Hi:

My 11 year old daughter has a Yamaha 667 French horn. She is finding the position of the pinky rest a little uncomfortable and we are looking into installing an adjustable rest. I am not sure there is anyone here locally who could do it but we are asking around. So I am wondering how easy this is to do myself with solder. Also, can you recommend a brand for the adjustable finger hook. I have found a couple so far.

http://www.votawtool.com/zcom.asp?pg=products&specific=jndrinook
http://store.osmun.com/browse.cfm/adjustable-finger-hook/4,1277.html

Thanks for any suggestions, Kent

Any decent technician should be able to place the finger hook where ever you want it. So you don't need an adjustable hook. If you want a hook anyway, any brand adjustable hook will work, you might also consider getting a ducks foot instead.

Can you do it yourself? I don't recommend it unless you have lots and lots of experience with these types of metal. Many times people don't use the proper flux and don't clean the job afterwards both situations resulting in damage occuring to the instrument over time with by-products eating away at the metal.

Thanks JOhnlovemusic for your advice. Yes, best not to do it myself then. She has a nice horn and I don't want to ruin it. I never thought about just moving the hook. If it is easy to do that may be a better solution. As she grows it will need to be moved again though but if not too expensive this may be the way to go. Thanks again, Kent

A good decent technician should charge you maybe $15 - $35 depending on what size city you live in. SanFran/NewYork on the higher end. Missoula Montana on the lower end.

I do like adjustable finger hooks but they are not the answer for everyone all the time. I don't have any adjustable finger hooks, and some horns have no hooks at all. I do have a couple of horns with Ducks feet and I like them. And I have one horn I will be converting the finger hook to a ducks foot.

$15 -$25 or($75 plus install). I'd go for the move it two of three times as I grow rather than the adjustable hook.

Thanks again. We did buy the duck's foot for her a while ago but she thinks using the finger rest would help too. She has a student teacher so we will see what he recommends for her soon. We live in Flagstaff so there may not be anyone here who can do it but we are asking around. We could drive down to Phoenix some time if we had to.

Flaggstaff? Let me ask one of my former students who now teaches out there. He might know where to go.

Kent,

I sent you a private message with email contacts that might be able to help or direct you to someone who can.

John

I use a duck foot. I've got short pinkies and find that the position that comes standard is a little too long for me, have the pinky hook moved in and then the duck foot gives me enough adjustability and stability for any playing position. If she has square hands with a short pinky that seems to be one of the hardest to get to work correctly with standard anything.

Thanks for the information, phred. Her hands are a little small now but I think they will likely end up quite large. We might have to try the duck foot for her too. I thought we had one already but all we have is a leather hand rest.

I should have checked into this list earlier this spring. I hope you haven't had your daughters horn worked on already. I may have a less costly solution for you. Check out my Comfy Horn Strap blog. I've made these for all my students & my girlfriends who play horn. They have been so popular, I've decided to make them available on the web for anyone who needs one. I originally thought only kids & women would like them, but I've sold many of these to men, too. See: http://comfyhornstrap.blogspot.com/

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://beforhorn.blogspot.com/

Hi Valerie:

That looks great. Congratulations. We haven't done anything yet because we have been so busy but it is still on our mind. We may try your strap but I wonder even with the strap if we will have to get the pinky holder moved. I guess we can just try it and see. Thanks again, Kent