A long time ago I used to play the french horn and while I was fully capable of seeing a note on the page and remembering what fingering, lip position and breath it took to make that note, I could never hear it in my head. I could tap out the beat and I could know that a note was a C or F by its placement on the page, but someone would always have to play the song for me to really understand what it sounded like. Is this normal? Or does it ever change with time where you can just hear the music in your head and know which note is what?

And my other dilemma is learning the fingerings for my alto recorder. The fingering chart I have has every sharp and flat note in between, but I'm not quite sure if I am to that level yet. Should I just stick with the basic scale at the moment? Also, what exactly is the best way to teach myself what fingering means which note; practicing music or just practicing the scales?

I think a lot of "hearing the music in your head" is just time and practice.