TromboneChat

My son is a horn player, and is running into equipment/embouchure issues.

Is there anyone out there who is the equivalent of Doug Elliott, but for French horn?

Someone who can give a lesson to assess embouchure tendencies, and recommend corresponding FH mouthpieces that work with his embouchure type?

I have taught plenty of horn players. And trumpet, and tuba.
Horn players are usually totally amazed at what a different approach can do for them, since traditional horn teaching is pretty inflexible toward new ideas, or anything different that what's traditional.

In addition to Doug I would also recommend Brian Keegan. He’s a forum member here.

He studied with Doug for many years and also plays French horn. Brian is great and I can’t recommend him enough!

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 3:00 pm I have taught plenty of horn players. And trumpet, and tuba.
Horn players are usually totally amazed at what a different approach can do for them, since traditional horn teaching is pretty inflexible toward new ideas, or anything different that what's traditional.

Awesome Doug, are you able to make suggestions regarding mouthpieces, at least point him in the right direction?

I can make suggestions in a general sense, but I have not paid much attention to horn mouthpieces.

We can take it from there, if you can speak to things like larger or smaller cup or rim...

You might contact Phyillis Stork (a long time horn player and mouthpiece consultant) at Stork Custom Mouthpieces: https://storkcustom.com/). She offers online sessions of various types: https://storkcustom.com/mouthpiece-cons ... aPB_W0SGip

For a source of similar Horn Component style mouthpieces, Houghton Horns has a pretty large offering.

Cheers,
Andy

Osmun also has 2-piece horn mouthpieces, with many more options than the Houghton pieces. I've been meaning to try both of them myself.

2-piece horn mouthpieces often use the same Giardinelli threads as well, so you can mix and match.

My French horn playing son was directed by his teacher to Marcinkiewicz, who provided a mouthpiece he was quite happy with.
Unfortunately he no longer plays horn regularly.

Question for Doug:

I’m low brass by birth, trumpet by necessity. Question is French horn vs trumpet Embouchure that much different? Infrequently play French horn, maybe once every 4 to 6 weeks. (Straight F single horn) I can pick it up and rip off nearly 3 octaves with no sweat. Trumpet played weekly, with maybe 1 or 2 practices during the week. TC music, G above the staff not a problem, but gotta dedicate a week of high note practice to get the high C back. No problems trombone or euph getting up high anytime I want. Usually want more than need.
French horn using Bach 7. Lose range high and low with 11 or 12
Trumpet using Bach 12. Lose range and sound quality with Holton MF3 OEM MP

Horn embouchure is pretty much the same as trumpet in the higher range, but different because of what has to happen to get into the lower range. Horn range is the same as trombone range, and the same length of tubing as an F attachment trombone. But since the horn mouthpiece doesn't have the trombone's width of lip vibration, it substitutes an in-and-out amplitude of lip action for slower vibration to play lower range, with a deep cup that allows that to happen - and that action can't happen in a shallower trumpet mouthpiece.

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 9:06 pm But since the horn mouthpiece doesn't have the trombone's width of lip vibration, it substitutes an in-and-out amplitude of lip action for slower vibration to play lower range, with a deep cup that allows that to happen - and that action can't happen in a shallower trumpet mouthpiece.

That is fascinating. I never would have guessed.

That might work on a jHorn too, I notice the one youtube video that actually sounds good is using a horn mouthpiece. Low range is a real struggle on that stuffy thing.

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 9:06 pm Horn embouchure is pretty much the same as trumpet in the higher range, but different because of what has to happen to get into the lower range. Horn range is the same as trombone range, and the same length of tubing as an F attachment trombone. But since the horn mouthpiece doesn't have the trombone's width of lip vibration, it substitutes an in-and-out amplitude of lip action for slower vibration to play lower range, with a deep cup that allows that to happen - and that action can't happen in a shallower trumpet mouthpiece.

Very informative, thanks. Explains why I use very light pressure on low range on the horn. Let’s see, high easy on horn, not so easy on trumpet. Sounds like I need to pay some more attention on trumpet Embouchure! Thank Mr Farkas for horn start.

Man, I just love the thread title. And I'm a little envious. I've never been the Dana Douglas of anything. And here's Doug being a symbol translating over different instruments. Dude, you've made it.

I enjoy when Google Maps says "You have arrived."