practice

Using one or two words to improve your concentration or establish the character of a piece is not a new teaching technique. I know I’ve personally heard about using these kinds of “trigger words” for a couple of decades. These are especially useful to establish the mood or style of […]

Trigger Phrases to Improve Performance

18 Sep, 2019 in Horn tagged horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 26 days ago)

It’s almost September, which means high school and band camps are well underway (or done). One of the hardest shifts that most brass players make is the switch between “summer chops” and “band camp chops”. Most brass players play very little from June-August. Even those that do practice usually don’t […]

Prepare for Fall Band Camp (and Auditions!)

28 Aug, 2019 in Horn tagged band / horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / marching band / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 52 days ago)

It’s mid-August, and that means that not only is summer winding down (and marching band is back in full swing), but the All-State and All-District etudes for Kentucky are out! Like the past few years, I’ve put together a page to help students get a jump-start on these etudes. Even […]

2019-20 KY All-State Etudes Up!

14 Aug, 2019 in Horn tagged all state / horn practice / horn teaching / kentucky all state / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 61 days ago)

Although no one likes being nervous, it may actually be the best way to perform.

Calm vs. Nerves vs. Terror: Which is Best?

31 Jul, 2019 in Horn tagged horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 82 days ago)

A look inside Jeffery Agrell's book about the ins and outs of horn playing.

Book Review: Horn Technique by Jeffery Agrell

17 Jul, 2019 in Horn tagged horn books / horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / horn technique / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 93 days ago)

Just because you're a musician doesn't mean that you are destined to wake up at noon!

Need to Rise and Shine? Reset Your Sleep

10 Jul, 2019 in Horn tagged health / horn playing / horn practice / practice / productivity by Colin Dorman (updated 100 days ago)

After quite a few weeks, I’ve finally finished all my extended scales and arpeggio PDFs! If you’re looking for some variety over the summer, or you need some work in a particular key (or keys), these are great in-depth exercises to really work on your scales. Check them out here.

More Scale and Arpeggio Resources!

3 Jul, 2019 in Horn tagged horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / horn technique / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 109 days ago)

classical musician performance anxiety — It’s no secret that the increasing development and research into sports psychology has trickled down into the performing arts fields. Books from authors like Don Greene, Timothy Gallwey and Barry Green have brought many aspects of the mental preparation done by elite athletes (and others in high-stress jobs) into the […]

Self-Talk: Criticism vs. Compassion

26 Jun, 2019 in Horn tagged horn playing / horn practice / horn teaching / music / practice by Colin Dorman (updated 111 days ago)