Very recently I went through a round of testing various horns in a nice space. One had come in that I was testing for a former student, and I was pondering also the topic of possibly selling a horn or two.
It ended up that I began to think as I played the various horns about the line from Marie Kondo, about if an object sparks joy.
Can a horn spark joy?
Looking at her website, I found this nice summary.
Rule 6: Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy
In the KonMari Method™, your feelings are the standard for decision making – specifically, knowing what sparks joy. To determine this when tidying, the key is to pick up each object one at a time, and ask yourself quietly, “Does this spark joy?” Pay attention to how your body responds. Joy is personal, so everyone will experience it differently; Marie describes it as “…a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising.”
Through the process of selecting only those things that inspire joy, you can identify precisely what you love – and what you need.
Which horn sparks joy for me?
I have several horns that really did not spark joy, but also several that did. Surprisingly, the two that sparked the most joy were a Kruspe single F that is a current restoration project and also my Kruspe double described further in this article:
How exactly?
It is a body response on some level, much as stated in the quote above. The way a horn feels in the hands, the way it resonates and sounds. Good intonation, good ranges, slurs, etc. If it just feels fun to play relative to other horns.
For sure I’ll be playing the two Kruspe horns a lot in the coming months, they make me want to practice.
Practical application: maybe you need a different horn
To a point of course you just need to love (or at least come to terms with) the horn you have. I did love I’m sure my original double horn, but it was all I had. I’m sure if I had it now, it would not spark joy.
That said, a horn could spark joy and not actually sound that great or be practical to use in the ensembles you play in. Still, you might consider using that horn for personal practice, especially if that little spark you feel is a motivation and keeps your horn playing momentum going.
Equipment is always a moving target, but a fun one to reevaluate over the years.
