Yam. 231 Fl. 15383
King Master Cornet 295628
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Robert Rowe

I "doubled" for a while, on French Horn and Trumpet (symphonic).

Not difficult to develop facility with either hand and fingers.

Like GitRDoneJazz ... (weird, Dude, weird)... , I later (subsequent to having already been playing "Horn" and Trumpet) had a disability with my right-hand, requiring surgery and an extended (6 months) rehabilition.

Also, later (much) ... developed "tennis elbow", and had to switch back to using my left hand to do everyday, normal tasks.

I now consider myself ambidextrious ... including legs and feet.

One might be surprised what one can do, if one has to.

"Necessity is a Mother!"

Happy HOGMANAY !!
Robt
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"No fat chicks!"

GitRdoneJazz

I've always considered myself ambidextrious...

I can't do a dang thing with either of my hands!

__________________
Grandpa's last words were "Be careful that things loaded"...