Trumpet for a little person

[YOJiMBO20]

Hello,

I don't come around here very often, but have an important question.

One of my private students is a little person and has trouble holding the trumpet due to his small hands.

We've already changed his hand position to be able to press the valves with his thumb, index, and middle fingers instead of the standard position as his fingers can't reach.

However, he has issues with holding up his trumpet due to the weight being so far out, and rests the bottom caps on his bent knee. I've thought about recommending a pocket trumpet to his father, but haven't had good experiences with them, and I also don't know if this will help.

So I come to all of you here; have you ever had a similar situation and what did you do about it?

Thanks,

Jim
_________________
I played jazz in a kilt and the world didn't end.

[connicalman]

Try a cornet?

Tho from what you're saying the valve block itself is a challenge. That is also pretty standard across the board. hmm.

Which of the dimensions can be overcome best?

I have big mitts with shorter fingers thus the very nice Olds Recording cornet doesn't fit me well, where the trumpet version fits my hand great.

I'd be first to recc a Conn 80A Victor, as it can SOUND very close to a trumpet, and is shorter than most any trumpet so it is less work to hold. But the valve blocks on those Conns all have finger buttons slightly further apart from one another rather than closer together, as compared to many other horns.

What you pick may well be guided by what SOUND your student wants.
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kochaavim, csillaagkep, αστερρισμός, konnstelacji, connstellation... ...a.k.a. 28A

[A.N.A.Mendez]

Cornet, or reverse wrap such as Olds Super Star is easier to hold.
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"There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860

☛ Chumlee for president ☚

[James Becker]

Some years back we had a request to modify a rotory cornet for a small child because the levers were much easier for him to operate than piston valves. The music instructor requested we move the valve set closer to the player to reduce reach. We then added a 1/4"-20 threaded brass anchor to one of the valve caps to accept a camera monopod. By setting the "peg" to the correct height it eliminated having to hold it up on his own. The completed job was very well received by both teacher and student.

I remember much was made of the monopods possible application for Dave Monette's heavy model trumpets.

We're always happy to take on custom alterations is all forms.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store http://go.mappoint.net/ups/PrxInput.aspx

[Dale Proctor]

I'd suggest a 1960's Conn Director cornet. Shorter than a trumpet and lighter than many other horns, and they play pretty well, too, more like a trumpet.
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Olde Towne Brass
www.otbrass.com

Brass Band of Huntsville
www.brassbandofhuntsville.com

"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[cheiden]

I would definitely think a cornet would be better in terms of center-of-gravity and overall length. How about having the player operate valves 1 and 2 with their right hand and operate the 3rd with their left, like some do for the 4th valve on a picc. If valves 1 and 2 are too far apart it'd be easy to modify the finger buttons, effectively making them closer together.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb
Yamaha 731 Flugel
Kanstul 920 Picc
Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim/Bach 1-1/2C underpart

[Shiner]

2nd on the Conn Director. I have a "little person" on one of these and it works quite well. Or if they are very little a pocket trumpet.

[MrOlds]

Have you looked into the Shulman System? Its a support device that straps around the neck and holds the weight of the trumpet freeing the tension that builds up in the left arm and shoulders.

+1 on the cornet recommendations. It may be too early in the student's development but an Eb cornet is pretty small and they sound lovely. You could have him just skip over the years of playing a Bb instrument and head straight for the higher pitched horn.

Or maybe a pocket trumpet? I'm not sure how they sound but they are quite small front-to-back which could solve issues with reach.

[tomba51]

[quote="MrOlds"]Have you looked into the Shulman System? Its a support device that straps around the neck and holds the weight of the trumpet freeing the tension that builds up in the left arm and shoulders.

The Shulman System is an excellent suggestion. Unfortunately it is no longer produced. Used ones rarely appear on e-bay.
_________________
Tom Barreca
musicians@thetee.com

[Crazy Finn]

I have to go with a cornet.

I teach beginning band. Sometimes those 4th graders are pretty small. Most of them handle a trumpet even though it's almost as big as them, but the cornet is excellent as far as balance.

It's also easier to hold than a pocket trumpet or cornet.

While many vintage cornets are very sturdy and a thus a bit heavy, not all of them are. Several have mentioned the old Conn Director. Getzens are also not too heavy, usually. Yamahas as well. I'm sure there's many others.

As far as new ones, I'd check out a CarolBrass, Kanstul, or Getzen.

I'd definitely give a cornet a try before exploring exotic custom options.
_________________
LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Olds Ambassador Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet

[trombahonker]

[nieuwguyski]

I agree with the rotary cornet suggestion. The spatulas (the levers you put your fingers on) can be extended to accommodate short fingers, and if Osmun can actually shorten the reach to the valves, that's a bonus.
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J. Notso Nieuwguyski

[Comeback]

Don't overlook the possibility of a shepherd's crook cornet, which are short and nicely balanced. Some of us may have some that are underutilized laying around.
Jim
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Bb Trumpets: 2000 Bach Stradivarius 180S37, 1972 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
Bb Cornet: 2008 Blessing XL-CR Shepherd's Crook
Flugelhorn: 1990 Blessing Artist

[Rapier232]

Cornet and get someone to make oversized valve caps to screw on in place of the existing ones. They can then be swapped back when the hands are bigger, and the person will still use 'correct' fingering.
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Blow in the Little End. Noise Comes Out the Big End. Simples!

Taylor VR 46 Trumpet
Smith Watkins K2 Cornet
Eclipse Flugel
JP 152 C Trumpet
Besson Bugle

[spitvalve]

There was a kid in my neighborhood back home who was a "little person." His parents bought him a Benge pocket trumpet when he was in beginning band and he played it--very well, I might add--all the way through high school. His arms were too short even for a cornet, but the pocket trumpet worked well for him. He even participated in the marching band and soloed on the field.
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Bryan Fields
----------------
http://www.bryanwfields.com
http://bardofthenuthouse.com

[lmaraya]

[quote="tomba51"]

[cleanhead77@embarqmail]

Back in the 1940's, '30's, and 20's many manufacturers made "trumpet cornets" which looked like trumpets but were shorter. Even tho' they were in Bb, they had the approximate length of a D trumpet. This was done by making the bell shorter, and adding an extra loop next to the 1st valve slide.These must have been very popular in their day, because they frequently show up on Ebay. Some examples are "Gladiator" by King and "Pan American" by Conn, and there are others.
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So many trumpets and mouthpieces, so little time.

[jadickson]

Pocket trumpet is an option, unless you find a cornet that is a good fit.

One of my classmates in high school band was a dwarf. He used a pocket trumpet. Although, if finger length is the issue, I'm not sure how much better a pocket trumpet would be.

[spitvalve]

[Craig Swartz]