Best Horn Notes Edition Podcasts (2025)

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Hornnotes 67: All Things Assistant Horn 33:55

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2d ago33:55

33:55

In this episode John Ericson looks at the why and how of Assistant First Horn -- why your chops need it as first horn, and how to mark things like a pro. With other stories and additional notes on stiff chops. Length 33:54By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 66: Fundamentals -- Vibrato and Various Extended Techniques 18:58

27d ago18:58

18:58

In this episode John Ericson continues his series on fundamentals with stories and a look at vibrato and various extended techniques. In addition, the final segment looks at how to speed up your slow valves. Length 18:57By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 65: Fundamentals -- Transpositions, Bass Clef, Key Signatures, Sight Reading 23:32

1M ago23:32

23:32

In this episode John Ericson continues the series on fundamentals, this time the somewhat more essential ones of transpositions, bass clef, key signatures, and sight reading. With a concluding segment on earplugs and a horn seating question. Length 23:31.By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 64: Fundamentals -- Lip Trills, Stopped, and Muted Horn 16:57

1M ago16:57

16:57

In this episode the Fundamentals series continues with a look at lip trills, stopped horn, and muted horn. Legnth 16:57By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 63: Fundamentals -- Accuracy, Endurance, and Concentration 21:27

8M ago21:27

21:27

In Episode 63 of the Horn Notes Podcast host John Ericson continues his look at the Fundamentals of French horn playing, this time on the topics of accuracy, endurance, and concentration.By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 62: Fundamentals -- Slurring, Tone Quality, Ranges, and Dynamics 15:21

9M ago15:21

15:21

In this episode of the Horn Notes Podcast John Ericson continues his series on fundamentals, looking at the topics of slurring, tone quality, ranges, and dynamics. Length: 15:20By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 61. Fundamentals: Breathing, Embouchure, and Articulation, and a Unified Theory of Everything 18:15

11M ago18:15

18:15

In this episode John Ericson, horn professor at Arizona State, continutes his look at a fundamentals, based on three recent articles in the series on fundamentals in Horn Matters. As a part of that look he proposes a unified theory that relates the topics of breathing, embouchure, and articulation, with various personal asides.…

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Hornnotes 60: Fundamentals -- Posture, Fingerings, Intonation, and More 22:44

11M ago22:44

22:44

In this episode John Ericson begins a series looking at the fundamentals of horn playing. Following a list that may be found in the Douglas Hill book, the series begins with topics including playing postion/posture, fingering choices, intonation, and much more -- including key ideas towards playing in tune in ensembles.…

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Hornnotes 59: Your horn and the Music it Wants to Play, Transposition, and Intuitive Musicianship 23:36

2y ago23:36

23:36

In this episode John Ericson tackles questions related to how different horns work better on different music in a variety of ways, the topic of how we think of transpostion, and how intuitive musicianship can help you scope out if something is wrong in your music.

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Hornnotes 58: Bad Horns, Bad Ears, and Bad Loud Dynamics 26:10

2y ago26:10

26:10

In this episode Dr. Ericson tackles questions relating to what makes a bad horn a bad horn, earplugs (and bad ears), and improving loud dynamic playing.By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 57: A look at Carl Geyer and his horns 20:09

2+ y ago20:09

20:09

In this episode John Ericson looks at the topic of Carl Geyer and his horns, and reflects on his recent series of articles ("Geyer Dreaming") on Horn Maters, as 2023 is the 100th anniversary year of the Geyer style double horn. Length 20:09By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 56: Updating the University of Horn Matters 35:26

3y ago35:26

35:26

In this episode John Ericson looks at major updates done this summer to the University of Horn Matters, the free rep. and pedagogy courses posted in the Horn Matters website. Length 35:25By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 55: Remembering an embouchure change and other playing challenges 28:00

3y ago28:00

28:00

In this episode John Ericson looks back to a summer 40 years ago when he changed his embouchure for the first time, an embouchure injury the following year, and more. Length 27:59By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 54 -- Stories involving Giardinelli mouthpieces and more 24:23

3+ y ago24:23

24:23

In this episode John Ericson has a few stories related to vintage Giardinelli mouthpieces, a brief review of a book by Arthur Brooks, and more. Length 24:23By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 53 -- Better Mouthpiece = Better Accuracy 25:22

3+ y ago25:22

25:22

There are probably 1,000 ways to miss a note on the French horn, but one of the key items that will help improve your accuracy is proper selection of a better mouthpiece. In this episode John Ericson focuses on the topics of note connections, how those are impacted by mouthpiece choice, how to find better mouthpiece, and more. Lenght 25:22…

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Hornnotes 52 -- Pushing horn practice too far 25:32

3+ y ago25:32

25:32

In this episode John Ericson looks at the topic of practice and playing the French horn. Some teachers, in an effort to encourage progress, push duration and intensity of practice too far -- to the point of failure -- which is not a productive way to improve on the horn. Rest days, atheletic training, and tactics for good chops are discussed. Lengt…

