Bruce Hembd
Transposition Tricks: Bass Clef
An old trick for reading concert-pitch bass clef.
Many times at freelance gigs, I am expected to play at sight all sorts of music -...
Ouch! Parachutist Crashes Into Band
Who says that playing in a band isn't hazardous to your health?
A civilian parachutist collided with members of a military band in Fort Riley,...
An Observation on Musicians
I stumbled on this short blog a while back and was intrigued by the author's comments. His precursory comments captured a view that many...
Woodwind and Brass Quintets; All Things Not Equal
A ramble on the woodwind quintet genre.
In the realm of chamber music, French horn players are in a very unique position. They are an...
Exercise: Pitch Benders
Blurring the lines.
As children we are told to "stay between the lines" - whether it is playing with crayons in coloring books or when...
Using a Video Recorder For Practice Sessions
An Addendum to "Physician Heal Thyself"
The tutelage received from your private teacher is only as good as your application during practice. A few years...
Top Ten: Tips for Survival in College
Top Ten List for Students
When choosing a school for undergraduate or graduate studies, when making choices while in college and after graduation, a young...
Oddities: The Omnitonic Horn
Omnitonic horns were developed roughly from the late 18th to the mid-19th century as a means for the natural horn to change keys without...
Is the French Horn the Hardest Instrument to Play?
I can't say how many times I have heard or read this phrase. The presumption being that because horn players make mistakes and "crack"...
How to Practice, Part I: An Overview
The basics of the basics.
An integral part of the daily practice ritual for any musician is calisthenics - the process of building physical and...