French Horn Equipment Resources
Here you’ll find my equipment-related resources and pages.
Mouthpiece Comparison Chart
Looking to change or upgrade your mouthpiece, but don’t know much about it? I’ve put the crucial measurements of over 500 mouthpieces in one place – making it easier for you to compare and contrast. Check it out!
Choosing a Mouthpiece
Having trouble deciding where to begin your mouthpiece search? You’re not alone. Here is a bit about my own mouthpiece journey, and some useful ways to narrow down your mouthpiece search!
Types of French Horns
Confused about the difference between single horns, double horns, triple horns, descant horns, and all the rest? This page sorts out the most common (and a few uncommon) types of instruments that you’ll run across!
Buying a French Horn
Buying a horn can be stressful! The number of different brands and models alone can be overwhelming, plus the high price tag and the existence of cheap knock-off horns make it hard to decide without expert help. This guide should help you separate the good horns from the bad!
French Horn Cleaning & Maintenance
Keeping your French horn clean and in good working order isn’t difficult, but regular maintenance is essential! Here are the basics of horn maintenance that anyone can (and should) do!
French Horn Music Resources
These are all my music and technique-related pages.
French Horn Exercises
Looking for some new warm-up ideas? Need work on scales, slurs, lip trills, or other aspects of horn playing? I’ve got all sorts of French horn exercises for all levels of players – beginner to advanced – available.
French Horn Books & Music
Hundreds of different etudes, solos, and horn chamber music, categorized by difficulty. Ideal for Solo & Ensemble, recitals, or other performances. This page also includes books on performance anxiety, productivity general musical knowledge, and more!
Notable Recordings for French Horn
Looking for some recordings of your favorite orchestral or horn repertoire? Need to help a student find their sound? Here is a listing of some of the most iconic horn solos, chamber music, and orchestral recordings of the past and present.
French Horn Technique Guides
These pages cover topics that many younger players have trouble with. These are also great resources for non-brass band or orchestra directors, to help them better understand the French horn.
Audition Practice Guide
Auditioning is a source of stress for almost all players. But you can practice the act of auditioning just like you practice any other aspect of horn technique or music.
French Horn Tuning Guide
Tuning the French horn can be challenge for many players. Which note(s) to tune, which slide(s) to move, and how to do it all quickly are all covered here. Along with pictures explaining the functions of all the slides.
A Guide to the Right Hand
For some horn players (and band directors) the French horn player’s right hand is a mystery. While nothing beats an in-person lesson, here are some guidelines about how to find the best position for your right hand.
French Horn Transposition Guide
For many young horn players, transposition is one of those skills that is ignored as long as possible. However, with a little bit of practice (and my transposition chart) transposing horn parts can become almost second nature!
Other French Horn/Music Resources
In addition to the above pages, I also regularly post French horn and music-related content on my blog.
You can find the most recent articles below, or click here for the full archive.
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
A few thoughts on preparing for All-District and All-State auditions for middle and high school students.
Practice Tools: Complementary vs. Competitive
There are two kinds of practice tools: tools that help ONLY when you use them, and tools that help AFTER you use them. Here’s a look at both types.
Page-Turning Pedals: Three Brief Reviews
A brief review of three page-turning pedals I’ve used in the 5+ years of using digital sheet music.
A Horn Beauty Contest
A comparison of horns – not for the best sound or easiest playability, but for the best aesthetics.
Learning to Learn: The Science of Neuroplasticity
The first step of knowing how to teach yourself (or others) is learning how to learn. And this video on neuroplasticity can give you all the tools you need.
Using ForScore: Basic and Advanced Tips
A few years ago I wrote about several advanced features of MobileSheets Pro. Since I’ve been using an iPad as my music reader, I’ve discovered a few useful, but hidden features.
The Future of ChromeOS Devices as Android Tablets
The future of Android (and ChromeOS) tablets is murky. But here’s why I didn’t recommend any as digital music readers for 2022.
Digital Music Reader Buyer’s Guide | Updated for 2022
I’ve updated my list of digital music reader recommendations for those looking to buy a new music tablet (Android or Apple) for 2022!
Stravinsky and the Orchestra Hit
One of the coolest music history tidbits I’ve heard in recent memory – Stravinsky and the Orchestra Hit.
A New Site Aims to Help Brass Players Prevent Injury
A new website by the horn professor at Western Illinois University aims to help brass players reduce or prevent overuse injuries.
One-on-One Help
If you need one-on-one help with horn playing, or you’re looking for help with your website, you can use the links below to contact me.
Need French Horn Lessons?
Whether you need a single lesson to prepare for an upcoming audition or if you want long-term lessons for your child (or yourself), you can contact me.
Lessons are offered both in-person and online, and I teach all levels of students.
Need A Website (or Help with Your Current Site)
In addition to being a musician, I’ve also been building and maintaining website for 20+ years!
If you need a website for your music studio, yourself, or a small business, contact me!