A Horn Player's Study Guide
by Thomas Bacon
Level 4
To have advanced this far the player displays a high level of dedication and talent.
Even though many attempt Level 4 repertoire, very few high school players reach this
level. They are probably the section leaders and may be members of the All-State band and
orchestra. There is also a good chance they will get music scholarships for college.
Along with these achievements comes responsibility though, for if the player is to
continue developing, practice and involvement with the horn and the horn world must become
a priority. It's time to really get serious.
Whether in high school, college, or not in school at all, a Level 4 player should be
practicing 1 1/2 - 2 hours every day besides ensemble rehearsals. A basic routine should
be developed that includes technical exercises addressing everything the player has to do.
It should include high and low range, loud and soft dynamics, scales and arpeggios,
various articulations and slurs, lip trills, and multiple tonguing. Problem areas should
no longer be avoided.
During Level 4, the player should:
1) develop range to at least 3 octaves, and know chromatic fingerings throughout that
range;
2) know all major and minor scales and arpeggios;
3) begin using lip trills, double and triple tonguing, transposition, and bass clef
(old and new notation) whenever needed;
4) become familiar with standard orchestral excerpts;
5) become familiar with the technique of the natural horn and understand the harmonic
series;
6) join the International Horn Society (IHS), if not already a member;
7) begin building a library of recordings of fine players, and become familiar with
names and styles of great players of the past and present.
RECOMMENDED READING
Farkas -- The Art of French Horn Playing
LEVEL 4 - ETUDES AND STUDIES
Kling -- 40 Characteristic Etudes
SUPPLEMENTARY -
Pottag-Andraud -- 335 Selected Melodious and Progressive Technical Studies, Books I
& II (the "Blue Book" & the "Red Book")
LEVEL 4 SOLOS
Koch -- Sound Pictures
Kronke -- Two Hunting Pieces
Lorenz -- Fantasie
Mozart/Ephross -- Andante (from Quintet K.407)
Mozart/Sansone -- Concerto No. 1
Mozart/Sansone -- Concerto No. 2
Mozart/Sansone -- Concerto No. 4
Oldberg -- Serenade
Pessard -- In The Forest
Purcell/Bacon -- I'll Sail Upon the Dogstar (from Selected Songs Vol.2)
Schumann/Bacon -- He, the Most Magnificent of All (from Selected Songs Vol.1)
Strauss, Franz -- Concerto, opus 8
Telemann/Chidester -- Adagio and Presto
LEVEL 4 HORN ENSEMBLES
DUETS
Franz -- 100 Duets - Book 2
Mayer -- Suite No. 3
TRIOS
Mayer -- Tricinium
Reicha -- 6 Trios from Opus 82
QUARTETS
Bacon, editor -- 88 German Quartets
Franck/Wienandt -- Four Dances
Giovannini -- Three Moods
Mitushin -- Concertino
Schumann/Reynolds -- Six Quartets
OCTETS
Reynolds -- Cantos No. 1
Reynolds -- Cantos No. 2
Reynolds -- Cantos No. 3
Levels: Intro | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six
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