For the majority of my teaching career, I have not presented to students a method or system of my teaching. However, reflecting on the topic after my sabbatical in spring 2021, I clearly do have a system of teaching that I can lay out easily. Based on ideas from my teachers (especially Verne Reynolds and Michael Hatfield, but also many others), it is applied individually, always with the goal of helping students play at their maximum ability. — John Ericson
The Ericson Framework – ten key points for horn study
Goal Setting
• Your larger future vision of your place in the musical world drives all that follows below
Technique in general
• Scale patterns, especially as presented in Horn Scales and Technique Exercises
• Articulations, short and long
• Dynamic contrasts /extremes – absolute control of all dynamic levels
• Tonguing speed, single and multiple tonguing – especially single tonguing
• Much of this is addressed in etude study, aiming toward 30 Modern Preparatory Etudes and beyond
Phrasing
• A first step involves control of all dynamic levels
• Beyond that, a simple system (“picking flowers”) can be applied to almost any piece of music
Low range
• Full range low to high is critical to reaching higher level performance goals
• Materials used include the Low Horn Boot Camp and the low horn version of 35 Melodic Etudes
Accuracy, Intonation, and Rhythm
• These are three of the key areas of practice
• Follow the “three strikes” rule for accuracy, don’t beat yourself up too much
• Of the three, rhythmic accuracy is the most important skill
Equipment and Tone
• Equipment choices (horn/MP) impact all of the areas of technique
• Equipment is certainly part of what contributes to a professional sound
• Many different setups can produce a professional sound; the teacher must provide critical feedback
• If you have a good tone, you are doing a lot of things right
Practice
• This includes not only developing a warmup but learning how to practice and pacing/endurance
• Materials used include The Brass Gym for horn and The French Horn Warmup Collection
• The ideal ultimate warmup routine could be done while reading a magazine or watching TV
• All practice involves setting a series of goals related to your ultimate hopes in horn playing, slowly and systematically improving your playing and performance skills
Artistry
Solo literature
• Of all types is studied, but driven by repertoire for juries, recitals, and auditions
Orchestral Excerpts
• Excerpt study is essential, focusing on those most asked in auditions
• Rhythm and flow must be perfect
• Exploration of variables of interpretation, and finding the middle ground
• Materials used include The Horn Matters PDF Excerpt E-Book series
The X Factor
• This includes phrasing, beauty of line, tone, flow of time, sounding effortless
• It has to do with the difference you can imagine between a section player and a first horn, or a good student and a professional.
Execution and audition preparation
• Multiple mock auditions every semester
• Fearless optimism concept, more from Orchestra 101
• Perform often
• Another key resource is The Inner Game of Tennis
Being a good colleague
• You won’t reach your goals if you don’t work well with others
• Nobody likes a toxic workplace. Don’t be the problem person
• Aim to be the neutral third party in difficult situations. Exhibit grace
• Be digitally aware of how you present yourself in all platforms
Wellness
• Cultivate interests outside of horn playing and music
• Have a hobby or interest that people would easily recognize as being a legitimate hobby or interest
• Take a day off the horn at least every two weeks
• Live life, enjoy friendships and the world that God made for us
