To have advanced this far the player displays a high level of dedication and talent. Even though many attempt Level 4 repertoire, very few high school players reach this level. They are probably the section leaders and may be members of the All-State band and orchestra. There is also a good chance they will get music scholarships for college.

Along with these achievements comes responsibility though, for if the player is to continue developing, practice and involvement with the horn and the horn world must become a priority. It's time to really get serious.

Whether in high school, college, or not in school at all, a Level 4 player should be practicing 1½ - 2 hours every day in addition to ensemble rehearsals. A basic routine should be developed that includes technical exercises addressing everything the player has to do. It should include high and low range, loud and soft dynamics, scales and arpeggios, various articulations and slurs, lip trills, and multiple tonguing. Problem areas should no longer be avoided.

During Level 4, the player should.

1. develop range to at least 3 octaves, and know chromatic fingerings throughout that range;
2. know all major and minor scales and arpeggios;
3. begin using lip trills, double and triple tonguing, transposition, and bass clef (old and new notation) whenever needed;
4. become familiar with standard orchestral excerpts;
5. become familiar with the technique of the natural horn and understand the harmonic series;
6. join the International Horn Society (IHS), if not already a member;
7. begin building a library of recordings of fine players, and become familiar with names and styles of great players of the past and present.
   
   

RECOMMENDED READING

Farkas: The Art of French Horn Playing

LEVEL 4 - ETUDES AND STUDIES

Kling: 40 Characteristic Etudes

SUPPLEMENTARY

Pottag-Andraud: 335 Selected Melodious and Progressive Technical Studies, Books I & II (the "Blue Book" & the "Red Book")

LEVEL 4 SOLOS

Koch: Sound Pictures

Kronke: Two Hunting Pieces

Lorenz: Fantasie

Mozart/Ephross: Andante (from Quintet K.407)

Mozart/Sansone: Concerto No.1

Mozart/Sansone: Concerto No.2

Mozart/Sansone: Concerto No.4

Oldberg: Serenade

Pessard: In The Forest

Purcell/Bacon: I'll Sail Upon the Dogstar from Selected Songs Vol.2

Schumann/Bacon: He, the Most Magnificent of All from Selected Songs Vol.1

Strauss, Franz: Concerto, opus 8

Telemann/Chidester: Adagio and Presto

LEVEL 4 HORN ENSEMBLES

DUETS

Franz: 100 Duets - Book 2

Mayer: Suite No.3

TRIOS

Mayer: Tricinium

Reicha: 6 Trios from Opus 82

QUARTETS

Bacon, editor: 88 German Quartets

Franck/Wienandt: Four Dances

Giovannini: Three Moods

Mitushin: Concertino

Schumann/Reynolds: Six Quartets

OCTETS

Reynolds: Cantos No. 1

Reynolds: Cantos No. 2

Reynolds: Cantos No. 3

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