Really Easy Jazzin' About: Fun Pieces for French Horn: French Horn Book

This book arrives at exactly the moment young hornists are ready to abandon their first method book but still need pieces they can actually play. Wedgwood's syncopated writing and groove-based accompaniments create immediate musical payoff, turning rhythm practice into something a beginning player genuinely wants to do. The style variety means there's something that clicks for every personality in the section.

These pieces catch the energy of contemporary jazz and rock without the harmonic complexity; they groove, they swing, and they feel current. Opening any page lands you in a world where the horn gets to do something cooler than classical etude passages, with riffs that stick in your head and rhythms that make you want to lock in with the rhythm section.

This book is built for beginning French horn players, typically in their first or second year, who are eager to branch out from classical method books into contemporary styles. It works equally well for students in band programs, private lessons, or ensemble settings where they need motivating repertoire that doesn't require advanced technical facility.

• Lay back slightly on the syncopated figures rather than rushing them; let the accompaniment lock in first, then settle your part into the pocket.
• Mark the stylistic cues (blues, rock, jazz) at the start of each piece and listen to the character shift in your tone and articulation, not just the notes.
• Work the funky riffs in isolation before putting them back into context; a tight rhythmic pocket starts with precision in small chunks.
• Pay attention to dynamic contrast between sections; the shift from nostalgic to dynamic has much more impact when you've actually changed your volume and intensity.

Use this book as a bridge repertoire set, perhaps in the second half of the school year once students have foundational technique but still need lighter, more rhythmically driven material. These pieces work beautifully in casual concert contexts, ensemble showcases, or as the backbone of a jazz elective for younger players not yet ready for standard jazz ensemble demands.

• Reading and performing syncopated rhythms in contemporary contexts
• Articulation control across blues, rock, and jazz styles
• Listening for and locking into rhythmic pockets with accompaniment
• Phrasing and style adaptation within a single piece
• Confidence playing from lead sheets and groove-based arrangements