Tag: horn teaching

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  • Changing the Weekly Lesson Schedule

    Changing the Weekly Lesson Schedule

    An interesting article in a recent issue of the American Music Teacher magazine titled “The Problems of Once-A-Week Lessons” has gotten me thinking about the disadvantages of the “traditional” once-per-week lesson schedule. In particular, this article highlighted two learning concepts that have gotten more attention recently, the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve and Spaced Repetition. The Forgetting…

  • Adventures in Mouthpiece Matching

    Adventures in Mouthpiece Matching

    An insightful interview between Mars Gelfo and Alex Strachan about what goes into designing and making French horn mouthpieces.

  • Horn ‘Guru’ Leaves a Legacy of Harassment

    Horn ‘Guru’ Leaves a Legacy of Harassment

    The Barbed Wire, in collaboration with The Rice Thresher, posted an article earlier this month about the decades-long abuse suffered by female musicians at the hands of William “Bill” Vermeulen, the horn professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music since 1990. VerMeulen apparently had a history of sexual harrasement allegations dating back to the…

  • A[n Updated] Guide to Horn Oils and Greases

    A[n Updated] Guide to Horn Oils and Greases

    When it comes to brass lubricants, there are a lot of options. This PDF by Hetman is a great resource to find the right lubricant for any horn!

  • Improving Endurance on the French Horn

    Improving Endurance on the French Horn

    For brass instrument players, endurance can be a challenging skill to develop. Here are my thoughts on what real endurance requires.

  • Why Substituting Intensity for Consistency Leads to Audition Disappointment – and How to Fix It.

    Why Substituting Intensity for Consistency Leads to Audition Disappointment – and How to Fix It.

    Trying to substitute intensity for consistency in any musical practice is a recipe for disappointment. Here’s a better way.

  • All-District/All-State Audition Preparation

    All-District/All-State Audition Preparation

    A few thoughts on preparing for All-District and All-State auditions for middle and high school students.

  • How 5 Minutes of Practice Can Lead to Real Change

    How 5 Minutes of Practice Can Lead to Real Change

    It seems counter-intuitive, but a 5 minute per day practice plan can lead to long-term improvement.

  • Thoughts on Getting Gigs in a Pit

    Thoughts on Getting Gigs in a Pit

    Getting work in the pit for musical theater shows can seem like an impossible challenge. Here are some ideas on how to improve your chances on getting those gigs.

  • Two Music Practice Styles: Assembly Line vs. Kanban

    Two Music Practice Styles: Assembly Line vs. Kanban

    Most students practice like they are working on a Ford assembly line. But a method developed by Toyota in the late 1940’s can unlock so much more.