Comments for Horn Lessons

Comment on NOHAC by Andrew McAfee

Andrew McAfee — Sun, 22 May 2011 19:33:45 +0000

Quote from Paul Clifton, May 2011 University Winner:
NOHAC is an opportunity to perform professional excerpts in a professional setting but still learn about how you played through the ears of professionals who have been in the same position themselves. The best of both worlds, a high-pressure environment combined with the opportunity to be critiqued on how you played, in order to better it for the future.

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Andrew McAfee

Andrew McAfee — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:50:14 +0000

Thank you Jim. In general, keep puckering and pushing the lips forward. If they are stretched at all, your endurance will be shot. Take very quick breaks. Release the pressure from the lips as often as you can so blood can replenish the muscles. Working up endurance is also like weight lifting. You don’t want to tear down your muscles but you need to work them to their limit a few times while relaxing in between sessions. Do not overdo it or you will just hurt yourself and go backwards. Playing as efficiently as possible is getting the lips to vibrate as easy as possible so when you pump more air by them, they can relax and your sound production increases. Remember to trust and rest on the bottom of each note and let the horn participate in holding up the note. That saves valuable energy and is a better way to stay connected to the horn for smooth slurs anyway. Let me know what you find works for you.
thank you!
Andrew

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Jim Freund

Jim Freund — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:52:52 +0000

Hi Andrew: I have been using the information I gleaned from your site for a few weeks now and the placement is becoming more and more natural. The results I got from following your 5 step plan changed my life. Now i have confidence in my ability to slur 3 8va if need be (i hope it never is but I can if I have too), and my tone is huge. My only problem now is how to gain endurance. I have to play a lot of hymns each sunday and they wear me out. In an up coming concert I have to play principal horn in Flotow’s Stradella Overture arr. by Lake and it is Andante quasi adagio for 3 lines hanging around third space c to g above the staff. I would also like to be able to play Schumann’s Op 70 Adagio and Allegro. That one really eats my lip up. What can I do to gain more endurance?

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Andrew McAfee

Andrew McAfee — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:03:46 +0000

If you are able to accomplish the 5 must haves,
http://www.hornlessons.org/order/5-must-haves-for-brass
then you don’t need a larger mouthpiece. If you play with the mouthpiece in the pink, and you can not do 2/3 upper, 1/3 lower with your current mouthpiece size, then yes, I say a larger MP for more space inside the rim, may help.
Thank you!

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Devin

Devin — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:23:02 +0000

This is a great website, thanks for the help your giving! My questions are:
1) I have larger lips, does that mean “get a bigger mouthpiece?” I can play the horn on a smaller one, but will getting a larger mouthpiece make things easier?
2) I am interestet in the “details” you metioned above.

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Andrew McAfee

Andrew McAfee — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:39:21 +0000

I believe that there is a universal brass embouchure available for both trumpet and horn players. This is because we all basically have the same anatomy and muscular structure except for lip size which can be taken care of with a different mouthpiece size. Yes, if the person has a extremely deformed jaw or teeth, they may have some problems.
With that said, the same embouchure can and should be used on trumpet, mellophone and horn for the best sound, endurance, power, range, agility, etc. whether you are in the Chicago Symphony or the Concord Blue Devils.
Unfortunately, most players were not taught how to place their lips on the mouthpiece by a professional so they developed bad habits in their struggle for high notes as a kid and just kept those habits into adulthood. I cover the bare minimum requisites in my 5 Must Have Video 1 and article 5 Must Haves for Brass under the Order page. When you want to talk details, let me know. Thank you for your question!

Comment on Embouchure Technique Blog by Drew Shearin

Drew Shearin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:43:33 +0000

These are very interesting thing and I think I can really utilize them, but I think..Where does a mellophone emboucher fit into this? I play in High School marching band and some day Drum Corps International, I want to know in what ways Mellophone emboucher is closer to Horn or Trumpet.

Comment on 5 Must Haves for Brass by Embouchure Technique Blog | Horn Lessons

Embouchure Technique Blog | Horn Lessons — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:18:35 +0000

[...] 5 Must Haves for Brass [...]