by Jeff Nelsen and Katy Carnaggio
Hey everyone, how do you get better at horn?
I bet we all could write a book on etudes to try, tools to use, mouthpieces to experiment with, recordings to listen to, how many hours to practice in a day and how to space them out….
But we want to talk about a resource that often goes unnoted.
What has helped us get better at horn? beyond ANYTHING else?
People. Your horn instructor, for sure. But also, the best friend you shoot hoops with or the serendipitous encounter you have with somebody during grocery checkout or the classmates you spend Friday night listening to mind-blowing recordings with over drinks.
“There is absolutely nothing more important in life than other people. Nothing. Not even the brilliant and impactful work you will do. Especially with your spouse, children, immediate family, and close friends—those relationships are where your deepest joy and meaning can and should come. Those relationships are what drive you to be and do your best in life.” ~Benjamin Hardy
We are basically saying that people expand our belief about who we can be and who we want to be. Our connections ultimately inspire us to do the work to be the best version of ourselves. They give us the inspiration to spend 5 more minutes in the practice room to figure something out. They offer us another perspective when we're stuck. They give us grace when we've forgotten how (or we're just too tired) to extend it to ourselves. The people in our lives are basically like an Eye of the Tiger soundtrack playing in the background of all we do…except not in an annoying way!
A lot of horn work is time alone in a practice room, but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone. You can build a community around you so that you can be all of who you are, try out different things, have it not work, and still be fully embraced. This is something we are both very intentional about cultivating in our lives, both on and off horn! And it takes practice, too.
As you’re working hard to boost your skills, remember it’s not just an extra bonus if we get to connect with others. It is a life essential that we have somebody who we believe gets us and is in a full state of support…our fandom!
And if you're still searching for your fans, it's always great to first practice being a fan. Here are some ways to get started:
- Invite somebody you know could use some practice accountability for a weekly practice date. Whether at school in separate rooms or muted on Zoom, having somebody around doing the work with you can be a huge boost in motivation.
- Schedule a coffee date with somebody you’ve always wanted to get to know.
- Book a lesson with somebody you’ve always been interested in studying with.
- Authentically compliment a colleague on something freakishly amazing they do.
- Write a thank-you letter to that person who's played a big role in your musical life.
If nothing else, come hang out with US! We're hosting a free 1-hour training on April 11 and 12. We're setting up the registration page (maybe we could get connected to some tech geniuses?), but if you put your name on our list, we'll send you a note when registration opens: https://www.fearless-performance.com/
Stepping out of your comfort zone to build relationships doesn't always feel great. We might feel like we don't have time to do it. But it is very much worth it.
Cheers to our amazing horn community here at IHS! Grateful for you!
