Horn Curriculum
Lauren Becker & Stephanie Blaha, Instructors
Level I (school grade 5)
Studies
Correct playing position and posture, correct right hand position
Basic buzz on mouthpiece, proper breathing; sound production – formation of embouchure/aperture and placement on mouthpiece with horn Learn fingerings, read music, learn basic rhythms Introduction to scale degrees and rhythm words
Participate in a school music program.
Suggested Methods
Rubank – Elementary Method for Horn
Froseth – Do It! Play Horn, v. 1 and 2
Kinyon – Breeze Easy Horn, v. 1 and 2
Sample Solos
NYSSMA level 2
Tchaikovsky – Theme from Swan Lake
Mendelssohn/Jones, arr. – Love Song
Mendelssohn/Buchtel – Nocturne from Midsummer Night’s Dream
Jones – The Ash Grove & The Dusky Night
Skills
Establish a basic warm-up and practice routine
Basic lip slurs and beginning arpeggios
Harmonic series
Learn proper use and fingerings of double horn, if applicable
Begin learning all major scales
Level II (school grade 6)
Studies
Continue Level I studies
Learn to recognize & appreciate different musical styles and develop personal preferences
Listen to recordings of horn music
Participate in NYSSMA solo contest
Methods
Rubank – Intermediate Method – Horn
Getchell – First Book of Practical Studies
Horner – Primary Studies
Sample Solos
Level 3 NYSSMA Solos
Bach/Gounod, arr. Hauser – Ave Maria
Corelli, arr. Hauser – Sarabanda & Gavotta
Beethoven, arr. Jones – German Dance
Saint-Saëns, arr. Stout – The Swan
Schumann, arr. Stout – Träumerie
Skills
Continued attention to mechanics of breathing and tone production:
- Learn to hear and produce a focused tone
- Understand breathing and issues surrounding body tension
- Strengthen embouchure, extend range
Improve pitch recognition and ear training
Improve articulation accuracy and variety
Warm-up routine expanded to include beginning flexibility exercises, tonguing exercises
Learn all major scales
Aim for 2-octave range
Level III (grade 7)
Studies
Continue Level II studies
Play in a group outside of school ensemble
Participate in NYSSMA solo contest
Methods
Horner – Primary Studies
Getchell – Second Book of Practical Studies
Maxime-Alphonse – 200 New Melodic & Gradual Studies for Horn, Bk. 1 or 2
Sample Solos
NYSSMA grade 4 with piano
Corelli – Sonata in F Major
Gliere – Intermezzo
Mozart – Concerto 2, 3 or 4, Mvmt. 2
Saint-Saëns – Romance, Op. 36
Mendelssohn, arr. Jones – Andante
Skills
Warm-up routine expanded to include flexibility exercises, high and low register exercises and arpeggios
Aim for 2 ½ octave range
Start developing ensemble skills – how to follow a conductor & play with others
Develop effective practice habits and skills
Begin practicing sight-reading
Begin learning minor scales – natural and harmonic
Level IV (School grade 8-9)
Studies
Continue Level III studies
Play in an orchestra outside of school ensemble
Play on an ECMS recital
Participate in NYSSMA solo contest.
Methods
Schantl – Grand Theoretical & Practical Method for the Valve Horn
Pottag – Preparatory Melodies to Solo Work
Kopprasch – 60 Studies, Book 1
Maxime-Alphonse – 200 Studies, Book 2 or 3
Ed. Labar – Horn Player’s Audition Handbook
Sample Solos
NYSSMA grade 5 with piano
Bozza – En Irlande
Chabrier – Larghetto
Glazounov – Reverie
Mozart – Concerto 1; Concerto 2, mvmt. 3; Concerto 3, mvmt. 1 or 3; Concerto 4, mvmt. 3
Mozart, arr. Jones – Rondo (Quintet with Strings)
Strauss – Nocturno, Op. 7
Skills
Warm-up routine expanded to include long tones and double tonguing
Aim for a 3-octave range
Emphasis on intonation
Learn all minor scales – natural, harmonic & melodic
Begin transposition exercises
Begin study of orchestral repertoire with Horn Player’s Audition Handbook
Level V: Diploma Level (school grade 10-11)
Studies
Continue Level IV studies
Participate in NYSSMA solo contest
Play in an orchestra outside of school ensemble
Play in a chamber music group
Play on an ECMS recital
Continue study of orchestral repertoire
Look into attending a summer music program
Methods
Schantl – Grand Theoretical & Practical Method for the Valve Horn
Kopprasch – 60 Studies, Book 1 and 2
Maxime-Alphonse – 200 Etudes, Book 3 or 4
Pottag – 335 Melodious & Progressive Studies, Bk. 1
Ed. Labar – Horn Player’s Audition Handbook
Sample Solos
NYSSMA grade 6 with piano
Beethoven – Sonata, Op. 17
Heiden – Sonata for Horn & Piano
Mozart – Concerto No. 2 or 4, Mvmt. 1
Saint-Saëns – Morceau de Concert
Strauss, F.- Concerto for Horn, Op. 8
Strauss – Concerto No. 1
Skills
Develop ability to recognize musical & technical problems and solutions
Play advanced warm-up routine, including flexibility, high and low register exercises, long tones, arpeggios, multiple tonguing and lip trills
Aim for 3 ½ – 4 octave range
Mastery of all major and minor scales
Level VI: Honors Level (School Grade 11-12)
Studies
Continue Level V studies
Exercise initiative in gaining orchestral and chamber music experiences by attending RPO concerts and looking into attending a summer music festival outside of Rochester
Prepare to make music a major part of college experience
Participate in NYSSMA solo contest
Methods
Schantl – Grand Theoretical & Practical Method for the Valve Horn
Kopprasch – 60 Studies, Book 1 and 2
Maxime-Alphonse – 200 Studies, Book 4 or 5
Pottag – 335 Melodious & Progressive Studies, Bk. 1
Gallay – 40 Preludes, Op. 27
Pottag – Horn Passages, v. 1-3
Sample Solos
NYSSMA grade 6 solos with piano
Bozza – En Foret
Dukas – Villanelle
Haydn – Concerto No. 1
Hindemith – Horn Sonata (1939)
Jacob – Concerto
Schumann – Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70
Wilder – Sonata No. 3 for Horn and Piano
Skills
Develop personal music style and artistry; demonstrate a high musical potential
Prepare three contrasting works, including a major concerto and a twentieth-century work
Expand orchestral excerpt repertoire with Pottag excerpt books
Last updated: 9/9/08