The french horn can be a problematic instrument for band teachers and band method publishers because it is in F and most of the other instruments are in C or B flat.
This means that a C on a B flat trumpet will be an F on a horn. So C-D-E on the trumpet is F-G-A on the horn which is slightly too high for a french horn beginner and can be quite discouraging in the beginning. Unfortunately, some band teachers give up and only offer the opportunity to play horn to students who already played another instrument before. This isn't necessary in my opinion. I think that with the right method, some coaching and a bit of patience, kids can learn to play the french horn just as well as any other instrument. When I teach beginners, I make them learn C-D-E (concert F-G-A) on the first week and gradually expand their range up to A in 4-5 weeks and up to C in 8-12 weeks which is enough since most beginner band horn parts don't go higher than C or sometimes D. Band methods usually have a "just for horns" line for each exercise but that doesn't help when they have to play with the whole band. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to tell the horn students not to worry too much about reaching the notes in the beginning and focus on playing the right rhythm and fingerings. If they work on it on individually with the help of a competent teacher, they should catch up with the rest of the band in a few weeks. Also using a method that is more adapted to the needs of the instrument will help them develop the strength and basic technique to play in the band and avoid frustration and discouragement. You can always download the french horn method here if you are looking for one.
8 Comments
11/15/2012 10:02:30 pm
Thanks for the blog! I will give a copy of this to my beginners. This is my second year as a middle school Band Director and I feel as though I have done my horn players a disservice with them during this first half of the year. I am hoping to get with them all after school for remediation and will also hook them up with one of our High School horn players who is doing well.
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Nicolai
4/1/2013 10:18:35 pm
What do you then recommend, as for a beginner? About choosing the pitch of an instrument(Bb or F)
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Nicolai
4/1/2013 10:24:55 pm
NOTE to the above: I play trumpet(Played for a couple of month - I can reach an octave, C to C and a couple of other notes further)
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Marc-Antoine Robillard
4/2/2013 12:30:52 am
Hej Nicolai,
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Lauren
9/9/2016 01:16:00 pm
I was wondering if you had any suggestions on horns for children. My little brother is starting beginning band, and he's 8. My double horn is too big for him. He can't hold it correctly, needs to rest the bell next to him on the chair, and his hands are much too small to reach the trigger to access the b-flat side. I had heard of junior horns that I know come in a single key, but as I understand it, they're more of a novelty than a beginner's instrument. Do you have any suggestions on something more suited to his size that he can learn on as he grows?
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Marc-Antoine
9/10/2016 12:31:38 am
Hi Lauren,
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Evan
1/19/2017 05:08:52 pm
This is my second year playing trumpet, and I'm currently in seventh grade. I was either going to switch to bari sax or tenor sax next year, because I also play tenor sax. I was figuring out musescore and noticed that middle B and up were considered only to be played by a professional (on horn) and I was wondering if it is hard to play higher on horn. I was wondering if I should switch to horn or sax for 8th grade. Thanks
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poop is my crappy name
4/20/2017 04:20:31 pm
hi
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Marc-Antoine RobillardI am associate principal horn of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the author of the progressive methods. I'm happy to share my experience as a horn player and teacher with you. Categories
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