Random Monday: Uncle Sam Says ‘Go Practice’

Wilken on Brubeck on Jacobs
David Wilken summaries a two part essay by Dr. David Brubeck on the pedagogy of Arnold Jacobs.

Emphasis on musical expression is a remarkably effective way to get a music student playing more technically accurate, provided the technique is at a sufficient enough level to at least almost handle the challenges of the music.  As music teachers and students, we all have a tendency to want to work only on the things that we can objectively state is right or wrong.

Work as an emigrant
Bruce Richards shares his experiences as an expatriate applying for a teaching position.

Earthy crunchy
A hunting horn rendered in earthenware, most likely a decorative piece and not for playing purposes.

The Conn factory in its heyday
A fascinating collection of postcards shows us what the C. G. Conn factory looked like in the early 20th century.

The ups and downs of auditions
One thing that I grew to expect with auditions was that every one would set up differently. While there is a broad procedural format to expect, the finer details are typically not found out until after arrival – for better or for worse.

Charles Noble shares one experience where candidates were notified of the audition results via email.

On the march
I really enjoy the historical images on Will Kimball’s web site. Here is an example of a British military band from 1790; a horn player can be seen in the mix, using a natural horn with a coupling crook system.

Trouble from the French horn

Police were waiting when an Alfreton motorist returned home from a journey he made while over the limit.

Jason Blank was driven home from the French Horn pub in Codnor by his partner and a row blew up between the couple and her daughter.

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Random videos

A kid, his horn and his dog. This is pretty adorable.

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I posted this on the Horn Matters Facebook page, but it is worth re-posting here. This cartoon is a satire from the 1950′s that typifies the “hip” vs. “square” comic debate popular during the beatnik era.

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Here is an interesting excerpt from an intense composition by Krzesimir Dębski for horn and orchestra. This particular movement is practically a triple concerto – for horn, orchestra and percussion.

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Happy 4th!