SKU: FG.55011-555-2

Playing from the Core is a new method for practicing the French horn. With an in-depth understanding of the traditions and history of French horn technique, Tommi Hyytinen brings new perspectives to instrumental practice by examining the interaction of mind and body and incorporating these insights into his method. The body is perhaps a musician's primary instrument, and it is important to become intimately acquainted with this instrument. A thorough understanding of the body makes many musical and technical challenges easier to overcome. Hyytinen also provides comprehensive advice on preparing for a performance and on overcoming stage fright. For instance, understanding the physiology of stress and performance-related nerves helps us better to understand nervousness as a natural state. By employing a range of physical and mental exercises, we learn to control nervous reactions and turn them into something that, rather than hindering, can in fact help and improve our performances. In addition to presenting a wealth of factual information and physical exercises, the book contains many informative illustrations, playing exercises, and an etude exploring different aspects of French horn technique. Through the presentation of information, exercises and examples, Playing from the Core brings students to a realisation that everyone can improve on the technical and musical challenges they face. Tommi Hyytinen is an experienced professional musician and teacher, and he instructs musicians in the holistic use of the body. The exercises presented in the book form part of his own daily practice routine and teaching material. Tommi thus manages to explain and show us the benefit of both body and mental exercises in preparation for musical performance. He shares all his wisdom so generously that I have no doubt that all performing artists, especially brass and wind players as well as singers will profit enormously from reading it. (Radovan Vlatkovic) https://tommihyytinen.fi/language/en/front-page/.

SKU: FG.55011-774-7

ISBN 9790550117747.

Tommi Hyytinen (DMus, Finnish horn player and pedagogue) writes about this collections:

I composed these 30 Etudes for Low Horn to be at the same time instructive and at the same time fun and interesting to play. The etudes consist similar technical challenges than a low horn player confronts in orchestra. The etudes also encompass many of the technical challenges that a horn player encounters in chamber music and in solo repertoire, especially since many of the touring soloists in the 18th and 19th centuries were Cor-Basse players. Some of these etudes are not the most serious in nature in the horn literature, but nevertheless they challenge and develop the playing technique in wide variety of ways. The ambitus of the etudes is very virtuosic, encompassing almost four octaves. Some of the etudes are more melodic and concentrate in lyrical phrasing, legato-playing, sound and intonation, others contain technically tricky passages, articulations and fingerings. Rhythmic accuracy and ‘finding the groove' is of utmost importance in all of the etudes. The etudes develop the sound and control of the low register of the horn and flexibility between the registers. These 30 Concert Etudes work as individual pieces or as a set of pieces. You can for example choose a set of etudes and perform them in a concert or matinée. I hope you have as much fun practising and playing these etudes as I had composing them..