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
DeRosa and Almeida: The Intimate Bach [UPDATED]
A great recording that is not much known by now several generations of horn players is The Intimate Bach, Vol. 2, which includes a...
Homemade Mouthpiece Buzzing Tool
The French Horn Articulation Resistance Tool.
Buzzing on the mouthpiece is something that I would call a "concentrated" method. Even a small amount done daily...
Ask Dave: “Why Do Valves Clank?”
K asks, "Why do valves clank and what can be done about them?'
* * *
Dave replies: Valves clank because something is loose.
The loose parts...
Videos of the diaphragm at work
These videos have appeared on the Horn Matters Facebook page previously - they are worth re-posting here.
This video focuses on the diaphragm.
The second video...
7 Keys to Winning a Concerto Competition for Mixed Instruments
Concerto competitions for a variety of instruments are common and have special problems to overcome. I just judged one here at Arizona State. To...
Hornmasters: Farkas on Holding the Horn and the Left Hand
Continuing in our series of quotes from classic publications on the the horn, now that we have our horn selected and in working order...
