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Performance & Playing

The physical side of playing the horn ... beyond the embouchure

Extreme Tonguing Techniques

One overall thought from recent auditions and horn performances I have heard is that tonguing is one of the most important technical areas to...

A Study on Hand Position: A More Stable High Range and...

I found the link in Random Monday this week to a recent (2009) study very interesting, on the topic of hand position. The title of...

“Tut” for a Short, Crisp Staccato? Yes

Scott Whitener in A Complete Guide to Brass notes that The so-called tongued release does have its place…. Professional players often make use of it...

Getting a Solid ‘Leg Up’ on Bell Support: Introducing the SockBlock

When playing within a section, I typically default to an on-leg position; I rest the bell of the horn on my right leg. The...

A Horn Right Hand Position Survey

A great new resource has been posted in The IHS Online, “Two Surveys of European Horn Playing Styles.” What you will find there are...

One Cause of Focal Dystonia in Brass Players

One of the most serious problems a brass player can face is that of an embouchure dystonia. Why it is such a hard problem...

123’s, just like ABC’s

On just about every valved brass instrument, the combination fingerings of first and third valves or all three valves together are horrifically out-of-tune. Trumpet players...

Understanding Stopped Horn

Tucked away in a corner of Horn Articles Online for many years was an article on Understanding Stopped and Muted Horn and Right-Hand Position....

The Secret to the High Range: Teeth

One topic I mention to people in conversation periodically is that of trumpet players and dental modifications. I know to a horn player that...

Best Invention Ever: Pencil Clips

One of my younger students was fascinated by my pencil clip. This is really a must have item for the horn player. It is...