Learning objectives - Horn

Horn education can begin once students are physically developed enough to hold the instrument. Horn students should ideally have straight front teeth and not very thick lips The size and shape of the horn may make it difficult for children under 12 to hold. However, instruments specially designed for younger players are available.

More about learning the horn

Level 1

Range: a – c”

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One octave
Tempo M.M = 88, scales played in quarter notes
Scales

(Choose two out of four)

B-flat major, C major, A minor, Chromatic

(type of minor scale is optional)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic c’ – g’ (optional)

Works and exercises

Piece Minuet by Bach, page 24 from AoA Book I,

Note. Better Take This Song from Trompetbókin (The Trumpet Book),

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 5, page 42 from AoA Book I,

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody
  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement
  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 8 bars

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Midt blinken 1 (Right on Beat 1)
  • Trompetleikur 1 (Trumpet Playing 1)
  • Hornskole del 1

Level 2

Range: g – c”

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One octave
Tempo M.M = 100, scales played in quarter notes
Scales B-flat major, C major, G major, A minor, G minor, Chromatic

(type of minor scale is optional)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic one octave of choice (judge selects)

bes – bes’

Works and exercises

Piece Polovetsian Dance, page 34 from AoA Book I,

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 2, page 42 from AoA II,

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    Criteria: 12 bar blues, 1x melody line (e.g., original), 1x solo

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 12 – 16 bars, range wider than a fifth

  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 12 – 16 bars, range wider than a fifth

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Midt blinken 1-2 (Right on Beat 1-2)
  • Trompetleikur 1-2 (Trumpet Playing 1-2)

Level 3

Range: f – es”

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One octave
Tempo M.M = 60, scales played in eighth notes
Scales B-flat major, C major, G major, E-flat major, D major, A minor, G minor, D minor, Chromatic
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic one octave of choice (judge selects)

f – f’, c’ – c”

Works and exercises

Piece Serenade by Schubert, from French Horn Solos, AMSCO,

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 1 from 200 Études nouvelles Vol. 1 by M. Alphonse,

Exercise No. 6 from Supplementary Studies by Endresen,

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    Criteria: 16 bars

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave.

  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Midt blinken 2 (Right on Beat 1)

Level 4

Range: f – f”

Basic exam

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One or two octaves, within the range
Tempo M.M = 66, scales played in eighth notes
Scales B-flat major, C major, G major, E-flat major, D major, F major, A minor, G minor, D minor, E minor, Chromatic
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic one octave of choice (judge selects)

c’ – c”, d’ – d”, es’ – es”, e’ – e”, f – f”

Works and exercises

Piece ,

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 17 from 40 Progressive Studies by Hering,

Exercise No. 6 in M. Alphonse,

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    Criteria: 16 bars

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave.

  3. Play a piece of your choice, of similar difficulty to other exam pieces
Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before