August 21, 2009 by John Ericson
Archived under: Practice
Where Have You Been Practicing?
I have for years known that there is a “practice room” effect which impacts the dynamic range of horn players. That is, depending on the size and acoustic of where you practice you will feel that a different dynamic level is loud than what actually is loud. I have especially noted this effect this year prepping students for upcoming auditions after the summer. If you have practiced all summer in a small space be ready to make some changes in the way you blow in a larger space, and be aware that if you do often practice in a small space (or with a practice mute) that you have to be very conscious to readjust your personal level of dynamic range.
Related to this article
- Too Much for the Room?
One necessary skill for the brass player is learning to accurately gauge your volume to the situation. For excerpts I encourage students to play in lessons at what I would think to be typical, full orchestra dynamics, which requires control of a very wide dynamic range... - So, What About Orchestral Dynamics?
After subbing in the ASU Sinfonietta (see the previous post) a number of the mostly younger horn students in the section commented on my dynamics in the group, as in how loudly I played at the loud spots. The reaction was somewhat unexpected. First let me... - How Loud is too Loud?
This post is from the original HTML Horn Notes Blog; this particular post dates to 8/6/05, and was from the end of a summer of performing Principal Horn and teaching at the Brevard Music Center. Today is our final performance of the summer at Brevard, Mahler... - Opposites Attract: Thinking about a Balanced Approach
A balanced approach to practicing. For years I used to beat my face with endless blasting and loud dynamic drills in the hopes to gain more strength and power in my French horn playing. Many of my teachers and colleagues encouraged this kind of practice with... - Quote of the Week–Hill on High Range
High range development is a topic that comes up with every horn student, and every horn teacher has his or her ideas as to the most effective ways to improve the high range. These comments are from Douglas Hill, Professor of horn at the University of... - The Mid-low Register and Technique Development
An observation: there are horn teachers who don’t work with their students much on technical development. This is a shame. There really is a place for etude and scale study, multiple tonguing and low range exercises, etc., with students of all levels. The plain fact is... - Another Meaning to Concentration
Like an apple a day. Some of the best practices techniques involve thinking (and playing) outside of the box. The well-known teacher, pedagogue and performer Philip Farkas used the term “practicing in the extremes” — my own pet name is “concentrated” practice techniques. In interpreting Farkas’...
Pithy Quotes from Sir Thomas Beecham on Music
Artworks Inspired by the Horn (I)
What They Say About My Les Adieux CD
Ask Dave: "How Should I Clean a Smelly Old Horn and Case?"
