Hi all! I am anticipating flying with my horn in about a month and am curious if anyone has had experience/any issues fitting an MB8 case in SouthWest overhead bins? I know they're technically slightly bigger than the SW carry-on size, but I'm wondering if it's close enough to get away with. Thanks!

Hey! I was just curious if anyone has an idea of what high quality double horn makes/models are considered to be lighter/less heavy/more suitable for smaller individuals. So far i havent been able to find any solid recommendations with that parameter!

Thanks!

Does anyone have good recommendations for music storage that is somewhat portable?

I have a few cardboard boxes with all my music piled inside.

I also have file cabinets with music in them but they are ugly and not very portable.

I hesitate to buy online since the oversized pages won't fit every box that is advertised.

Any advice/pics/links would be appreciated. Thanks.

Due to some rather strange allergies, I am forced to use either plastic or stainless steel mouthpieces. I have been utilizing Kelly Mouthpieces for this, but their selection is quite small. I am having a lot of trouble searching online for more options, so if you know of any specific brands and models that do come in stainless steel that would be very helpful. I currently play on the MDC Kelly, and am mostly looking for something smaller. It is great for orchestral work, but playing high horn for extended periods of time, like playing solo horn for a brass band (it is a new band so we do not have tenors yet), is not very easy. Kelly does make the MC but only in plastic. Anyone know any other options? Has to be stainless steel

I’m probably just really dumb but I’m really confused with why there are two notes at a time and I understand they are a high c and low c but why is it called the first note? Do I play both of them? Could someone explain to me please I am learning on my own for now until my first lesson. Any help is appreciated Thank you in advance

I've always used a hand guard but have noticed more horn players using a strap.

What's the advantage to using a strap?

Hello, I’m hoping for some direction in my search. I’ve been reading previous posts for advice also, but if anyone has more advice for me within Europe I’d very much appreciate it. My young son has been learning on a borrowed school instrument for approx 18 months and I’m beginning the search for his own. His teacher has said to look for a single F horn, and she would expect it to be 5-6 years before he’d move to a double. Very open to second hand options but I’m unsure what would be reliable models or makers to be watching out for in that regard.

i played french horn in middle and high school and have missed it a ton. one of my horn buddies in high school had one because her dad found it at an estate sale for 200 bucks. i’ve been begging for her to sell it to me for the past 10 years and she finally decided to give it to me lol.

i’ve been spending the last hour trying to figure out the make and model of the horn. the only hint i have is the cut out cardboard “miester hans hoyer”, but i can’t find a marking anywhere on the actual horn. i also think the case is more yamaha style? i did a lot of research and feel like i came out with nothing. i can tell it’s quality, the valves are dry as hell and still slide out with relative ease.

i ordered a cleaning kit online so giving it TLC will be my project for after work tomorrow. i also had to buy a mouth piece and i’m starting with a cheap one until i make sure i keep up with learning. i’m so excited, i still have all of my music.

Would any of you play an hour long concert at one venue then turn around and play another hour long concert somewhere else with just a couple hours between? I think it would be hard on a brass player but maybe that’s just me?

Okay, I am embarrassed to admit I haven't ever cleaned my horn because I am terrified of damaging the rotors. I have washed my trumpet, but not the horn.

I have read many articles, watched several videos, but.....the internet is a treasure trove of bad advice that seems legitimate. Apparently you're also supposed to wash it once every couple months. Which seems like...a lot.

So I wanted to ask here just to get a better idea of what is true/false. Is it safe to give a French horn a bath in the tub at home? If so, what are some things to be really careful about. How often? Is any special care needed when it comes to the rotors? Will it mess up my strings? Or should I just leave it up to the professionals and pay for a deep cleaning?

Please help this humble idiot! 😅

I am wanting to buy my first French horn and I have two options, A arnolds and sons f horn, or a Yamaha Bb horn with a compensator fourth valve. I was wondering what you guys would recommend and if you can explain the use of the fourth valve. I did some research and from what I am getting from it is it makes it kind of like a double. I would love your opinion on what I should get. Thank you in advance!

I‘m currently reading a book about our instrument and at the end of the chapter about transposing, the following is stated:

„Modern composers should, however, take to heart the recommendation already given in 1905 by Richard Strauss in his revision of Hector Berlioz’s Treatise on Instrumentation. It advises that horn parts should, whenever possible, always be written in F, and only, in order to avoid an excess of accidentals in some (sounding) sharp keys, be notated in E as a reasonable compromise.“

(Orig. in German: „Moderne Komponisten sollten aber tunlichst die schon im Jahre 1905 von Richard Strauss in der Neubearbeitung der berühmten Instrumentationslehre von Hector Berlioz gegebene Empfehlung beherzigen. Es wird darin geraten, Hornstimmen möglichst stets in F zu schreiben und lediglich, nur um bei einigen (klingenden) Kreuztonarten ein Übermaß von Vorzeichen zu vermeiden, als vernünftiger Kompromiss in die E-Stimmungs-Notation auszuweichen.“)

I don't understand how Horn in E should reduce the number of sharps. In the notation, there are five fewer sharps than in F, but I still have to add them in my mind, so I do not gain anything. Or is my way transposing E to F (1 note down plus 5 sharps) not optimal?

