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TONY HALSTEAD Horn-practice Method NB before starting this, look at ‘Optional Therapy’ on page 2 NNB 99% of your practising should be done in a seated position, as this is how you will be performing, unless you are working specifically towards a solo/ concerto performance. 1. PRE-Warm-up: Exercise # 1A: (Without mouthpiece) Adopt and maintain an extreme ‘smiling’ lip position for a count of 5-10 seconds. Rest for 5 secs. Adopt and maintain an extreme ‘whistling’ lip position for 5-10 secs Rest for 5 secs. [Option: next time you do the Pre-Warm-up, reverse the order, i.e. start with the ‘whistling’ set-up] REPEAT the above, and then rest for 10 seconds Adopt & maintain a balanced, puckered -smile, ‘correct’ embouchure position for 10 secs Rest for 10 secs REPEAT the above. Exercise #1B: Deep-breathing. Time: 3-4 minutes Imagine breathing along a trough in the bottom of the mouth. This concept seems to help in achieving the full lung inflation that is needed for wind instrument playing. Vary the time taken to breathe in and out. E.g., inhale to a count of 3, exhale to a count of 6; inhale to a count of 5, exhale to a count of 10; inhale to a count of 1, exhale to a count of 12, etc. Vary the counts. When exhaling, your lips should be fairly close together, as if blowing out a candle; this offers some resistance to the outward air-stream. Don’t try to ‘buzz’ any notes yet.