Sensory Evaluation of Brass Instruments is BACK IN PRINT

[OldSchoolEuph]

I just got this news and figured I would share it here, since "how to choose the right horn" is the subtitle of this TH "Horns" forum.

There are hundreds of threads here where people ask others how a horn performs - instead of trying for themselves. One of the key reasons is that we don't trust ourselves to make good evaluations in a couple of minutes playing. Understanding what biases our perceptions is a key step in being able to "play before you pay" and get the best results.

R. Dale Olsen is well known as a designer, Zig's biographer, wunderkind head of R&D at FE Olds in his 20s, research peer of Schilke and Cardwell, etc. (not to mention the guy whose door Mendez would come knocking on looking for a duet partner - and in his 80s, Dale can still outplay most of us), but few realize that he also has a strong background in psychology - which is key to correcting the head games we play with ourselves when play testing.

When last I was at Bach, sitting in Tedd's tiny office, I noted with interest the very few items therein - A well worn Strad, a competing Yamaha clearly being evaluated, a Bach strad bugle (kind of like seeing a unicorn), the sacred file of all Bach's shop cards, and a hand full of books, prominently among which was this one.

This is one of those groundbreaking foundational elements of brass knowledge like Pioneers in Brass or the New Grove Dictionary. Now that it is back in print, this critical understanding, previously available to only the handful of those lucky enough to have original editions, is out there for the rest of us.

Here is the link:
http://www.balquhiddermusic.com/r-dale-olson-projects/sensory-evaluation-of-brass-instruments
_________________
Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com

2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
1954 Holton 49 Stratodyne
1927 Conn 22B
1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20

[oldblow]

That link provides interesting background information about Mr. Olsen that piques the interest of an old guy who only took up trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn at age sixty-five. Keeping specialist books in print is a noble enterprise!
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Felton (Butch) Bohannon

[JayKosta]

[mrhappy]

Interesting stuff! Way to go... R.D.O. !!!
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MH