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Hornnotes 51 -- Is it time to retire Kopprasch? 29:38

3+ y ago29:38

29:38

In this episode John Ericson examines the topic of moving on from Kopprasch in lesson teaching. These venerable etudes are dated music with many alternatives that may be used today. The episode concludes with further notes looking back at grad auditions for this year and more. Length 29:37By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 50: Let's Talk about Till and Farkas 17:58

4y ago17:58

17:58

In this episode we look at the topic of a correct interpretation of the Till Eulenspiegel opening solo, with a focus on how Farkas taught the excerpt. Farkas learned the solo working with the conductor Frederick Stock, who had studied the work with Strauss, as he explains in an audio clip from a presentation at the 1989 Southwest Horn Workshop. Len…

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Hornnotes 49: Kruspe, Geyer, etc., Part II 27:08

4y ago27:08

27:08

In this episode John Ericson returns to the overall topic of horn designs, and more specifically can the Kruspe type horn come back? Length 27:07

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Hornnotes 48: Pro tips on getting back into ensemble rehearsals 24:09

4y ago24:09

24:09

In this episode John Ericson looks at some of the issues related to getting going again with ensemble rehearsals and performances. Length 24:08

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Hornnotes 47: Using drones to warmup and practice etudes and excerpts 14:44

4y ago14:44

14:44

In this episode John Ericson looks at using drones to improve your warmup and your practice of French horn etudes and excerpts. The etude example is from Rangesongs by Rose French, and the excerpt is the opening of the Brahms second piano concerto. Length 14:43

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Hornnotes 46: Excerpts -- Till, Brahms 2, and Janacek 16:27

4y ago16:27

16:27

In this episode with John Ericson the focus is on horn excerpts, with tips on performing Till, Brahms 2, and the Janacek Sinfonietta. Length 16:26By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 45: A teaching method and more 20:11

4y ago20:11

20:11

In this episode John Ericson reflects on a recent project, that of laying out his teaching method, and more. Length 20:10By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 44: Warming up on F horn and more 16:33

4+ y ago16:33

16:33

In this episode John Ericson talks about warming-up on the F horn, his sabbatical project of building single F horns, and looking forward to more horn playing in the near future. Length 16:32By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 43: Toward Healthy Chops and Getting Your Chops Going Again 21:17

4+ y ago21:17

21:17

In this episode John Ericson examines the large topic of getting your chops back in shape after the long year of Zoom lessons and no ensembles. Length 21:16By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 42: The Low Horn Session 22:55

5+ y ago22:55

22:55

In this episode John Ericson presents a "workshop session" on materials and techniques to use to improve your low horn performance. Length 22:54By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 41: Playing the Wagner Tuba 13:20

5+ y ago13:20

13:20

Continuing the series of "workshop presentations," the topic for this episode is playing the Wagner tuba. Performed by horn players, these instruments are called for in works of Wagner, Bruckner, Strauss, and more. Length 13:19By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 40: Playing Natural Horn Today 14:31

5+ y ago14:31

14:31

Continuing the series of "workshop presentations," in this episode John Ericson presents a session introducing the performing techniques of the natural horn. Length 14:30By John Ericson

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Hornnotes 39: Geyer, Kruspe, and more 25:13

5+ y ago25:13

25:13

In this episode John Ericson looks at the topic of the two popular horn types, the Geyer and the Kruspe, getting beyond the buzzwords into their history, design, and more. Length 25:12

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Horn Notes 38: Understanding warmup publications and more 13:14

6y ago13:14

13:14

In this episode John Ericson looks at warmup publications in general, his new warmup publication, setting up the embouchure as you start the day, and more. Length 13:13.

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Horn Notes 37: Brass teachers with wide impacts, with Mike Grose 44:27

6y ago44:27

44:27

In this episode the guest is Mike Grose, host of the Tuba People series on YouTube, and the topic is brass teachers who had influence beyond the "silo" of their own instruments -- especially Arnold Jacobs, but also others with a wide impact. Length 44:26.

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Horn Notes 36: A look at the Kendall Betts Horn Camp with Peggy Moran 8:47

6y ago8:47

8:47

In this episode John Ericson has as his guest Peggy Moran, Executive Director of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, a great summer event to consider attending. Length 8:46By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 35: Mellophonium and more with Bobby Pirtle 23:01

6y ago23:01

23:01

This episode concludes the conversation from episode 34 with Bobby Pirtle as he establishes new musical connections in Phoenix, gets involved playing an over the shoulder alto with a period instrument brass group, and with a concluding section looking at Stan Kenton and the Mellophonium, which he researched extensively. Length 23:04…

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Horn Notes 34: Mellophone and Mellocast memories with Bobby Pirtle 30:12

6+ y ago30:12

30:12

In this episode John Ericson has as his guest Bobby Pirtle, creator of the Middle Horn Leader website and a regular guest on The Mellocast, a podcast that ran for 126 episodes from 2007-11. The conversation will continue in Episode 35. Length 30:11

