The value of circular breathing

Here’s a video of the exercise number 4.1 from “Exercises for Jazz French Horn” I have a plan to make some more and better quality videos showing other exercises and playing actual musical phrases.  I won’t go into teaching how to do it,...

Some great blogs!

Here are 4 blogs I highly recommend.  Do you know of some others I’ve missed?  I’d love to know about them!  Enjoy! Abe Mamet’s blog documenting his research into Julius Watkins and more; this includes links to some fantastic videos...

How to be Heard (and Hear Yourself)

A major concern of all Horn (French Horn) players who are operating in the non-classical realm is how to be heard when there is a loud rhythm section, or even a loud group of brass, woodwinds or whatever!  The bell pointing ‘backwards’ and the hand in the...

How and Why to play the “Descant Horn”

First, the “Why”, because that’s the point I really want to make.  In a word: CLARITY. It seems to me there are many ways of explaining this.  An example is perhaps best: Play a bebop tune as fast as you can, on the double horn.  Then...

Articulations / Dynamics: Is Less More?

As a player, when sight-reading new music, I really prefer not to see too much information.  Sure, you need the essentials – time and key signatures, tempo and the notes.  But I’ve played many pieces of music that have so much detailed information that it...

Christmas music?

Hi Jazz Horn aficionados; here goes my first blog post!  This will be a place to discuss arrangements for French Horn.  First, I’d like to ask if there’s any interest out there, in new arrangements of Christmas songs?