Pottag-Hovey Method for French Horn, Book II: French Horn Book

Book II picks up exactly where Book I leaves off without skipping any steps. Pottag and Hovey understand that the intermediate stage is where many horn students either solidify their foundation or start struggling, and this volume addresses both concerns through carefully graded material that maintains engagement while genuinely advancing technique.

Working through Book II feels like steady progress. The exercises build logically from one to the next, so students encounter new challenges in context rather than in isolation. There's real music embedded in the technical work, which keeps motivation high during the intermediate years.

This book serves students who have completed Book I or equivalent preparatory material and are ready to expand their range, endurance, and musical vocabulary. It's equally valuable for students coming from other elementary methods who need a systematic bridge to more advanced repertoire.

• Approach the articulation studies with clarity and separation; clean tongue attacks lay the groundwork for stylistic control later
• Work the duet material with a stand partner at every opportunity to build listening habits and rhythmic independence
• Return to earlier exercises whenever a new technical concept appears; treating Book II as cyclical rather than linear reinforces foundational skills

Assign this as the primary method text for second-year band students or as a supplemental resource for young players who need targeted review of fundamentals before moving into standard concert band literature. Many teachers also use it as a structure for private lessons alongside ensemble work.

• Secure articulation across multiple dynamic levels
• Extended range in both upper and lower registers
• Harmonic intonation in ensemble contexts
• Rhythmic accuracy in compound meters
• Sight-reading of standard intermediate notation
• Tone control during technical passages