The French horn produces a warm, rich sound and is capable of a very wide range of notes and tone colors. It can blend equally well with other brasses or with woodwinds in ensemble playing, and can be sensitive or stirring as the music requires. The mouthpiece for the horn is small in diameter like that of a trumpet, but is funnel-shaped rather than cup-shaped in order to produce a more mellow sound. The horn is probably the most difficult of the brasses for a beginner, so ordinarily a student interested in horn will start on trumpet.

• rotor oil
• tuning slide grease
• a mouthpiece brush
• a flexible cleaning brush ("snake")
• your band method book
• a cleaning cloth
• a polish cloth
• a music stand

Some things to remember:

1. Please keep your French horn in its case when not in use.
2. Please do not let anyone else play your French horn.
3. Oil the rotary valves periodically by applying a few drops of rotor oil into the valve tubing toward the valve itself.
4. As necessary, lubricate your tuning slides with tuning slide grease. Don’t forget to move all of your slides in and out every day to keep them from sticking in place.
5. Never “pop” your mouthpiece into the receiver with your hand. If it gets stuck, you will have to bring your instrument to the repair shop to have the mouthpiece safely removed.
6. After you play, evacuate any collected moisture from inside the instrument by using your water key(s) and by pulling and emptying your slides.
7. Clean your mouthpiece regularly with your mouthpiece brush, and clean the leadpipe and tuning slides with your flexible cleaning brush (“snake” brush). Rinse well with warm water.
8. Remember, practice is an essential part of playing an instrument. Give it your best, and you will be amazed how rapidly you progress!

French horns are usually provided by the school. However, a school may sometimes end up with more players than it has instruments, so if you need to obtain your own French horn click the link below.

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