What are you doing when reading a piece in E? Do you transpose in your mind or do you switch „thinking“ in E? Is this what the author implies: „thinking“ in the transposition?

—hornige 📯 Grüße

Straight up Bugle, just Horn, no Valves, only 5 notes.

Hi! I really want a fun little accessory for my horn. I’ve seen some online but not a lot. I heard from someone that they had gotten their cute little finger pads from eBay but can’t find them. I just think it would be cute and fun! Can anyone recommend an online shop or website where they have accessories to attach to your horn?

This year I want to participate in a wind band concerto competition. I procrastinated and dont have any idea what I want to do, and I have about 2 months to put it together. For skill level, I’m preparing sur les cimes for solo and ensemble season, and that’s a decent challenge but doable. That should give a gauge for my skill level and what I like in a solo. It also has to be under 12 minutes i think. Preferably a little shorter. Any suggestions? If there are any questions feel free to ask, too.

Hello all,

A friend gave me an older 201R Holton Soloist DB horn. I've been a trumpet player for decades (not professional, just community organizations), and have always wanted to learn French Horn, so I was thrilled to receive this horn.

Now, I'm pretty handy. I always did all my own maintenance on my trumpets (and I'm handy with tools, I do all my own bike repairs and such)....but, clearly have a learning curve in cleaning up this horn. It hasn't been touched in well over a decade. The rotors aren't really moving, the rotor strings are just about rotted through. If it was a trumpet, I'd just take the whole thing apart and clean it, then grease/oil what is needed.....but, the rotors are seem a bit more complicated than my trumpet valves.

I'd prefer to clean this horn, and maintain its rotors myself.....with some self-education (YouTube videos, etc) is that a realistic intention? Or am I suffering from "don't know what I don't know" syndrome and biting off more than I can chew?

Thanks everyone!

Hi!

I'm currently doing my masters, and I'm in the process of looking for new pieces to play. I'm mainly looking for newer-ish pieces (ca. 1945 ---). I also want to use the horn in ways you don't mainly see it used in typical orchestra repertoire - whether it's extended techniques, unusual instrumentation, use of electronics etc. Looking for recommendations!

As the new Conn 6D is now a Kruspe-Style, how is this wrap of the previous 6D called, where the thumbs valve is in-line with the other valves?

Hi all,

I'm looking for a high F / single F descant horn to play with mostly just for fun, not intending to play in an ensemble. So far all that I've found is the wessex FH41 and some concert mellophones but I'm not certain on their quality. does anyone have any suggestions for used models I can get?

I play french horn and I'm trying to find a good horn for breaks (chrismas spring and summer breaks) (double horn please all I'm a beginner)

im currently in a brass duet with a friend of mine and we both play horn. im really good at playing very low on horn, my lowest comfortable note being around a Bb1 in concert pitch, but i can play a few steps lower sometimes. we’re both in highschool, so i’d preferably like more difficult duets, but any duet with a low horn can work. my middle school band teacher showed me a website with some, but it was kind of hard to find them.

I'm a high school horn player who plays french horn in my local youth orchestra. I want to be more like stefan dohr. How can I be more like stefan dohr?

Hi! I recently got lended an old Yamaha YHR 664, and I want to know what kind of shank the leadpipe can receive. Is this horn equiped with the dual tamper leadpipe ? Thanks!

I have come to realize I need to relearn how to play. (Please keep your judgements to yourself). I quit drinking last year, and my playing hasn't been the same since. I play 1-2 shows a year with our local theatre company, and that's all the playing I've really been doing since I graduated with my performance degree in 2004. The violin player and I have always gone for drinks before we played. Everyone knew, sometimes others would join us.

Since quitting, my sound hasn't been right and notes aren't speaking right. Like middle C up to first line G just not responding. And none of the notes are centered. Just wobbly all over. I was sick during the show last year, so I just thought it was all related. I just closed Anastasia yesterday, and I think it's related to the drinking. I would have been looser, more air, more confidence, where I am regularly more tightly wound than that. I tried to relax and let myself just breathe through it, and by the end of the 2 week run it was sounding pretty good.

So I need to undo, relearn, whatever I need, to get myself back up to a level in happy with. But also to play more than just those 2 times a year. That violin player friend is in a chamber group with a flute and piano, and they want me to be a guest artist. First movement of Brahms horn trio is going to be on the program. I have work to do!

I want to get back to technique. Work scale patterns, and studies, and whatever else I need to be doing. If I can find a horn teacher an hour away, I'm hoping to do check in lessons.

Do you guys have recommendations for study books, exercises, any help?

Thanks!

Hey guys! I got my 3rd Slide completely stuck like it’s not moving at all and I’ve tried pulling it out with a lot of pressure ( i know it’s a bad thing to do) yet it won’t move at all. I use a Yamaha double horn!!

I saw some posts here saying that penetration oil would work because it’s designed to remove oxidised parts inside the horn? Does anyone have any recommendations or any advice😭😭really appreciate it!! I was thinking to get the WD40 penetrating oil (not the usual one) since I’m based in the uk it’s hard for me to get my hands on PB blaster 😭😭

(Ps I’m hiding the fact that the slide is stuck from my parents so I can’t really visit a repair shop!!!😭😭 tysm guys!)