Going Solo: Horn: French Horn & Piano Book

This collection moves well beyond the typical beginner solo book by pairing original compositions with thoughtfully crafted arrangements that respect both the horn's character and a young player's developing technique. The variety keeps rehearsals fresh; students advance through lively material that feels rewarding rather than remedial, and the piano accompaniments are genuinely musical partners, not mere rhythm support.

A mix of straightforward joy and gentle sophistication. The lively originals bounce with character and humor, while the arrangements reveal surprising depth in familiar musical territory. Throughout, there's an encouraging sense that the horn belongs on stage and has something genuine to say.

French horn students preparing their first solo recital or concert appearance, whether in a school setting or private lesson context. The collection suits players with a year or two of fundamental technique who are ready to think about solo performance without requiring advanced facility.

• Balance tone projection with the piano part by listening carefully during rehearsals; the accompanist should set the dynamic framework, and the horn responds within it rather than fighting over the texture.
• Mark your breathing points in advance, especially in arrangements where phrase lengths may differ from what your ear initially expects.
• Use the written dynamics as entry points for expressive choice, not ceiling. Test what happens when you shape a phrase slightly differently each time through rehearsal.

Extract individual pieces for student recitals or end-of-term concerts, or program several selections back-to-back as a stand-alone horn solo segment on a larger ensemble concert. The variety means you can curate a short program that showcases range without requiring a student to prepare an impractical number of pieces.

• Solo performance confidence in front of an audience
• Musical phrasing and expressive control
• Collaboration with a piano accompanist
• Sight-reading accuracy across a variety of styles and tempos
• Tone control and intonation under performance pressure