Horn Matters is the leading online resource on the French horn, co-founded by John Ericson and Bruce Hembd. The mission of Horn Matters is: to encourage, inspire, inform, and challenge horn players, and; to promote the best musical instrument ever, the French horn. (More.)
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Fundamentals 11. Accuracy: initial attacks at all dynamics, consistency hearing entrance...
The proverbial elephant in the room in horn playing is accuracy. In the prompt from Douglas Hill (this series is based on a list...
Review: Two Gig Bags
Among my activities I like to work on horns, continuing the type of projects I was doing during my sabbatical (more here). I enjoy...
Fundamentals 10. Dynamics: response, control, intonation at all extremes in all...
Elsewhere in this site I have shared (probably several times) a story involving my Master’s degree studies with Verne Reynolds. He had a thing...
Fundamentals 9. Ranges: extremes, clear controlled sounds (high, middle, mid-low, low)
Ranges are fundamental. This prompt from the Douglas Hill book is pretty broad, but focuses on two elements; extreme ranges and good control in...
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Horn Etudes by Female Composers
Many Horn Matters readers will be familiar with the Works with Horn by Female Composers website by Dr. Lin Foulk. If not, this is...
Julius Watkins, jazz French horn pioneer
Talking with colleagues recently, a topic that came up was how some great players of the recent past are unjustly neglected today. In terms...
Overview of Trusted Brands in French Horns
A survey titled "What Brand Names Do You Trust?" collected the opinions of 392 participants. The results are in and while it may take...
Choosing a French Horn Mouthpiece (I): The Basic Parts
Part I: The Rim and Preliminary Thoughts
Part II: Cup, Throat and Bore
Part III: Weight, Plating and Shopping Tips
For the past decade...
French Horn Transposition Chart
A complete reference.
Transposition Chart (PDF) (updated 2012)
Over the past few months, I have been posting various transposition tricks, including how to transpose:
A and...
Farkas on Stagefright (and more)
In the world of horn there have been few that made as much impact as Philip Farkas (1914-1992). The Art of French Horn Playing...
Random Articles
Ask Dave: Where Do I Go to Get a Quality Valve...
Chris asks:
I have a Yamaha 667 that I have had considerable work done to. I love the horn and am ready for the last...
Vintage Brass Instrument: The Solo Alto
I have long been interested in horn history. My original website is well known for its horn history resources and I am sure has...
Horn Repertoire Week 3: Introducing the Natural Horn
As we now get to looking at horn repertoire (especially solo and chamber literature) more directly, a critical first topic is playing the natural...
Hornmasters: Berv and Tuckwell on the Glissando
A topic not mentioned in many classic horn texts is the topic of the glissando. It is a fun effect.
Flick the levers -- with...
A Complete Reference for French Horn Transposition (2012)
In a few weeks John will be covering the topic of transposition in Week 12 of the University of Horn Matters pedagogy course.
In the...
Little Boy Blue, Come Blow Your Horn
The Blue Boy (c. 1770) is the most famous work by English portrait artist Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788).
Though not related, it is often mistaken as...
