French Horn Forums - recently created topics

Over 10 years ago I purchased a Holton H379 nickel plated double horn and I haven't touched it in over 5. After some consideration I have decided that I am very unlikely to play this horn again and rather than just let it sit and collect dust, I'd like to let someone else have the opportunity to enjoy it as I have.

I just pulled it out this morning to take a look at it and see what sort of condition it is in. Surprisingly all of the slides still move freely and 3 out of the 4 rotors have no issues. The ring finger rotor however has seized up. There is a small bit or warping on the bell. Other than the 3rd rotor and the small warping It is in excellent condition. The finish is pristine, I always had a guard to protect it from oils that may have been on my hands. I will have pictures available upon request.

Because I have been out of touch with the horn for so long I really haven't much idea what it is worth, but I do know I purchased it for upwards of $2000. I think that asking for $750 seems reasonable but I am up for negotiation. I will ship it at my own cost. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at SuleimanRabie@comcast.net

So I'm currently a junior in high school and I've accomplished a lot in the last 2 years, I'm first in the region and 8th in the area, and I'm really proud of the improvement I've made on my instrument since I started high school. But unfortunately, my private lessons teacher told me that my embouchure is very wrong. She says I play with 2/3 bottom lip, 1/3 top lip, which is good for trumpet and other brass but horn is opposite. When I play high notes I use my bottom lip to reach them, etc... I was wondering if this is completely wrong? I have a teardrop lip and I think that may be part of it. Does this differ with lip shape/size? I've always had really good results with my current embouchure and I would hate to make an adjustment if it's not necessary. Any advice?

hey guyys, i'm new to this website. i've been playing french horn for a year, i switched from trumpet , and i love it! i was first chair in band (seventh grade band). but i was using a school instrument and had to return it for the summer. i haven't played french horn or even buzzed since june 3rd. i'm buying a french horn soon but i'm afraid i won't be as good. any tips?

My son wants a new horn. He has a Patterson modified Elkhart 8D but since hearing and trying a Lewis horn (Dale Clevenger's horn) he now wants a $9000 Lewis. He's going into 10th grade. Won allstate as a 9th grade soloist on Gliere and won i a Brass quintet with Malcom Arnold. He's pretty talented. What do I do? It takes 2-3 years to have a Lewis built and he's already thinking about Roosevelt.

I have had my trusty conn 14D french horn for about four years now and it sure has treated me well, but due to economic troubles I have no choice but to sell it. I really want it to go to a good house with someone who i know will play it, someone who knows how to care for a horn and is guaranteed to use it. It has few minor dents scattered around the horn, but definately nothing that will interfere with the sound. There are two spots where the laqeur is missing, but the biggest spot is about one inch by half an inch. There are multiple scratches inside the bell but only three that are very noticable. Overall the horn is in great playing condition, and in good cosmetic condition. Please, if you are interested email me at robbybear711@hotmail.com or simply comment. I am looking for about a quarter of the retail price for conn 14D's.

13 yrs ago I loaned my H179 Farkas to an out of state relative. About 3 wks ago I recovered it and have been working daily on recovering my chops. Clearly, over the 13 years, the horn was not treated with the love and care that I had given it previously. It has a rather nasty dent in the last part before the bell, for one thing. The 1st valve is slightly leaky compared to the 2nd and 3rd, but I'm not sure how to judge it. If I remove and reinsert the 1st valve slide, wait 10 seconds, and open the valve, I get only a very, very weak pop.

Here is the problem. I can't get a good tone on a D, E, F, or G (just above middle C) on the F horn (open E and 1st valve F are the very worst). The tone from bass C up through G above the staff is good, with the exception of the listed mid-range. I can get the notes out, but they seem very unstable. If I try to play them louder, they fall completely apart into a sort of buzz. It's as if the horn's impedance shoots up dramatically at these frequencies.

Soon, I plan to start playing with a fine local community band, and then I should be able to let some other players try my horn and tell me its just me. Until then, anyone experience anything like this before? Is it a common symptom with an easy fix? Could it be I've forgotten how to play a flippin' F? Do I need to have that dent removed and and get the valves reconditioned? Or, if I just keep practicing will I be able to resolve this?

Thanks for any helpful suggestions! BTW the horn is about a 1984 model.

Hi everyone!

I'm new around here, and have recently been considering buying a brand new horn. I've been looking at the Alexanders in particular and have taken quite a liking to the 503 model. However after fruitless searching on the internet, I have been unable to determine the valve action and the dimensions of the bell and bore.
Can anyone tell me?

Also, if you have any general comments on Alexanders or other good brands, I'd love to hear them :)

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone!

I saw that you added our Beatles video covers (I'm So Tired, Cry Baby Cry) to your database and I just wanted to thank you! We're a lead French horn/acoustic folk rock duo from Long Island. We have a 6 song EP that we just finished, and you can listen to it at our MySpace:

www.myspace.com/rabbitsinraincoats

Thank you again for adding us to your site!
Sincerely,
Matt Montelione

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I am fed up beyond all reason. I cannot seem to play my horn anymore. I have been playing for 29 years (urp!), have multiple degrees in horn performance. I used to be really good, made a living playing chamber music for years. I stopped playing regularly (for various reasons) about 5 years ago, although I still play with area orchestras. This year I decided I was going to devote time to my horn again, and started practicing every day and taking it seriously again. And now, 5 months later, things feel and sound worse than they did when I was out of shape and throwing it together at the last minute.

My lips feel like concrete. Every time I think I've figured out what's wrong and fixed it, something else creeps in. I read some Arnold Jacobs and thought I had things fixed, because it did help — for awhile. But now, no matter how conscientious I am with my air, buzz, relaxation, mental focus, rest, etc., I just can't seem to play well. The sound is thin and sometimes wobbly, my endurance is pathetic, my accuracy non-existent, and I am embarrassing myself in public at rehearsals and concerts. I am so close to just quitting (maybe temporarily). I thought I was doing this because I love it and it's fun. Now neither of those things is true.

I'm not sure what I'm expecting from posting this... I guess I'm just at a loss and have never been so disappointed in myself in my life.