https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/ Recent posts from Harmonic Notes on Horn Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/corner-engagement-and-the-bottom-lip/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/corner-engagement-and-the-bottom-lip/ Exploring a more dynamic relationship between the corners and the bottom lip for better tone and improved stability up and down the range. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/forscore-full-screen-ipados26/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/forscore-full-screen-ipados26/ How to get forScore back into full-screen mode, and other info regarding window and multitasking changes in iPadOS 26. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hearing-protection-airpods-pro/ Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hearing-protection-airpods-pro/ A report from a horn pro, and my own experiments, about using AirPods Pro 2 or 3 for hearing protection in orchestra. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/ipad-recommendations-forscore/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/ipad-recommendations-forscore/ Considerations and recommendations for choosing an iPad model for use with forScore. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/forscore-interface-changes/ Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/forscore-interface-changes/ forScore version 15, released at the same time as iPadOS 26, has significant interface changes motivated by Apple's new iPad menu and windowing changes. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/mid-phrase-brain-freeze/ Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/mid-phrase-brain-freeze/ In a recent chamber music dress rehearsal, my opening phrase was a train wreck. Mental rehearsal before the performance was my fix. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hazard-ahead-dangerous-line-break/ Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hazard-ahead-dangerous-line-break/ I started using a new symbol in my parts to help avoid trouble. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-gear/ Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-gear/ It's amazing how much horn-related gear is within just a few feet of my practice chair. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/a-pair-of-diamonds/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/a-pair-of-diamonds/ Marking pairs of notes using diamond shapes to remind myself to remember the first note's pitch to help me play the second accurately. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/tips-for-marking-measure-numbers/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/tips-for-marking-measure-numbers/ Marking measure numbers this way really helps when the orchestra starts in the middle of a multi-measure rest in my part. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/where-musicians-live/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/where-musicians-live/ A misleading map. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/practicing-the-wait/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/practicing-the-wait/ Repeatedly chipping the first note of the solo in rehearsals. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/my-latest-self-recording-setup/ Sat, 04 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/my-latest-self-recording-setup/ I decided to try a low-cost, portable option based on the RØDE Wireless GO II system. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/breathing-out-while-waiting/ Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/breathing-out-while-waiting/ I didn't think the D major scale in Barber would be a big deal. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-notation-change/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-notation-change/ The Horn Call has switched to a better notation for distinguishing pitches in different octaves. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/thinking-again-about-amateur/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/thinking-again-about-amateur/ "Amateur" in French always gives the connotation of someone who deeply appreciates and is knowledgeable about something. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/thinking-about-amateur/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/thinking-about-amateur/ You can't avoid English words that have ambiguous meaning; they are everywhere. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/retirement-plus-4/ Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/retirement-plus-4/ After retiring last week, I am recovering from a month of disrupted practice. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/practice-room-playing-position-recording/ Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/practice-room-playing-position-recording/ I stood in the center of the room and contemplated this setup. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/today-practice-plan/ Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/today-practice-plan/ As Randy Gardner says, "plan your work and work your plan." https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-camp/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-camp/ By the end of the week, my musical batteries were fully charged, and I had enough practice and performance ideas to last a whole year (at least). https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/fingering-chart/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/fingering-chart/ I wondered how much horn math could be presented on a single chart. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/juicy-mistakes/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/juicy-mistakes/ Each mistake is a chance for pausing and reflecting on what just happened, and learning from it. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/patrick-stewart-on-learning-scripts/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/patrick-stewart-on-learning-scripts/ Patrick Stewart's approach to learning a script, and how it relates to learning music. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/trouble-shooting-high-notes/ Sat, 09 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/trouble-shooting-high-notes/ When the note dropped out again, in the same place, I put my horn down and stared at the music stand. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-designation-notation-followup/ Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-designation-notation-followup/ My favorite musical practice app, TonalEnergy, uses scientific pitch notation. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/using-forscore-recording-cues-for-practice/ Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/using-forscore-recording-cues-for-practice/ I have found it helpful and efficient to use forScore's audio capabilities to practice my concert parts along with an orchestral recording. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/clarke-1-chromatic-scales/ Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/clarke-1-chromatic-scales/ I used Clarke's chromatic study to work out some hand and finger issues. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-designation-notation/ Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-call-octave-designation-notation/ The Horn Call uses Helmholtz pitch notation, an objectively terrible system. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/accuracy-gardners-challenge-and-ericsons-encyclopedia/ Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/accuracy-gardners-challenge-and-ericsons-encyclopedia/ Gardner's accuracy challenge is stretching and training my brain in new ways. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/path-choosing-french-horn/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/path-choosing-french-horn/ I had a huge crush on a girl in my 10th grade Spanish class. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-sep-2023/ Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-sep-2023/ I'm very excited about having a chance to play Hanson 2, which keeps the horn section busy with rewarding parts in all three movements. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/to-high-cs/ Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/to-high-cs/ David McGill, in Sound in Motion, recommends practicing all scales through the full range of the instrument. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/combination-fingering-intonation/ Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/combination-fingering-intonation/ How sharp are the various combination fingerings? https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/harmonic-progression-arpeggios/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/harmonic-progression-arpeggios/ There are a lot of different intervals in this exercise, and I must hear them accurately, in the moment, in order to play them accurately. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/pitfalls-of-picking-a-horn-related-domain-name/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/pitfalls-of-picking-a-horn-related-domain-name/ On a cruise ship vacation this month, I found myself once again unable to access hornjourney.com over a WiFi network. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/claiming-my-space/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/claiming-my-space/ Claiming my space helps me breathe better and also feel more confident. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-july-2023/ Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-july-2023/ The Melrose Symphony and Concord Orchestra seasons will start just after Labor Day. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/learning-to-be-more-musical/ Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/learning-to-be-more-musical/ I listened to recordings of the Schubert Lieder by Renée Fleming, and I picked out two to start with: Gretchen am Spinnrade and Auf dem Wasser zu singen. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/focused-concrete-improvement-goals/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/focused-concrete-improvement-goals/ KBHC sessions prompted me to consider how I might be able to make my improvement goals more focused and concrete. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-camp-2023/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/horn-camp-2023/ The Kendall Betts Horn Camp faculty are some of the best horn players and teachers in the country, and the staff members who make everything run smoothly are also fine players. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/memorizing-as-a-practice-aid/ Thu, 08 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/memorizing-as-a-practice-aid/ I started with the idea of memorizing just one phrase, and maybe only for a few minutes, for the purpose of practicing that phrase thoroughly. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/detached-observation/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/detached-observation/ I want to pay close attention to what I hear and what I feel, while suspending judgment and any immediate stop-and-fix reaction. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hearing-what-my-mistakes-are-telling-me/ Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/hearing-what-my-mistakes-are-telling-me/ I began to suspect that I wasn't hearing the octave intervals clearly in my mind. https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-june-2023/ Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://steveeddins.com/blog/horn/now-june-2023/ On the stand: Hanson 2 excerpt for the upcoming Concord Orchestra seating audition