Just as it says, how long have you been playing french horn? I figured that this might be a good thing to know when accepting advice. Not to say that people who have been playing longer always have better advice than those who haven't, it just seemed like a reasonable thing to ask here to get to know everybody a bit better. Also, what type of groups do you play for? (examples: highschool band, local orchestra, etc. etc.) This would be nice to know so I can plan a little bit for where I might go with playing french horn.

I have been playing the horn for 11yrs, I started in third grade and am now in my first year of college studying music education. I'm going to be learning about every instrument, so it's very interesting! Right now I am currently working on the trombone. Not only do I learn how to play the instruments, I also learn how to teach them and fix problems may have with them. If you not only enjoy playing your horn, but also like children and ever considered being a teacher, this is a great way to continue on the horn as well as learning new things. I also play in band and orchestra at school and after I graduate, I would also like to play in community bands as well as teach.

9 years as a high school & college horn major plus a little over one year as a come back horn player. All totaled about 10 years.
Valerie in Tacoma

I have begun playng the horn 16 years ago.

I have finished the Highschool, Music Academy, and Masters Degree. I am 26 years old.

I play the horn at the Romanian National Opera, Cluj-Napoca.

http://www.operacluj.ro/

I am principal horn.

And... I think is difficult to ply this instrument at high standards!!!

I wish to help horn-players to play better, and I am learning a lot about playng when I try to explain somebody about horn-playng.

Feel free to contact me If you think that I can help you in a way or another!

Lucian

I don't even play horn.

Why am I here?

This is my 7th year of playing the french horn and I am a senior in High School. I have attended district honor bands and the All-State band for Louisiana for the top bands. I believe that I am a good horn player and my specialities are rythems and high notes. I know that I will get better with time because the more I practice the better I become. I also have a lot of knowledge of other instruments (tranpositions, some fingerings, etc).

I'll only attempt the answers that I know the answers to for sure. If I don't know the answer then I will either not post a response or I will find the answer from another source (whether it be primary or secondary).

I love the french horn and I love music. Music will always be a part of my life even if I don't play horn forever. I enjoy hearing it, learning about it, and learning from it. It has taught me control and how to make something big: music.

Good god, I'm going to come off as a loser. I've been playing for seven months, about. Since the start of this school year; I played trumpet for seven years before switching to horn, but yeah... I feel dumb.

Everyone has to start somewhere. :P

lol, true that. ive been playing for 4 years. started in yr 7. thought it might be fun... going to national band championships or something with the school over the easter holz. should be fun. we have 6 horns at our school now... lol

no my band director is wanting me to swich from trumpet to horn is that hard?

lol, that really depends doesnt it? to me, not really considering i've been playing for a few years, but to a beginner, even if you've played the trumpet before, it possibly might be. when i started it was relatively hard, but that was because i hadn't played a brass instrument before, but... from trumpet to horn... its not really that big of a change... to me... so, it might take a bit adjusting to the size of the mouthpiece, but other than that... its not very hard.

Mouthpiece change will be a slight shock. Also, if you want to get the proper sound on horn you're going to want to play with more of your top lip. Trumpets play with more of their bottom lip. That will quite possibly be the biggest change.

Also, if you're going to be playing a double horn then the fingers will change, if not then you should be fine!

- Joey

Will it be hard to switch from trumpet to horn? That all depends... I know trumpet players who try horn & hate it becuase they say it's harder to play with accuracy & control. But personally, I switched back & forth between horn & trumpet several times in high school and college & always found horn easier & more satisfying. Go figure. Valerie, BE method

I have been playing for about 5 months I enjoy and find it easier than trumpet. I started because there is not piano in Concert Band. If you start, the biggest thing i have heard is stick with it no matter what. it will be rewarding.

Hmmmmm...... Zzzzzzzz..... this forum has certainly been quiet lately. Valerie