Jump to content

Jeff and Carol Garrett

Members
  • Posts

    9
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Jeff and Carol Garrett

  1. Please don't wrap your silver horn in aluminum foil ! You will scratch the heck out of it !!! Use this: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CGgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3m.com%2Fproduct%2Finformation%2FTarni-Shield-Cleaner.html&ei=x9o_UvP-H6vpiwLaiYGwBQ&usg=AFQjCNF-7iLGXnbcT2h27uI_5HAIxXWGcQ&sig2=rm1xpbEfCbNV7LMRic_5OQ&bvm=bv.52434380,d.cGE Mix the Tarnishield 50/50 with soft or distilled water. wipe on, let dry then polish off with a cheesecloth or terry towel. When my silver horn gets dirty, it gets a warm water bath with mild dish soap and snaked out. If there is black tarnish on it I use Tarn-X. Wipe on and rinse right off with large amounts of warm water. DO NOT soak your horn in Tarn-X. It's detrimental to brass. Wipe on / rinse off. Resemble the horn and apply the TarniShiels to clean and protect.
  2. Well... As a Freelancer from 79 to 83 and then again from 2008 to present... Thanks for the plug !!! We have always spent a great deal of time learning how to produce a quality sound. As far as intonation goes... All brass instruments are inherently out of tune one you progress away from it's "tuning note". Anytime you press a valve, play soft, play loud, play high or low. Anytime your applying accents or articulations, tuning adjustments by the player MUST be made. Some very high-end horns help in this intonation struggle, but it's still up to the player to play in tune ! By the way; If you want to play LOUD, play in tune !!! You'll be much louder still !!!
  3. I can, in my experience agree with all stated.... As for the overtones. Scientifically speaking, the key of the instrument makes no difference in the quantity of the overtones. However, since the "G" horns are keyed lower, they have more "room" for lower overtones. This is one reason they work so well outside. Take them inside, and the abundance of the lower overtone series (simple because it starts lower) will quickly overpower the ears and all that (could) be discernible is lost within the lower overtones. Put those same overtones outside where they can project freely and farther without reverberating within themselves so you can hear them. Even though every brass instrument is capable of producing overtones. The strength of the individual overtones produced is more influenced by the player and his/her mouthpiece and how the system as a whole works together. Breath, lips, mouthpiece, horn = an individual’s specific tone, or how your ear is hearing the overtones produced by that player. More high overtones = a “brighter” player, more middle overtones (normally called "core") or more lower overtones = a darker toned player. The overtones are still there, the player is in effect, acting as sort of a stereo graphic equalizer producing “there” individual sound “curve”. Put a bunch of horn players together with their individual overtones, and they begin to reinforce themselves and become more audible. The horns sound more the same. This also works well if all the members of the line play the same brand of horn and mouthpiece. It simple strengthens those overtones. Also, the more in-tune a group of horns are the more of the characteristic quality of sound the horn was intended to produce comes out. The overtones become more predominant and fight each other less. In short. The more in-tune, the louder you will be due to fewer overtones "sound canceling" each other. Just think of how many multiples of 440HZ there are that a human ear can hear! That’s the magic of brass!!!
  4. An easy way to think of it is like this... A Trumpet is not a Cornet, a Bugle is not a Trumpet or Cornet. There all distinctively different instruments even though they look similar. Just like a Fife is not a Flute, etc... So, there is some questions about whether a Drum and Bugle Corps is really a Bugle carrying Corps. The Tubas, Mellophones, Baritones and Euphoniums are actually not classified as Bugles because there not Bugles. There Tubas, Mellophones etc... So the question really boils down to the high horns. And Trumpets are not Bugles. Valves or rotors or slides are just a means of adding chromatic ability to the instrument. They do not define the instrument. Also the "key" of the instrument has nothing to do with whether it's a Trumpet, Bugle, Cornet etc... The basic distinction lies within the tubing itself (how it's constructed). The more "conical" the tubing (less taper in the lead-pipe and bell) the more "bright" the