Sooooo it has been quite some time since I have last posted. In today's post I am going to reflect on the practising I have been doing for the last little while (I always forget to post). So far with my french horn I have attended Nationals and I have played at the spring concert. I still have yet to do my playing test (page 22 in the 3D Band Book). I have been constantly practising the scale, especially the thirds. The only difficulty I am having with this test is the fingering changes, because if I get too quick with my tempo I will use the wrong fingerings. The only way I can improve this is to slow down and start over, eventually I will be lightning fast given the amount of time I have been practising.
I have practised The Light Eternal, Rumble on the High Plains, Rhosymedre, Carmina Burana and Chillers and Thrillers. By now Rhosymedre has become second nature and my main focus was on musicality. The light Eternal is in the smae boat. I can achieve a higher level of musicality by moving phrases and using dynamic contrasts to add empahsis on the emotion meant to be evoked.
Rumble on the High Plains went well at Music Nationals and Spring Concert... the only problem I had was counting at Nationals! I came in a beat too early... now I really look out for the 5/4 bars!
Carmina Burana really needs more emphasis put on the musicality of the piece. With more time spent with that piece I'm sure the overall outcome of Carmina Burana's debut would have been different.
Chillers and Thrillers was a little more polished than Carmina Burana, however once again with more time it would have been spectacular.
For all of these pieces I play right through them at attempted fast tempos in order to build up my tolerance of playing the french horn for long periods of time.

Until tomorrow? (If I remember :P)