Is it hard to switch from Trombone to French Horn and why?

Question

I have been playing for 5 years and am kind of thinking I should switch. and am kind of good. but I really dont know if it would be hard for me to switch.

Answer 1

I've played trombone for 16 years.  I learned to play the trumpet about ten years ago along with the baritone.  Then I learned the french horn.  I love music.  If you have a good tone you should be alright.  It's tricky.

Answer 2

the real issue here seems to be that you lack facility with the trombone,.........

moving between positions rapidly requires you to really know where your pitches are & be relaxed when you play.

i bet you play stiff/ with a rigid arm,....

try this experiment;

1-put the slide in 3rd position

2-using only your wrist, move the slide from 3rd to 5th position and back to 3rd rapidly

3-now move it from 3rd to 1st position rapidly (again using just your wrist.

the point of the experiment is one of fluidity, anyone who plays tense will have problems playing any instrument.

as for switching,...horn requires an entirely different embouchure and really good ears & pitch control. not an easy instrument to play well on.

as for marching with the trombone being difficult; every horn on the field has its own difficulties when marching-i bet you think the flutes & clarinets have it easier than the trombones---you would be very wrong! keeping a flute at a perfect right angle to your upper body is incredibly demanding.

if you move to horn-that means you probably would march a mellophone on the field (the bell blocks your vision) now you are marching semi blinded! the grass always seems greener in someone elses yard until you have to mow it!

i suggest you get a book called "TROMBONISMS" and get to work on the excercises in it.

p.s. if your trombone has a good counterbalance-it should sit effortlessly on your shoulder while marching (not feel front heavy at all)

p.p.s. horns aren't commonly used in jazz/trombones are!

Answer 3

In as short an answer as possible........its easier to switch from T-bone to french horn mainly because of the mouthpiece size( thats assuming that you already know the slide and valve positions)I wanted to learn trumpet after I had been playing T-bone for a couple of months and it was the amutaur switch that really troubled me that really troubled me.

Answer 4

The biggest change for you will be learning the fingerings and the mouthpiece size. If you play trombone I take it you have a decent embouchure and a good musical ear. Try borrowing a trumpet or horn mouthpiece from a friend one day and see if you can buzz low and high pitches.

Answer 5

Is this an answer to your question?  No.    You have spent years on trombone but you think you would have greater speed using keys than moving to slide positions.  That may indeed be true in your case.   French Horn would be a huge change and you would fall back a couple of years in your achievement.  Instead move to the Bass Clef Baritone or the valve trombone.  Doesn't this make sense?

Answer 6

not really. just get used to the slide positions and you should be fine. =)

Answer 7

Switching to French Horn would not be an easy transition. Out of all of the brass instruments, I think the French Horn  would be the hardest to switch to, no contest.

The drastic change in embouchure would probably be the biggest obstacle, aside from having to learn to read a different clef & learning the fingerings. Don't forget that you must constantly fine tune pitches with your right hand as well. French horn is probably the hardest brass instrument for anyone to produce a consistant, in-tune pitch.

I had a similar problem with moving the slide quickly enough. I went through lessons with a private teacher, spent lots of money, & learned something valuable. All I really needed was the proper practice exercises & tons of repetition. Scale studies in sixteenth-note patterns create a learned reaction. Your eyes scan the paper & your hand will subconsciously whip around without any effort.

I recommend a book called "40 Progressive Studies for Trombone (in the Bass Clef)" by H.W. Tyrrell  ---OR---    "Melodious Etudes for Trombone" by Joannes Rochut. Your local music store can order them.

   Stick with the trombone...it is a respected member of any wind ensemble. Plus, have you ever read a french horn part? They are really boring; it's mostly just countermelodies & long notes that fill in behind the trombones and trumpets!

Answer 8

well you have to think? is it your dream? or is it just something you wanna do to get your mind off of something? but if its your dream dont give up cause you can go far with something like that.  if you have anymore questions please contact me.

Answer 9

No because

1. it dosen't play in the bass cleff

2. it sometimes must play very low

3. you have to  learn keys instead of slide positions

4. I think they have different embechures.