Thoughts from Richard King (Cleveland Orchestra), David Cooper (Berlin Philharmonic), and Jeff Nelsen (Canadian Brass).

Richard King Cleveland Orchestra

As summer begins, we horn players may find ourselves gently slipping into the familiar seasonal routines.  Students who are happily having a break from the classroom may also have an interruption of private lessons or not have access to their school-owned instruments.

Teachers and performers, novices or experts, amateurs and pros could have an entirely different schedule from the rest of the year—Maybe we have some outdoor band concerts.  Maybe we travel to a chamber music festival. Maybe our orchestras move into their summer home. Maybe we teach at clinics. Maybe we have a various combination of all these things.

Probably the one thing that most of us will have at one point or another this summer is- a BREAK from HORN PLAYING!!! Whether or not it is intended, all of us will find ourselves with time away from our instrument now and then.  Family vacation?  Road trip?  Cruise? Didn’t get around to it? Didn’t feel like it?

As a thirty-year veteran of the Cleveland Orchestra, I have seen most every situation that has caused me to hit the pause button and find myself on some type of horn playing hiatus.  Most common to me however, especially as a twenty-year principal horn player, was the INTENTIONAL hiatus! My whole being would cry out for relief from the grind, both physical and mental.  With my orchestra work schedule I eventually fell into the habit of taking two larger yearly breaks of about two weeks each.  In June and December at the end of a long run of concerts, I would put my Conn 8D in the case and put it out of my mind.  I closed down those weeks in my schedule book and very rarely took outside work, saving those rare exceptions for very special opportunities.

At first I would wonder if I would remember how to play at all when I returned to my instrument. Would all my skills be gone forever? How long to get back to normal--- a day? A week? A month? Would I be able to find a fingering chart? Would the valves be frozen? Where did I leave my Kopprasch and Gallay books?

by Joel Arias, IHS Representative for Panama and Venezuela

The International Course for Natural and Modern Horn begins as a teaching project for horn players in Venezuela in 2010.

Since the beginning, it is presented as an initiative that helps the artistic growth of students and provides an international event for the cultural development of the country with classes, talks, concerts and other related artistic events.

It is intended, once a year, to have the presence of musicians of the highest level for the specialized teaching of the instruments and to offer through this project a contribution to the musical culture of the country.

In this first edition in Panama, we will be offering -through students and invited teachers- master classes, conferences and other related activities, it will be an intensive academic experience for the participants of the course and an unforgettable cultural proposal to the general public.

The participants will have all the comforts in adequate facilities, equipped with the most modern technology, to receive the maximum information during 4 consecutive days of master classes, conferences and concerts.

Students will receive a certificate of participation endorsed by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Panama.

Panama, due to its privileged location, is one of the most important tourist and business centers in the region with an excellent system of air and sea connections to the whole world.

It is known for its beautiful natural settings and also has multiple accommodation options and gastronomic variety.

Panamá with its constant economic, social and cultural development makes this place a very attractive destination.

For more information about the event, go to: hornstudiopty@gmail.com

English translation by Gabriella Ibarra

IHS Members Only: Bonus Video - Javier Bonet

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English translation coming soon.

Javier Bonet began his studies in Spain under the tutelage of his father and M. Rodrigo in Valencia, continuing his studies in Essen, Germany, with Hermann Baumann. Bonet is a tireless a world-wide soloist and chamber musician. Among  numerous recordings  stand out  a version of Mozart’s horn concertos with the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hermann Baumann and his  latest recording, “Just For Fun” which contains his own transcriptions of some popular music for piano, violin, cello or voice. Being a prize-winner himself in various international competitions he is now active in the jury of the most reputed competitions (Porcia, Geneva or the ARD in Munich)Javier Bonet belongs to the national Orchestra of SPAIN and teaches natural and modern horn at ESMUC in Barcelona.