The brass forum seems to get hardly any posts. Do brass players not talk to each other? Do they not exist ?

I've had no resposes at all to my request for ideas about horn pieces.

When I took my son to his horn exam on Tuesday there were two stewards "running" the waiting room and they were both amazed by having a horn take an exam. "Oooh is that a french horn? We haven't had any brass this session. I don't think we had any in the Spring either."

Surely there are some brass players out there somewhere?



Perhaps you're all just ignoring me and having a big party somewhere else.

We're not at all well off for brass players here, sadly. At the forum events, we rarely get any brass players, and I can only think of one other French horn player, which is kenm. Perhaps a PM in his direction will help?

If the brass players I know are anything to go by they're probably in the pub....

More seriously, I think there is a shortage of brass players - I know that on the jazz courses I go on saxes outnumber brass by something like 7 to 1.

In some areas of the country, where brass bands are a tradition, there are a lot more brass players about. At the state primary school my friends children go to in Oldham the only instruments they teach are brass - no flutes, claris, violins just cornets, trombones, horns etc with the advantage that they have some truly specialised and excellent brass teachers.

That was true of the middle school I went to, everyone played brass instruments and the brass band wasn't bad at all. There were a few string players, a couple of flautists (posh kids whose parents could afford lessons as there wasn't a flute peri who came into the school) and about 8 clarinet players. One of the really appealing things about clarinet was it's rarity as apposed to the brass crowd........the error of that thinking was apparent when I moved to an all girls high school!

No need, if all you want to know is that I'm still alive. I'm always happy to provide my views if I see a question to which they might be relevant, but if I wanted to ask one about horn playing, I would do so on a horn mailing list to which I belong. It has thousands of members, scores of whom are professional players, and most of them are extremely helpful to amateurs.

One of the differences between brass and other instruments is the UK brass band tradition, in which I started many decades ago. I never heard of any of our members taking an ABRSM exam on a brass instrument; I never did, nor on string bass, which is now my main instrument. I took Grades 5 to 8 on piano. There are probably many older brass players around who have never thought of a good reason for joining this forum.

Should see from my sig that I have taken ABRSM exams on the tuba, and I doubt I would get a reply if I asked a question about tuba things either! I never really thought that there was a shortage of brass players, but I think the main reason that they are rare on this forum is that most amateur brass players or those working as teachers will be more into brass bands and will be part of a brass band forums, brass instruments seem to be more centred around playing in groups than other instruments, and so the easiest route to go down as a non-professional performer is a brass band.

Additionally, the french horn is quite 'alien' to most brass players (unless they play it, of course), as it is considered to be different to other brass instruments, so even as a brass player I don't have a clue about any french horn queries.

Slightly off topic, but I've noticed that the Jazz and Viva Percussion forums don't get posted in much either. The only thread in the Percussion forum in the last 30 days (I think) has been the bell-ringers one.

There are differences among the other brass too; perhaps the orchestral horn is a bit more different from them than they are from their nearest neighbours, but there are similarities e.g between natural horn and Baroque trumpet (the genuine valveless variety) and associations that have developed from particular compositions.

You should avoid letting on that you think the horn is special. You only encourage the horn players' feelings of superiority. Ernest Hall, one-time principal trumpet of the BBCSO, always insisted that horn players should be able to play as accurately as other brass players and had no sympathy with the idea that the instrument was more difficult.

Again, we're rather lacking in percussionists here, sadly.

Jazz forum lack of use?...Not sure why that is. Perhaps it's because this forum isn't necessarily the immediate first choice of many jazzers?...

I have a very good friend who is a brass player, and all her family play brass (and percussion), too. They wouldn't be interested in going along to the forum concerts, as they already have lots of playing opportunities - they are members of two local brass bands, which take up a lot of their time.

Not surprised : competing brass bands especially rehearse and play very, very intensively...

oh no I did see your post and read it only i'm not a horn player however there are quite a lot of books that I have heard off my friend that are quite good aparently

- Standard Of Excellence: Jazz Ensemble Method (French Horn) - if you like jazz
- Luigi Cherubini: Two Sonatas For French Horn (Horn/Piano)
- Ludwig Van Beethoven: Sonata For French Horn And Piano Op.17

However I have no idea what standard or if they are any good or not though..

