Help for Your Horn Players
Guiding Your
Young Horn
Players to
Success!
Ideal Beginners or “How to Avoid a Lot of Headaches Later”
Confident
Able to focus and concentrate
Strong work ethic
Ideal Beginners-Personal Traits
Good student-above average reading level
Check standardized tests if possible
Piano experience (2+ years) or choir
Ideal Beginners-�Physical Traits
Average to thin sized lips
Ideal Beginners-�Physical Traits
Same size top and bottom lips
Ideal Beginners-�Physical Traits
Straight teeth
Ideal Beginners-�Physical Traits
Little or slight overbite
Produces buzz easily
Ideal Beginners-�Physical Traits
Flat chin and firm corners
Body Position-Core
Begin with both legs in front of body
Body Position-Horn
Lift horn and slide right leg to the side
Body Position-Right Leg
Right leg set to the right of the body at a 45 degree angle
Body Position- Bell
The bell should rest on the center of the leg and run parallel to the player’s inseam
Body Position-Left Leg
Left leg directly in front of student, knee facing music stand
Body Position-Arms
Left arm aligned with left leg
Left elbow dropped and relaxed
Body Position
Shoulders level
Back slightly arched
Body Position
Lead-pipe should be a 45 degree angle down from face
Hand Positions
Left palm below the valves
Left fingers resting flat on the keys
Right Hand Position
Right hand fairly straight with all fingers touching
Right Hand Position
Right hand pressed against far bell wall-no further in than knuckles. (Tape Trick)
Right Hand Position
To lower pitch-close right hand slightly
More fun with the right hand...
Characteristic tone
Lowers pitch by 1/4 step
More hand contact produces darker color of sound
Stopped Horn -Briefly!�
Right hand closes and seals the opening to produce a brassy tone
Stopped Horn-Briefly!�
gestopft, stopped, bouche, chiuso,+
Play only F horn-no trigger
Play 1/2 step lower than written
Use a stopped mute in mid or low range
Mouthpiece Placement
Must always cover the top of the upper lip
Must never go below the lower lip
Mouthpiece Placement
Center on mouth as it is most comfortable
Leave the lips on the mouthpiece and breath out of the corners to increase accuracy
Embouchure
Flat chin
Firm cheeks
Firm corners
Embouchure
Both lips buzz
Center of lips should remain flexible and soft enough for an even and steady buzz
Test with “Free Buzz”
Embouchure
Jaw must be dropped and pushed forward to align lower and upper teeth
Teeth (molars) must be apart (mouthpiece test)
Embouchure-Low Range
The only range that calls for a noticeable difference in the appearance of the embouchure is the extreme low
Air Stream/Breathing
Air = Tone Quality
70% air 30% embouchure
Use of Air
Low range-
slower air/buzz, warm air
High Range-
faster air/buzz, cold air
Air Stream/Breathing
Full, relaxed breaths
A composite and connected process
Air Stream/Breathing
Open and relax throat with breathing exercises
mouthpiece breathing
breathing tube
practice mute
Changing Pitches
Higher Notes
Blow colder and faster air
~Hand Test
~Use mph
~Hissing
Higher Notes�
Faster Buzz
~Juicier
~”Spittier”
~Speedboat
~DEMONSTRATE
�Higher Notes �
Increase firmness of embouchure from all four corners toward the center
Higher Notes�
Raise back of the tongue (khee)
Direct the air-stream
Focus the air
Changing Pitches
Lower Notes
Warm Air
Lower Notes �
Drop the Jaw (toh)
Slow down the buzz
Lower Notes �
Push lower lip forward into the mouthpiece
Focus on lower lip buzz
Accuracy
Hit an isolated note correctly, remove mouthpiece from lips, repeat 10x
Buzz note/interval-play-repeat
Accuracy
Hum or sing note/interval
Play in SLOW motion-hold each pitch
Isolate measure by measure
Accuracy
Focus on CONSISTENT and correct embouchure and tongue placement
Accuracy
When in doubt… Remove water from horn even if it is not “clicking”!
Developing Tone
A characteristic tone is possible in a young player if they are given the correct tools!
Tools for Tone ~Loud Is Good!
You will have much stronger players if you encourage young students to always play on the side of LOUD.
Make them understand that it must be with a good tone.
Tone
It is VERY difficult to play loud with a good tone and NOT use correct air. You can always turn down the volume… but you won’t want to!
Buzz Extension & Resistance Piece
Attaches to instrument (leave on at all times)
Allows for feel of horn while buzzing
B.E.R.P.
Students should buzz all exercises or “licks” that are difficult ~ and even those that aren’t
B.E.R.P.
Buzz should be loud and strong and should be an actual pitch with tone
Available for $20
Tools for Tone
Practice Mute
Removes Tension/Stiffness
Increases Intensity
Practice Mute�
Creates resistance for maximum air velocity
Increases accuracy by making the embouchure work for precision
More Tools for Tone
Range
Low
Middle C & down
Middle Range�
Middle C to C in staff
�High Range�
C in staff to C above staff
Development of Range
Year 1-low C to C in staff
Year 2-low C to E in staff
Development of Range
Year 3-low C to High G
High School-full range
Articulation
Tip of tongue releases
Drop the tip of the tongue
Start with tongue against roof of mouth-once it is consistent, move tongue lower-behind the top teeth
Articulation
The Double Horn-what’s the deal?
Single F Horn
The Double Horn
Single Bb Horn
The Double Horn!!
Tuning
Second line G on F horn
Third space C on Bb horn
Tune open pitches first, followed by 2nd valve (F#, B), 1st valve (Bb, F), 1&2 (A), 2 & 3 (Ab, C#)
Tuning
Know which is the main slide for Bb and which is the main slide for F
The first valve Bb slide on Conn 8D’s must be pulled out 1 1/2 inches min.
Tuning Slides
F horn tuning slide bypasses the Thumb Key and goes directly into the front valves
Bb horn tuning slide usually feeds into the Thumb Key Valve Casing.
Muting
Muted, mit dampfer, con sordino
Hang mute from string around wrist
Play louder than dynamics indicate
Tuning may also be sharp
Section Set-Up
Place the 1st horn on the right (conductor’s right) side of the section so bell faces section
2 1/2 feet between each player
Section Set-Up
Double the lowest parts when extra players are available (4th, 2nd)
If 1st & 3rd/2nd & 4th have the same parts, place together
Where to place the horns in the ensemble
Care and Maintenance
Slide grease –Schilke (monthly)
Valve oil- Blue Juice (weekly)
Rotor Oil-
Synthetic (monthly)
Care and Maintenance
Keep body clean (daily)
Bath/flush (annual)
Traughber JHS Equipment�
Horns: Conn 8D, Holton H175, Yamaha
Mouthpiece: Farkas Medium
B.E.R.P.
Humes and Berg Practice Mute
Questions?
Please feel free to contact me! Rachel Maxwell rmaxwell@sd308.org
https://sites.google.com/sd308.org/traughberjhsband/home
…Nuff Said