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How to Improve Tonguing on the French Horn

Improve your tonguing on the French horn to increase your skill and value as a performer. Proper French horn tonguing must be developed over time. It takes daily commitment and a strong work ethic to develop an accurate and efficient tonguing technique. Horn players must learn proper tongue position and breath support to create a solid and functional tonguing technique. Additionally, good posture will help you to create a strong, powerful and characteristic French horn sound.

Things You'll Need

  • Metronome
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit up straight, toward the edge of your chair, with your shoulders back and relaxed. Align your head and neck and imagine the center of your head pulled up by a string.

    • 2

      Breathe deeply by imitating the motions involved when you yawn. Push the air down to the bottom of your stomach and feel your sides expand.

    • 3

      Relax your tongue to form a ramp for the air to flow over.

    • 4

      Tongue quarter notes on a middle C at a metronome marking of 60. When tonguing, lightly touch the place in your mouth where your top teeth and roof of the mouth connect. Do not tongue directly between the teeth. The tongue acts to cut off the airflow by moving in an arch toward the top of the mouth.

    • 5

      Increase the note value to eighth notes. Keep the same light tonguing technique from Step 4. Gradually increase the tempo by 2 beats per minute until you reach a tempo that is difficult. Write this tempo down and take a five-minute break.

    • 6

      Return to your tonguing practice session. Set the tempo to 8 beats-per-second slower than your fastest tempo. Attempt to increase the speed again.

    • 7

      Do this exercise daily to improve your technique.

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