Frøydis Ree Wekre: Thoughts on Playing the Horn Well

Frøydis Ree Wekre: Thoughts on Playing the Horn Well

The Polish edition of the hugely popular and acclaimed book by Frøydis Ree Wekre – Thoughts on Playing the Horn Well – has been published by ZM Concept.

The author touches on many aspects whose understanding, practice, and mastery form the whole image of a well-playing hornist. A recognized horn player and pedagogue, she shares her insights and knowledge in a very communicative and direct language, making the book easy to read and accessible to everyone – beginners and advanced horn players alike.

ISBN 978-83-916211-4-1

From the Author:

(...) Now, after years of teaching and learning, I felt a strong desire to share my reflections and give some advice on how to meet the challenges we may encounter.
(...) This book is not an “academic” textbook and I don’t intend to answer all questions in it. It is rather an attempt to convey ideas and feelings, and to share some personal “tricks of the trade.”
I direct this message to curious students with open minds and to all fellow musicians, regardless of age.

Frøydis Ree Wekre

Contents

• 1. Thoughts on Playing Well and Warming Up
• 1.2 Mouthpiece-Only Playing
• 1.3 First Beautiful Sounds on the Horn
• 1.4 Legato Scales
• 1.5 A Few Exercises
• 1.6 Flexibility Exercises
• 1.7 Lip Trills
• 1.8 High Register
• 1.9 Low Register
• 1.10 Your Own List
• 1.11 Fortissimo
• 1.12 Stopped Horn
• 1.13 Playing on the Natural Horn
• 1.14 Long Tones
• 2. Thoughts on Practicing
• 3. Thoughts on Facial Muscles
• 3.1 Mouthpiece Placement
• 3.1.1 Lip Position Before Placement
• 3.1.2 Initial Jaw Position
• 3.2 Mouthpiece Pressure
• 3.3 Mouthpiece Angle
• 3.4 Facial Muscle Work
• 3.5 Aperture Size Depending On:
• 3.6 Using the Muscles Inside the Mouthpiece
• 3.7 Muscle Work Outside the Mouthpiece
• 3.8 Muscle Fitness Checklist
• 3.9 Exercise Ideas
• 4. Thoughts on Dynamics
• 5. Thoughts on Tone Production
• 6. Thoughts on Breathing
• 6.1 Inhaling
• 6.2 Exhaling
• 6.3 Diaphragm Support
• 7. Thoughts on Intonation
• 7.1 Tempered Intonation
• 7.2 Melodic (Expressive or Horizontal) Intonation
• 7.3 Harmonic (Vertical) Intonation
• 8. Memorization
• 9. Endurance: Strength and Skill
• 10. Thoughts on Being Your Own Teacher
• 10.1 Choosing Words Wisely
• 10.2 Practicing with Breaks
• 10.3 The Difference Between Studying and Practicing
• 10.4 Choosing the Right Material to Study/Practice
• 10.5 Mental Practice Time (Without the Instrument)
• 10.6 Creative and Constructive Use of External “Tools” for Development
• 10.7 Seeking and Welcoming Feedback, Comments, and Ideas
• 10.8 Raising Awareness and Striving for High-Quality Results
• 10.9 Seeking Frequent Performance Opportunities
• 10.10 Developing a Sense of HUMOR
• 10.11 Leading a Meaningful Lifestyle
• 10.12 Constantly Reminding Yourself Why You Became a Musician
• 11. Practice Chart
• 12. Extremes
• 13. In Spite of Everything!
• 14. Performance Preparation (Checklist)
• 15. Thoughts on Curiosity and Mental Health
• Suggested Reading