Left handed cellists?

[french frank]

I recall an advertisement for Aulos recorders, in which they claimed they were "suitable for both right-handed and left-handed players". I wrote to them to explain that all recorders were suitable for right-handed and left-handed players. To their credit, they replied in full agreement and withdrew the statement in future advertising.

I'm slightly surprised to hear that. When I took up the recorder, I wanted to play it left-handed, not because I am entirely left-handed (though by some accounts I should be), but because having played the guitar I had a much wider stretch on my left hand and found it easier to reach the bottom hole(s) with my left hand below my right.

However, the double holes have a larger one and a smaller one. Left-handed you have to pull back off the larger one on to the smaller one - and that is slightly trickier than pulling off the smaller one (i.e. from covering both) on to the larger one. I was told you could get the holes reversed but it was better to keep practising and increasing the stretch with my right hand. Having very small hands this took/is taking a discouraging amount of time.

Also, the double holes are not level with each other, so they've presumably been set for a right-handed player.

Hmmm, I think what I'm trying to say is that if you're trying to place your finger on just one hole, it's easier if it's the larger one of the two ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Aulos admitted all of this and added several more reasons of their own why the left hand should always be at the top.

[Alain Maréchal]

L'Orchestre des Siecles has a violist who plays left-handedly. He had a desk all to himself and plenty of leeway all around, so he is very noticeable in the centre of a platform.

[Showalter]

As a left hander viola player myself I've always wondered more why right handers don't play the opposite way round. (although for uniformity's sake it's a good job they don't) The left hand needs to be more dextrous for fingering the notes, although the right hand also needs power and flexibility for the bow.

I did know an amateur player in Manchester who played viola the 'wrong' way round. I think this was due to a car accident in his youth and he was left unable to play the usual way round. So he re-learnt the other way, got to admire that. He had a new viola made with the bass bar, soundpost on the other side and a few other adjustments.

Always thought this set up would work best for equality of sound in a string quartet- if the viola is in the place of first violin, second violin, viola, cello. Then the viola's sound would be going the same way as the violins. (ok the cello still goes the wrong way but there you go)

As for left handed guitarists, yes, Paul McCartney's bass, also Jimi Hendrix played a conventional Fender Stratocaster upside down, Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath (who has two false fingertips on his right, or fingering hand at that) Kurt Cobain etc. Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai learnt to play left handed just to show off.

I sense that's enough for now.
Yes Runnicles conducts left handed and his beat is a mirror image of a right handed conductor.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I did know an amateur player in Manchester who played viola the 'wrong' way round. I think this was due to a car accident in his youth and he was left unable to play the usual way round. So he re-learnt the other way, got to admire that. He had a new viola made with the bass bar, soundpost on the other side and a few other adjustments.

Always thought this set up would work best for equality of sound in a string quartet- if the viola is in the place of first violin, second violin, viola, cello. Then the viola's sound would be going the same way as the violins. (ok the cello still goes the wrong way but there you go).

I suppose it would solve the problem of orchestras dividing the violins. As it is, orchestras that place the 2nd violins on the right have all these instruments facing the wrong way, which is why I've always questioned this practice.

[Pabmusic]

orchestras that place the 2nd violins on the right have all these instruments facing the wrong way, which is why I've always questioned this practice.

I have conducted several (amateur) orchestras and have always split the violins, right and left. (It's interesting the controversy that can cause when players fist encounter it!) The different directions for the sound-holes give a difference in sound quality between 1sts and 2nds, but this is almost always a plus, adding to the clear separation of lines. What is sometimes overlooked, though, is that it's advisable to have an extra desk of 2nds to give the best balance. If this is done, the results are excellent - it even makes sense of that really odd violin scoring at the start of the last movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th, which conductors using the modern seating often rewrite.

[MrGongGong]

Some stuff about Chris Seeds left handed piano here

http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/about.html

I too used to know a horn player with one hand, he had had a couple of special hands made to play with , one was a normal hand in bell position which could be unscrewed and replaced with one that was in the form of a stopping mute (there was also another "mute" hand ) !


didn't the LSO used to have a left handed viola player ?

[Alain Maréchal]

I have conducted several (amateur) orchestras and have always split the violins, right and left. (It's interesting the controversy that can cause when players fist encounter it!) The different directions for the sound-holes give a difference in sound quality between 1sts and 2nds, but this is almost always a plus, adding to the clear separation of lines. What is sometimes overlooked, though, is that it's advisable to have an extra desk of 2nds to give the best balance. If this is done, the results are excellent - it even makes sense of that really odd violin scoring at the start of the last movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th, which conductors using the modern seating often rewrite.

