 Many traditional conservatories and players refused to use them at first, claiming that the valveless horn, or "natural horn", was a better instrument.Some musicians who specialize in period instruments use a natural horn to play in original performance styles, to try to recapture the sound of an older piece's original performances.The use of valves, however, opened up a great deal more flexibility in playing in different keys; in effect, the horn became an entirely different instrument, fully chromatic for the first time.