Removing water from horn
Hmmm...this is quite an interesting topic of discussion. This is something that I have talked about quite a bit with my professors at school. My general feeling was that it would be rather gross for an audience member to be watching me empty the spit out of my horn on stage. So I have tried to minimize the times when I'm emtpying my slides during a solo. Of course, if you are playing a rather long piece, like a multi-movement concerto, there is nothing that you can do, you are going to have to empty your slides. In some of my recent solo recitals, a few of my professors noted that when I would empty my slides, I would sort of half turn away from the audience so that they couldn't see the moisture/spit dripping out... I didn't really realize that I was turning away from the audience when I emptied out my slides. However, my professors noted that it isn't necessary to conceal the fact that you're emptying out your slides. The audience realizes what you're doing, and understands that it is necessary to do so when you play an instrument. The other thing that my professors mentioned was that you want to be as prepared as possible for your next entrance. So if you do have to empty out your slides during a multi-measure rest, you don't want to do anything that will cause you to take longer than necessary... you shouldn't feel rushed to empty the slides and then gather yourself for your next entrance in the music. So, imho, the audience will understand if you have to empty out the moisture/spit from your slides... it's just part of being a musician. And if you end up having to empty them out, don't make any motions or efforts that will draw out the process any longer than it has to be. Just empty the slides, and get set for you next musical entrance.
Gregory E. Lopes
Euphonium player
US Navy Band Great Lakes
US Navy Music Program, 2009-Present
Besson Prestige 2052