Originally Posted by
Jharris
[snip]I know nothing about players with arthritis personally, but have noticed older players typically do end up on 3rd cornet and tuba in most bands? Perhaps arthritis is a contributing factor? Forgive me if that is completely wrong.
As a player with arthritis, perhaps I can chime in. The arthritis in my thumbs severely affects my piano playing (in my younger days, I played keyboard instruments professionally). I have to use a left-hand brace when I play trombone, to give additional support and relieve pressure on my thumbs. I do not feel that arthritis adversely affects my euphonium playing. The more likely excuses for the quality of my euphonium playing are (a) the forty-year layoff after college and (b) less practice time than I had when I was in college
As to why an older cornet player may move from first to third - perhaps range? Muscles lose flexibility with age, even with regular exercise.
Dean L. Surkin
Mack Brass MACK-EU1150S, BB1 mouthpiece
Bach 36B trombone; Bach 6.5AL and Faxx 7C mouthpieces (pBone on loan to granddaughter)
Steinway 1902 Model A, restored by AC Pianocraft in 1988; Kawai MP8, Yamaha KX-76
See my avatar: Jazz (the black cockapoo; RIP) and Delilah (the cavapoo) keep me company while practicing