Date

9-17-2026

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Music Education (DME)

Chair

Cassandra Hibbard

Keywords

beginning French horn, band method books, horn pedagogy

Disciplines

Music

Abstract

There are many beginning French horn method books available to students and teachers today, divided into two main categories: whole-band integration and private-lesson instruction. There is little agreement between the methods on which elements of playing to emphasize and how to sequence instruction. Some whole-band method books start in an uncomfortable range for the beginning horn player, either too high or too low, in order to accommodate the fundamental harmonics of the majority of the other concert band wind instrumentalists. To mitigate this problem, some method books offer a “horns only” option with the same exercise transposed either up a fifth or down a fourth from concert pitch. The sequence of instruction and any gaps in a well-rounded horn education in the method books will be compared using a historical qualitative research method. The method books included in this study will be evaluated for alignment with recommendations from renowned horn experts. Consequently, the most effective method books for starting students on the horn will be revealed.

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