Grateful for Cornets

[Comeback]

I am grateful for my humble Holton cornets right now. I’ve done comething to my shoulders recently that makes playing my trumpets uncomfortable when standing and playing. The cornets have just enough reduced distance from the business end of the mouthpiece to the valve block to make playing comfortable. Looks like the Holton Galaxy will be my companion tomorrow night at rehearsal.

Jim

[Dennis78]

This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. I got into cornet playing some years ago and fell in love
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a few different ones

[Tenor Horn Fellow]

[boog]

As my eyesight has deteriorated, I have come to prefer cornets for playing in settings where I have to sight read well. I can sit closer to the music! I am not being facetious when I say this! Several years ago, I lost most of the useful vision in my left eye, and eyestrain is a real problem now.

Other advantages include smaller cases. I have a couple of leather cornet gig bags that are a breeze to carry. A real advantage when I have to take a large briefcase full of scores to rehearsal!

Dealing with years of Bursitis in my shoulders from both directing and playing makes the cornet an attractive alternative in a long rehearsal.

And besides that, they sound sooooo mellow! Cornets have become my preferred horns for jazz improvisation, especially when using Harmons or plungers. Plug in a Denis Wick MP, and you can croon with the best of 'em! Even surpasses my previous favorite, the Flugel.

Now if I could just convince some of my fellow trumpeters around here to invest in a cornet! A real cornet section would be a MAJOR enhancement to the sound of our local community concert band. I'm working on this.

Besides, most amateur trumpet players I come across play loud(er) than necessary. Need I say more?

[Comeback]

I appreciate the posts, guys. The Holton Galaxy cornet worked well for me last night. No discomfort in my upper arms and shoulders for the entire 90 minute rehearsal. Mute use was easier and faster too - our next concert includes numbers which require nearly impossibly rapid mute use. Another number has us using our left hands over our bells, also easier with the cornet. I was a little concerned about blending adequately with my section (guys on my right and left play trumpets), but this did not seem to be an issue. I plan on sticking with the cornet for a while, at least through the next concert or two...

The length advantages of cornets and their cases was obvious last night. I used my original hard case for the Galaxy, which fit neatly beneath my chair. Next week I'll probably use my Tuxedo gig bag and a separate bag for mutes and music, which will also fit beneath my chair. The hard case does not have room for me to take my K&M stand stowed in the bell. I missed the stand last night.

Jim