Using Too Much Pressure?

Anyone who has read Farkas knows he was quite concerned with pressure and not using too much pressure into the high range. As a result many students especially believe that they are using “too much pressure” because they get tired too easily or the high range does not work well or whatever. Are they using too much pressure?

While I doubt that any teacher would tell someone to “go for it” and use as much pressure as possible, I think the reality is the danger in our American context anyway is to try to use too little pressure based on something you read in a book. Don’t be overly concerned about pressure; you have to use enough pressure to get a good sound.

I have been asked a number of times about the pressure device that is out there on the market, do I find it useful? I do have one of those devices. I love the box for it; it reads in German and English:

Methodischer Übungsadapter
Methodical accessory device

I love saying that German phrase (try it!), but personally I don’t use the device very much. Again, one has to use enough pressure to get a good sound and the level of pressure the device allows I think generally falls below the “enough pressure for a good sound” level for a lot of people. There is some entertainment value to the device and I seriously use it with a student maybe a couple times a year. But personally I think many players are actually a little too concerned with the pressure issue due mostly to the power of suggestion.

At the same time, this is really not a post meant to go against what you hear some horn teachers say, and I also like to avoid posts where I say things that could be interpreted as “don’t buy this product.” It actually is a very well made product and if it sounds interesting to you, please buy one! Osmun has them for example. This photo is linked from their website.

It is a much better solution for pressure awareness than putting a horn on a shelf as is illustrated in The Art of French Horn Playing and is something every horn teacher probably should own. By the way, Farkas himself said many times that he regretted putting that photo in the book. He clearly was in favor of a light pressure system but not in favor of an extremely light pressure system and above all wanted a good tone.

My advice is to not be overly concerned about pressure. Use your air, get a good sound going, and the pressure will largely take care of itself.