Yes the Brass forum is quite dead bit of shame have tried to get people talk about what they are playing only not many replyed so I gave up

They're all in the pub, with the brass players!

Being a little controversial here, I think that the jazz exams are very much for a niche market of classical players who want to try a bit of jazz in the familiar set-up of an ABRSM syllabus. I have a feeling that anyone who's serious about jazz will move away from this fairly quickly (or never start on it in the first place).

I can't quite remember quite why I ever ended up here given the last ABRSM exam I did was grade 6 clarinet in 1985. I must have chanced on it in a google search for something or other and never left.

I don't think you're being that controversial! It may be me, but jazz doesn't really lend itself well to being examined, I feel. It's the sort of thing you just go out and...well...do!...

Thank you all for replying, I know nothing about horn. (I played classical guitar, basson and piano. Daughters play clainet and piano / flute and piano) I'd like to encourage my son with his horn by getting him nice things to play, he enjoys playing, but is apt to lose interest without a bit of encouragement.

Perhaps I should wander off and find a brass forum elsewhere.

What standard is he? and does he play the horn in any ensemble?

He took grade 3 this week. He plays in the intermediate band at school.

Sorry, I don't know that repertoire.

If that's not interesting enough, I would suggest him getting together with other members (horn duets, trios and quartets, brass quintet, wind quintet etc.) and playing simple ensemble music. There is a series called "The Elastic Band" with each part in multiple transpositions, appropriate to the range. Many more experienced amateur horn players get their music in orchestras, bands and chamber music than play solos.

I am a brass player!
I have had a go at all brass instruments.. and I mean all.. and have now just about settled on flugelhorn


..oh, and the comment someone made about brass players always being in the pub? It's true!

A beautiful instrument, but somewhat under-used in the brass band and rarely welcome in the orchestra (one Mahler symphony?). Do you play jazz? It goes well in small groups with other mellow instruments, e.g. as played by Clark Terry.

Yep I do play a bit of jazz!
I'm actually considering an instrument move to tuba :\ but need a lot of advice from people who know about it!!
I know it's a bit of a drastic move, but I love the noise it makes, and love low notes.. so there we go. I'm thinking about it.

That will give you access to a greater variety of music: symphony orchestras, in the larger Romantic and modern works; symphonic wind bands that would not want a flugel; the standard brass quintet; and traditional jazz bands, at least when marching. Of course, you would be even more in demand on string bass, and you could keep playing flugel then.

Why not look for one of those but hang in here as well? You never know, there might be a sudden influx of horn players!

Here are some ideas for you. I don't know definitely that any of them are still in print as our copies have been around for quite a long time.

New Pieces for Horn (2 volumes, Grades 3-4 and 5-6) published by ABRSM c.1980. Vol.2 has 8 pieces by 5 different composers, and I think all the pieces were new for the books.

Horn music for Beginners (don't take that seriously - Hungarian beginners are different from UK ones, probably mainly thanks to Kodaly, a familiar name in these parts ). Over 20 pieces, a mixture of arrangements of music by composers from earlier times and 20th century Hungarian pieces. Original publisher Editio Musica Budapest, probably available through Boosey & Hawkes.

5 Horn Pieces by Hungarian Composers. All 20th century pieces. Lots of short movements, some of which look to me to be playable at your son's standard. Also Ed. Musica Budapest.

You could look at June Emerson's on line catalogue for more ideas. Everything has a suggested level of difficulty. Those books may even be listed.

Good hunting!

Thanks that's helpful.

Our teacher hasn't been since the exam as he hasn't been well, so if he doesn't reappear before the summer and suggest something I'll definitely look some of those up. The good news is that son has been practising daily (which I thought might stop once the urgency of the exam looming had passed). He's been revisiting some easy well known tunes, to try to work on his technique without having to worry too much about playing something hard. Whether this will have been much good without teacher input I don't know, but at least his lip muscles have had some exercise.