Adrian Boult in his memoirs pointed out that if the second violins (on the right) do not make themselves heard as well as the firsts, they need to be encouraged to sit up straight and hold their instruments properly!

[Pabmusic]

Adrian Boult in his memoirs pointed out that if the second violins (on the right) do not make themselves heard as well as the firsts, they need to be encouraged to sit up straight and hold their instruments properly!

Wonderful!...and so true, but I think it also requires the 'Boult look' that could transfix a player instantly.

[amateur51]

L'Orchestre des Siecles has a violist who plays left-handedly. He had a desk all to himself and plenty of leeway all around, so he is very noticeable in the centre of a platform.

NEVER sit next to a lefty chopstick wielder at a round table if you're a righty - our chopstick will get entangled and the lefty will always win cos we're needy and greedy

[Hornspieler]

You are, of course, absolutely correct. There is only one way to play all of these instruments - the correct way, even when an alternative may initially seem desirable. This is the point I was making. I recall an advertisement for Aulos recorders, in which they claimed they were "suitable for both right-handed and left-handed players". I wrote to them to explain that all recorders were suitable for right-handed and left-handed players. To their credit, they replied in full agreement and withdrew the statement in future advertising.
This is why I could not understand the meaning of this thread in the first place. Clearly it is possible to restring a cello, violin, guitar, etc., but there is little point as you have to use both hands to play, so what's the purpose in being difficult?

There is a lot of point if a player is missing a finger or two on his/her left hand.

CBSO had a left handed viola player. She did not cause any problems for her desk partner, who sat on her right hand side.
CBSO also had a leftie 2nd trombone. Easy - he just assembled the slide section to the bell section on the other side.

No problem. They passed their auditions, didn't they?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is the horn a left handed instrument, and the trumpet a right handed one?

Most children who learn the recorder try to play with their right hand at the top.

[Hornspieler]

Is the horn a left handed instrument, and the trumpet a right handed one?

Most children who learn the recorder try to play with their right hand at the top.

The valves on a trumpet are operated with the fingers of the right hand, which can also hold the instrument and would do if the player wishes to insert (or remove) a mute to/from the bell with his other hand.

With the orchestral horn**, it is the fingers of the left hand which operate the valves - the right hand being inside the bell to support the instrument and shape the tone and pitch; including hand stopping or inserting or removing a mute.
Because the Wagner Tuba is always played by horn players, using the same sized mouthpiece, the question of muting does not apply; but the valves are still positioned to be played with the fingers of the left hand.

I hope this is a little bit clearer than mud.

HS

** I use the term "orchestral horn" because technically speaking, any brass instrument which has a conical bore - that is, the tube becomes wider throughout its length, it is a horn; starting with the soprano cornet (the shortest) down to the double bass tuba (or Sousaphone) So all brass band instruments are horns - including the tenor horn (which like the euphonium is played with the right hand fingers)
The trumpet and trombone have cylindrical bores right up to the last flare to the bell. Obvious in the case of the trombone - otherwise the slide could not work - but it has still managed to find its way into the brass band environment.

If anyone is still awake after all this twaddle, I bid you "Good Morning!"

[PhilipT]

For string instruments, isn't there more to it than just stringing them the other way around? Moving the sound post shouldn't be a problem, but how do you move the bass bar?

[amateur51]

The valves on a trumpet are operated with the fingers of the right hand, which can also hold the instrument and would do if the player wishes to insert (or remove) a mute to/from the bell with his other hand.

With the orchestral horn**, it is the fingers of the left hand which operate the valves - the right hand being inside the bell to support the instrument and shape the tone and pitch; including hand stopping or inserting or removing a mute.
Because the Wagner Tuba is always played by horn players, using the same sized mouthpiece, the question of muting does not apply; but the valves are still positioned to be played with the fingers of the left hand.

I hope this is a little bit clearer than mud.

HS

** I use the term "orchestral horn" because technically speaking, any brass instrument which has a conical bore - that is, the tube becomes wider throughout its length, it is a horn; starting with the soprano cornet (the shortest) down to the double bass tuba (or Sousaphone) So all brass band instruments are horns - including the tenor horn (which like the euphonium is played with the right hand fingers)
The trumpet and trombone have cylindrical bores right up to the last flare to the bell. Obvious in the case of the trombone - otherwise the slide could not work - but it has still managed to find its way into the brass band environment.

If anyone is still awake after all this twaddle, I bid you "Good Morning!"

It comes across as being from a wealth of practical experience generously shared Hornspieler - many thanks