by Szabolcs Zempléni, Professor of Horn, University of the Arts Berlin; IHS 57 Featured Artist
"The Athletic Horn Player." That was the headline when Gramophone magazine interviewed me after my first big international win in Markneukirchen at the age of 20. I loved cycling even then, though I was far from a typical athlete. What I didn’t know was that sport was already shaping me in ways I couldn’t yet see.
Today, I know: Playing the horn is a sport.
The Physical Side
Horn playing is physical. We push muscles to extremes: loudness, high notes, low notes, stamina across hours. Your range, endurance, strength—it’s not just talent. It’s training.
There is no such thing as impossible. Only the limits we accept.
Muscles don't grow during practice—they grow during rest. The body needs time to process, build, memorize. The same is true for the brain: slow, deliberate practice, careful repetition. Athletes know it. Musicians must embrace it too.
Mastery is Built, Not Found
Physical training is essential—but so is mental strength. Chess. Snooker. Strategy games. They teach focus, patience, fine motor skills—all critical for musicians. Not every training happens on the instrument.
I’ve always had it—the need to win. Even losing—painful as it was—taught me resilience. Every setback became a lesson: Get up. Start again. Fight for your goal.
The Importance of Breathing
Reading Zen in the Art of Archery was a revelation.
Breathing isn't secondary—it's the foundation. High notes, low notes, loudness, endurance—all depend on the breath.
Arnold Jacobs taught me: Breathing empowers muscles. Without it, they fail.
Breathing, both in sports and in horn playing, became a cornerstone of my teaching philosophy.
The Mental Game
Athletes embraced sports psychology decades ago. Musicians are still catching up.
The Inner Game of Tennis changed everything for me.
Its musical version (The Inner Game of Music) is wonderful—but the original carries a universal truth:
Your mind is your strongest—or weakest—partner.
Three Pillars of Horn Playing
Horn playing rests on three pillars:
- Technical mastery
- Breathing mastery
- Mental mastery
Each must be trained. Each must be respected.
Inspiration Beyond Music
Some of my greatest inspirations come from outside music:
- Roger Federer—for balance and serenity.
- Cristiano Ronaldo—for relentless work ethic and belief that nothing is impossible.
- Ronnie O’Sullivan—for his raw journey to greatness.
- Katinka Hosszú—Hungary’s Olympic and World Champion swimmer, whose motto “HWAPO” (Hard Work Always Pays Off) became my own.
Conclusion
Horn playing is a sport for the body, the mind, and the soul. And like all true sports, it demands everything you have—and gives back even more.