sound. Therefor a Trumpet will be brighter sounding than a Cornet, and a Cornet will be darker than a Bugle. I's all in the construction of the instrument that determines the type. As for the whole key of "G" thing... It's pure physics. Darker, lower pitches carry farther (louder) therefor the key of "G" (the lowest pitched) has the potential of producing a louder sound that carries farther. Many examples in nature exist from the Blue whale who's low frequency grunts can be herd a half world away to Howler Monkeys who's low pitched "howls" can be herd for miles. Lower pitches simply carry farther. In the (military) Bugle world, the Bb Bugles were used primarily for ceremonial uses wheres the G Bugles were mainly relegated for battlefield use. Why? Because as a signaling device (and it's assumed you need the message of charge, retreat etc... to he herd) you want your message to be herd over the noise of the battlefield. Of course, if a G Bugle was not available, they would have obviously used whatever they had, but the overwhelming preference for battlefield signaling, was in "G". Hope this helps...
  5. Arbans is good, but the best advice I can give would be to hire a private instructor. The Brass instrument embouchure is way different than the woodwind's. If she played flute, that would be easier. Much frustration and unlearning will be avoided by hiring a good private lesson instructor.
  6. Yes we do Play the Naval Hymn. And yes, all of our brass play real "G" Bugles, both 2 and 3 valve Kanstul's, King's, Deg's and a few Dynasty's.
  7. First off... Congratulations to the Ghost Riders !!! I was standing in the tunnel as you folks were playing, you sounded GREAT ! The reality is, there probably is not just one or two reasons as to why the Mini-Corps participation has dwindled. Could be the economy, could be the location, could be DCA's lack of interest in it (money again), could be all the above or non of the above... What I can speak of stems from my (our) experience as a Mini-Corps participant. Money certainly plays a large factor in it. Without getting into detail, we spent just shy of $9,000 this year on getting our show to the competition. This does not include our members individual costs for plane tickets, lodging and food during our stay. Nor does it include the cost of our instruments (most members have purchased there own instrument) gas getting to and from bi-weekly rehearsals (Jan thru May), weekly rehearsals (May thru DCA) and monthly camps. Most of our members travel 50 to 80 miles one way to rehearsals and camp is in the middle of the state (a three hour drive for most). And lets not forget the practice time needed in-between !!! In short... Mini-Corps participation is a HUGE investment in time and personal expense. I know for me... Cost personally is of little consequence. Not because I'm particularly wealthy (because I'm not) but because it gives me the opportunity to continue doing an activity that I both love, enjoy, and yes, get to compete a bit. For me, right now... It's worth it ! To some, it may not be. Combine that with other factors and well, you have a recipe for declining participation. For us as an Alumni Corps, participation in general is way down from when we first started. I'm pleased at the favorable comments said about the Freelancers show spoken here... It makes me smile ! This is exactly what were trying to do. Both entertain the crowed, maintain our signature style and even be competitive. All that with "G" Bugles !!! and as many traditional Drum pieces that we can get in the show. Thank you very much for the "kudos" ! The cost aspect is just going to be there... That's life... Music Licensing etc... is here to stay. Good, bad, or indifferent. Perhaps DCA and DCI can put there collective brain power to use and come up with a solution, but I'm not going to hold my breath. One thing I know for certain. If the audience wants to have Mini-Corps Competition, the fans will need to speak up and let there voices be herd... As well as attend the shows !!! After all, who wants to have all that expense, rehearsal time, and fly across the country to perform a 10 minute show in front of a couple hundred folks... Kind of takes the steam out of your sails... Or Sales ! Well be back again next year... Were already working on what the show music will be... AND, were going to be even better than we were this year ! (gauntlets thrown down !!!)
  8. Freelancers have rehearsal in Sac at the Freelancer hall every other Tuesday from 7-9. You are most welcome to come and join us. (Next rehearsal 2/9) Jeff
×
×
  • Create New...