Congratulations on choosing to play the French horn. Whether you are new to music, new to the horn, or simply a parent of a new music student, you will want to know these basics soon after receiving your instrument.
Parts of the French Horn
Click the image to zoom in.
Assembling Your Instrument
Even though it’s made of metal, your instrument is delicate and should be handled with care. Follow these instructions or the instructions given to you by your music director to prevent damaging the instrument.
- Place the case on its side on a flat surface. Make sure the case is facing up.
- Open the latches and carefully open the case.
- Carefully pick up the instrument by its bell and outermost body. Avoid the valves since they can fall out!
- Place the mouthpiece into the mouthpiece receiver (also called the lead pipe).
- Gently twist the mouthpiece to the right to lock it into place being careful not to over tighten.
Below is a clip from Alfred Music going over these different steps. Alfred Music is the publisher of the popular Sound Innovations method book series, designed to help young music students succeed!
[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/TXD8ICykNKU” width=”360″ height=”240″]
Putting It All Away
- Remove the mouthpiece by gently twisting it to the left and place it in the mouthpiece holder in your case.
- If your mouthpiece gets stuck, seek help from your teacher or from West Music’s repair team. We have a special tool to remove a stuck mouthpiece that will not damage the instrument.
- Carefully rotate your horn to remove excess condensation from the lead pipe on a soft cloth.
- Wipe off the outside with a soft cloth.
- Carefully place the instrument in the case and close all the latches.
- Store only your instrument and its accessories in the case. Sheet music, folders, and other objects may bend the keys and damage the instrument.
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- 7 Tips for Practicing
- Practice Tips for Young Musicians
Have questions? Need advice? West Music is here for you! Give our school band experts a call at 800-373-2000.
Adapted from Alfred Music’s Sound Innovations for Concert Band 1: French Horn.
Special thanks to our partners at Alfred Music for providing us smartmusic® videos and additional materials.
Aaron Hansen is an experienced K-6 General Music educator, passionate about bringing music to life through the Orff Approach. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Aaron has completed comprehensive Orff Teacher Training, including three levels at the University of St. Thomas and an Orff Master Class. His dedication to the Orff method took him to the Summer International Course at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. Aaron also shares his expertise by teaching movement at various Orff Teacher Training Courses and conducting workshops for local Orff Chapters.
