A professional level horn will allow great breath attacks.
What?
I’ve written about breath attacks multiple times, most recently in the Accuracy Encyclopedia series (here). However, there is an angle on the topic I had not before very recently given much thought to, a hugely important one. In short:
Breath attacks will feel easier or harder on different horns
Where this becomes highly interesting to us is I’d say that a pro would prefer a horn that is capable of producing great breath attacks. Not that you do breath attacks in performance particularly. But there are so many “money” passages that require a soft, light articulation. Very often all you do is add the lightest of articulation to what is essentially a breath attack; that is the secret to perfect soft entrances. If your horn does not produce easy, soft breath attacks, you can’t consistently produce the normal light and easy attacks our music is full of.
Test them for yourself on multiple horns
Backing up, you may say to yourself “but I’ve only got the horn I have!” But since looking again recently at this 2016 article by horn maker Jacob Medlin, “5 Characteristics of the Best Horns,” this point he makes (hidden in the middle of several other good points) is really an important one that you may not have ever considered and would do well to consider now. Under the heading “The Very Best Horns Allow Sub Tones (Breath Starts)” we read
I test sub tones and breath attacks on every horn of mine, even into the upper register. The best horns will have a clear sub tone. In this video, Andrew McAfee introduces sub tones as part of his video series for students, on a Medlin horn coincidentally. A good sub tone indicates that the horn will have open articulations and playing characteristics and great efficiency.
What does this even mean?
I think what really caught my attention is that, as with many things in life, we are looking for an understanding of how things work. As performers, over many years, we can become fearful of certain things, such as soft entrances on notes. And you may think to yourself that it is a “you” problem. Work harder! Focus your air, come up with exercises for the problem, etc.
That is what I’ve felt for example with slurs in my break range in recent years. At first I thought it was me, maybe changes related to aging — and it likely is me to an extent. But also I discovered those same slurs are clearly better and worse for me on different horn and mouthpiece combinations. That discovery was extremely helpful in my continued horn playing.
Returning to our main topic, breath attacks also relate directly to all types of attacks. And if articulations don’t settle in easily, you will certainly miss more notes.
It’s not you, it’s the horn
Where this all gets particularly interesting to me is that I have multiple horns to test these on, and I can see that for sure on some of them I can make significantly softer and lighter breath attacks than other horns. And I tend to think it is a horn thing mainly, but the mouthpiece probably has an additional impact. Depends on your setup.
But as stated already, a pro would prefer a horn that is capable of great breath attacks, as that equals better attacks in general and better accuracy. Something I think we’d all like.
Is it time?
After doing some new tests of breath attacks, you may now feel that breath attacks are difficult on your horn (possibly due to the power of suggestion, sorry!). In this case, it’s certainly time to do some further tests and try different horns and mouthpieces.
In my own case, honestly, looking back at it now I spent far too long playing a couple horns that I should have moved on from, due to me being stubborn and thinking it was a me problem. One horn in my past in particular, one I used in my first years as Third Horn in Nashville, I really doubt that it had good breath attacks. It had a solid tone and consistent intonation, sure, but was also certainly easier to chip notes on than anything I would use now. I missed the first note in the third horn part of The Nutcracker on nearly every performance my first year in the orchestra (a D on the fourth line). Not a confidence builder for me.
Of course, any horn has many features to balance. But do consider this element, breath attacks, it may help you find the horn that is the best overall package of playing qualities for you.
