Random Monday: Two Tickets to Pittsburgh

A horn club collaboration
At the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, an article on a collaboration between the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra horn section and the Pittsburgh Horn Club.

Pittsburgh Symphony French hornists Kostyniak, Bill Cabarello, Ron Schneider, Robert Lauver, Zack Smith and Joe Rounds started the Pittsburgh Horn Club in 2006 as a community outreach endeavor. Today, the club has grown to more than 30 members who play at such places as the lobby of Heinz Hall, Downtown, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Mt. Lebanon, and the Teutonia Club on the North Side.

“We placed a simple ‘calling all horns ad’ and were pleasantly surprised to see so many people show up. Many of them have regular jobs and lives and wanted to come simply for their love of the horn and respectable, decent music,” said Schneider, of Mt. Lebanon.

A variation on the blue horn
A big thanks to Facebook friend Eric Anderson for allowing me to share this nice picture. The horn is a cast aluminum reproduction that was lovingly painted by artist Omega Distefano.

Click for a larger view.

It reminds me of the whole blue horn phenomena in the U.S., but this is much more artistic and interesting!

A French takes a French horn job
J.R. French has accepted a position in the Fort Huachuca U.S. Army Band.

An interesting web site
I stumbled upon a new web site recently – MusicComm.com.

Musiccomm is an online music community with learning and career resources for both students and teachers of music. At Musiccomm, the world’s finest professional musicians and music teachers offer video music lessons for instructors of music and experienced music students. Musiccomm features an expanding menu of lessons in the classical music repertoire, as well as jazz music, in more than 15 musical instruments, music conducting, music theory, choral direction and voice training.

For example, here is a sample from Chris Gekker on the importance of warming up.

I do have a semantic issue with the site’s use of the word “lesson” as a substitute for “video.”  While some good information is given there is a huge difference between watching a video on a topic, and actually having a hands-on, private lesson with a teacher.

Callista and her horn
In U.S. politics, long-time politician and demagogue Newt Gingrich has announced his candidacy for the presidential elections. Meanwhile, his wife Callista (looking extremely alert and wide-eyed in her picture) professes to play the French horn in a local community band.

She’s a small town girl from Wisconsin who plays the French horn in her local city band and has recently written a children’s book about American “exceptionalism.”

Otherwise, please view this article for what it is – a bit of a diatribe.

Mosquito-buzzing
Dave Wilktone offers some embouchure advice and hints at the topic of “mosquito-buzzing.” This will be a topic that I hope he expands upon.

There is a school of thought that advocates the steady use of a loud mouthpiece buzz. While I would agree there is value in a good-sounding “buzzy-buzz” (and a steady airstream), I would also point out that a loud buzz translates into a fortissimo dynamic level on the horn.

As with any practice technique, there is a hidden danger if taken to extremes.

John gets a nice review
James Boldin posts a nice review of John Ericson’s recent publication, “Ultimate Horn Technique.”

Random videos

Yet another Facebook friend pointed out this video of a new concertino for two horns and band.

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This is an easy thing to forget to tell students and is something that should be taught in every first lesson with young brass students.

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This video demonstrates that Mark Gould is not just a crazy weirdo who posts strange videos on YouTube.

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A strength-training coach gives a lesson on breathing.

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