Tip: Mastering the Art of Accompaniment

Image Courtesy of Art.com

  After about two months at DePaul we're starting to get into the big concert season that will go until Thanksgiving. I've started to reflect on what some of the big things I've learned since being here are. The first thing that came to mind was the fact that all through high school I was playing principal horn but now I've been a 4th horn since coming to DePaul. Along with the challenges of coming to terms with my lower register, playing 4th is teaching me how to accompany and play as a member of a section, instead of just a soloist.

  I'm guessing that many players that plan to pursue the horn into college run, or will run, into this same situation. It's probably going to be a shock the first couple times, but once you master the art of accompanying that's when you start to sound like a true horn section. If I could pass on a couple words of advice to people that run into this scenario...

1. Work to fit within the sounds around you. Don't get hung up on how you usually produce articulations, tone, and color and be ready to match whatever you're section leader is giving you. If everyone gets stubborn and won't change then you're stuck with four horn players instead of a horn section.
2. Get to know your section mates. What this means is to get as many chances as possible to hear what they're doing so that you better understand what's going on around you. With this knowledge you'll be able to make smarter and faster decisions. Getting to know them should also go past the concert hall; make sure to have parties and dinners with them... Who said you can't have some fun while you're at college?
3. Work with a drone pitch. This is a great exercise to get the ears active and used to working with the lips. The faster your ears can react to a group of pitches and accurately get the lips to buzz at the right pitch, the better off you'll be. This is especially true for 4th horn since you're given three pitches and have to be able to fit yours right in there with the rest of them.
4. Remember your right hand. Using this hand to get notes exactly in tune is what will give the section that final, "professional" touch. Just a reminder, don't go too far either way or else you'll risk distorting the sound.