Answering the Call: A guide to supporting horn players for band directors

Abstract

The horn is an instrument that can be quite challenging for many young students who often struggle with confidence, especially in the initial stages of learning. A ‘whole musician’ focused education is therefore frequently overlooked by their teachers causing a delay in the all-important development of musical conviction and artistry. This dissertation project proposes a solution to this dilemma, a book entitled Answering the Call: A guide to supporting horn players for ensemble directors. Answering the Call addresses three fundamental pillars for the development of a well-rounded musician – technique, creativity, and musicality. This comprehensive approach, based in horn pedagogical practices, will serve to create more engaged, confident, and flexible musicians unafraid of significant musical challenges. Each section of Answering the Call contains important pedagogical information for the ensemble director as well as a wide variety of exercises arranged for full ensemble, like-instrument sections, and small chamber groups.