In Warm-Up ③, we move beyond light air and transition into an air stream closer to what you use in normal horn playing. The key is to imagine sending your air as far away as possible while never letting the tonguing interrupt the airflow. Focus on legato and confirm that your air is flowing smoothly. On days when you have time, switch the tonguing to a swing version and add the image of pushing each note from your abdomen rather than cutting with the tongue—this will refine both your air support and attack quality. Once your air stops cutting out during the warm-up, your intonation for the rest of the day tends to stabilize as well. The farther your air travels, the more easily the horn resonates with less effort.
- Warm-Up ③ transitions from light air to an air stream closer to normal playing. Imagine sending your air far across the room to create a "projecting airflow" through the horn.
- The most important thing is not to stop the air when tonguing. Prioritize legato and move through the scale while keeping the airflow uninterrupted. The better you maintain airflow, the more stable your pitch and tone become.
- On days with extra time, add the swing version. Instead of cutting with the tongue, tongue with the image of pushing each note from your abdomen—this makes it easier to maintain air support while evening out the articulation.
- Add crescendo as you go higher, supporting with air speed and volume. Adjust the range based on your condition for the day—up to high F as a guideline, extending to G if you have room to spare.
Horn Legato Improves Simply by 'Not Stopping the Air'
Simply weakening the tongue to create legato can actually cause the air to cut out. What truly matters is to keep the air flowing even at the moment of tonguing. As long as the air doesn't stop, legato connects naturally and the tone becomes less prone to wavering. Furthermore, since higher notes require greater air speed, supporting them with crescendo keeps things safe. When you can establish this flow during the warm-up, the "projecting air" becomes your baseline for the rest of your practice, making the horn resonate more easily. It's also effective to check recordings to see if the sound dips at the moment of tonguing. Once you're comfortable, try maintaining the same airflow not only in scales but also in short phrases.
Practice Steps
- ① Play scales focusing on legato, imagining your air traveling far across the room.
- ② Check whether your air stops when tonguing; if it does, prioritize airflow over tongue movement.
- ③ When time allows, add the swing version and even out the articulation with the sensation of pushing each note from your abdomen.
- ④ Add crescendo as you ascend, and adjust the range from high F to G based on your condition for the day.
Summary
Horn Warm-Up ③ is designed to send air far and create legato without stopping at the tongue. When time allows, use the swing version to build abdominal support, and support higher notes with crescendo for air speed. Adjust the range from high F to G based on your condition for the day. Once you can create "projecting air" during the warm-up, your entire practice session will be more stable. Ideally, carry the sensation of uninterrupted airflow straight into your fundamental exercises for continued benefit. Even in a short session, maintaining quality is enough—the trick is not to force more volume of practice. Keep at it every day and let your body internalize the standard of projecting air. Take your time and don't rush.
Video Info
- Title: Horn Warm-Up ③: Send Your Air Far and Keep Legato Without Stopping at the Tongue
- Instrument: horn
- Level: Beginner