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Horn Notes 23b: The IHCA with John McGuire 19:53

6+ y ago19:53

19:53

This episode is an update of a 2017 video podcast where the conversation is with John McGuire, host of the International Horn Competition of America. He'll be hosting it again in 2019. Length 19:52

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Horn Notes 33: Brass playing injuries and prevention with Richard Seraphinoff 24:47

6+ y ago24:47

24:47

In this episode the conversation is with Richard Seraphinoff on brass playing injuries, prevention, and much more. Length 24:46By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 32: Looking toward IWBC 2019 with Deanna Swoboda 18:22

6+ y ago18:22

18:22

In this episode the conversation is with Deanna Swoboda, host of the upcoming 2019 International Women's Brass Conference, to be held in late May on the campus of Arizona State University. Length 18:21By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 31: Talking rock horn and more with Adam Wolf 19:45

6+ y ago19:45

19:45

In this episode John Ericson has as his guest Adam Wolf, host of the Pathways podcast, the brains behind Rock Horn Project, and much more. Length 19:45By John Ericson

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Horn Notes 30: Growth Mindset and the horn player, with Nicole Deuvall 21:06

6+ y ago21:06

21:06

In this episode John Ericson has as his guest Nicole Deuvall, who is looking at the topic of Growth Mindset and the horn player (and teacher) for her DMA project at UMKC. Length 21:05

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Horn Notes 29: Injury, pressure, dystonia, other playing problems, with Gabriel Kovach 20:21

6+ y ago20:21

20:21

In this episode of the Horn Notes Podcast with guest Gabriel Kovach of the Phoenix Symphony the topic centers around injury, including focal dystonia, mouthpiece pressure, and various playing problems, with some equipment tips. Length 20:20.

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Horn Notes 28: Etudes, with guest Gabriel Kovach 16:35

7y ago16:35

16:35

In this episode John Ericson chats with Gabriel Kovach, principal horn of the Phoenix Symphony, about etudes and more. Length 16:35

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Horn Notes 27: Talking horns with Ion Balu (Balu Musik) and Dan Vidican (Lukas Horns). 18:52

7y ago18:52

18:52

In this episode host John Ericson talks with Ion Balu (Balumusik.com) and Dan Vidican (Lukashorns.com) about their horns, developments in horn making, and more. Length 18:51

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Horn Notes 26: Talking Custom Horns with Derek Wright, and a little Horn Internet History 20:06

7+ y ago20:06

20:06

In this episode John Ericson has as his guest again Derek Wright of Houghton Horns, where the topic is custom horns. Following that, in a horn history segment John takes a brief look at the horn on the Internet twenty years ago. Length 20:05

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Horn Notes 25: What's New in Horn from TMEA 2018, and More 25:29

7+ y ago25:29

25:29

Guests for this episode of the Horn Notes Podcast are Derek Wright of Houghton Horns, talking about new products seen at TMEA 2018 (BAM cases, Verus mouthpieces and horns), and Warren Gref, formerly of the San Diego Symphony, with ideas to improve musicality and accuracy on the horn. In addition, host John Ericson presents a tip on low range produc…

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Horn Notes 24: Ten Insights from the MRI Horn Studies 24:18

7+ y ago24:18

24:18

In this episode podcast host John Ericson goes over the main points from a January, 2017 presentation given at the Southwest Horn Conference, "Ten insights you can apply to your playing from the MRI horn studies." Originally posted to YouTube on 5/23/2017. Length 24:20.

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Horn Notes 22: Working on Tuning, with Drones -- Gustavo Camacho 17:48

7+ y ago17:48

17:48

In this episode our guest is Dr. Gustavo Camacho of Western Washington University, and the topic is working on tuning using drones. Originally posted to YouTube, 03/05/2017. Length 17:48.

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Horn Notes 21: The Brass Gym for Horn 9:15

7+ y ago9:15

9:15

In this episode John recaps a presentation from the 2017 Southwest Horn Symposium, looking at The Brass Gym for Horn, a 2007 publication which he helped edit. Originally posted to YouTube on 2/17/2017. Length 9:15.

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Horn Notes 20: The Horn Opera Project with Ericka Grodrian 15:52

7+ y ago15:52

15:52

In this episode John talks with Ericka Grodrian about her website "Beyond the Short Call," with a focus on some of the top operatic French horn excerpts. Originally posted to YouTube on 11/30/2016. Length 15:52.

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Horn Notes 18: On testing horns and mouthpieces with Derek Wright 14:29

7+ y ago14:29

14:29

We are joined again by Derek Wright of Houghton Horns, with the focus on testing horns and mouthpieces, but with also discussion of market trends in the French horn world and more. Originally posted to YouTube on 7/9/2016. Length 14:28.

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Horn Notes 17: Talking mouthpieces with Derek Wright 11:06

7+ y ago11:06

11:06

In this episode the topic is mouthpieces generally but also more specifically the new Houghton Horns line of mouthpieces, with guest Derek Wright. Originally posted to YouTube, 7/8/16. Length 11:06.