That all sounds very positive, and will be building his stamina (which can be a major issue for brass players) as well as keeping his embouchure working. While he's waiting for another lesson are there pieces in his exam books that he hasn't played already and might like to explore? Did any of the books come with an accompaniment CD, or could any of the family pianists tackle any of the accompaniments?

Not alot I can add on the brass side, although because I am interested in Music Theory it is great to have the opportunity to visit different instrument sites and gain a little insight into their world !

The stamina may not be building as the practice sessions haven't been particularly long, just regular!

He did Trinity for the exam, so the pieces aren't in a book, and don't have a cd.

I'm offended, I dropped off for a few months and I've already been forgotten

What about the trombone? It makes a fantastic sound and it's really versatile. I've been learning for just over two years and there are loads of opportunities to play and plenty of variety. I'm in a wind band, brass group and orchestra and could be out playing every evening if I wanted to. If you prefer a valved instrument though, then I wonder if there might not be more opportunities for euphonium than there are for a tuba? I sort of feel that you only need one tuba in a group but two or more euphoniums is okay.

and that's not the end of its possibilities: there are also jazz, both big band and small group, and Renaissance church music.

True in brass bands and wind bands, but the orchestra needs a bass tuba in lots more works than it needs the tenor (= euphonium). I can think of Mars in The Planets and a rich part in Strauss's "Don Quixote", possibly a Mahler symphony or two, whereas the bass tuba has something to do in many large symphonies from c. 1870 on.

Another brassy one here, i have been off the forum for about a year and havent played for about the same amount of time!
had a new baby in feb 2009, so bit busy, also my band seem to think that i can just drop everything including the kids to play at a gig for them, ...ummm no! and then get grumpy with me when i say sorry am busy no baby sitters! and compain that i should have let them know earlier!

my 4 yr old son in interested in playing but havent started formally teaching him yet.

my band is short of brass and has been for about the last 8 or so years. yet the brass bands seem to be doign ok, but they tend to be family things from what i experienced.

must get the brass out again... think my lip will be dead though.

You haven't been forgotton, I think you are just "before my time"

It's good to see a bit of brassy activity on here.

I agree. Viva brass always seems the most quiet part of the forums, which seems a small contradiction

It's always really quiet in here...... I never know what to say!!! I play the cornet and am around grade 7(ish). If I could think of something inspiring to talk about I would, but right this moment..... I can't!

Perhaps you should start a "What I'm playing and why I like it" thread. Or a "Pieces aI really hate " thread, in the brass section to try to get a bit more brassy activity going. (That seems to be the only slightly brassy smiley on offer too. I assume it's a trumpet he's holding)

Hey, possibly great time for a new thread now we have new syllabuses for ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall trumpet, might be good to discuss some of the favourites (goes to start thread)

Hi all,

Horn player/teacher here. Have been on the site for a while but forgot about it to be honest as it was so quiet when I last checked! Will look in more often.

There seems to be a problem nationwide with recruiting brass players - particularly in the south east where I live and work. I really don't know what it is. It's not hard to pick up and play a tune, and traditionally trumpet/trombone are fairly "cool" instruments!

For me I try to encourage my students to do as much ensemble playing as possible - horn quartets / brass quintets / bands / orchestras / duets, and even playing to CDs or backing tracks.

I do a lot of wider ops teaching and that is good for getting kids interested but it's difficult to maintain it at the end of the programme. We have found that kids struggle more on the brass instruments than clarinet/sax in these sessions though - often it is pitching. They can get a couple of notes but it doesn't click about tightening up their chops and blowing faster to get up to the next harmonic (c/g ends up sounding the same). It's important that they understand this and can hear it in their heads or they'll have real difficulty...

Hi Aero, nice to hear from you.
I'm a trumpet player from down in Cornwall. One thing with living here is there are a great many brass bands so cornets, euphoniums tenor horns etc are quite popular instruments to learn. Unfortunately a shortage of orchestras means very few french horns around.

Anyway, hope to hear more from you in the future