Episode 66 - Interview with Rich Sterner from St. Paul's Brass Quintet - week of November 23, 2008

Episode 65 - Chris Nalls's Adventures with the Tenor Horn - week of November 16, 2008

Episode 64 - Interview with Mellophone Legend Bonnie Ott Thompson - week of November 9, 2008

Episode 63 - Mark Taylor discusses Improv for Dummies; improvisation basics for the non-jazz player - week of November 2, 2008

Episode 62 - Jennifer Bliman, Mellophonist with the 2008 All-American College Band at Disneyland - week of October 26, 2008

Episode 61 - Mellophones on Facebook - week of October 5, 2008

Episode 60 - Mark Taylor's new ensemble, "See the Girls Dance" - week of September 28, 2008

Episode 59 - Marching F French Horns - week of September 21, 2008

Foregoing catalog descriptions, there are technically Bb and F Marching French Horns.  This is about F Marching French Horns.

• F Marching French Horns have a French Horn mouthpiece and receiver.
• The instrument does have its roots in Drum Corps.
• The instrument is basically either a bellfront Descant horn, or a Mellophone with a French Horn receiver and mouthpiece with a slightly different taper off the leadpipe.  It has a Mellophone-sized bell.
• Kanstul still makes these.  Blessing made them, too.
• These are good alternatives for French Horn players.
• There's really no reason why one can't march with a French Horn mouthpiece.
• Sound-wise, they don't cut as much as a Mellophone, but the tone is decent with good intonation.  Chris says it has a "naked" French Horn quality.
• Possibly the reason they are not popular as it's more difficult for Trumpet players to move to them.  John likes the idea of new players using the horn mouthpiece as it will be easier to convert them.
• Chris feels it's the "perfect" instrument for marching.  The Bb Marching Horn tends to crack more.

• Listening Assignment:  "The Piper o' Dundee" by Kenneth Downie, performed by the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band.
  • Soloist is Sheona White.
  • The recording appears on the CD's The Voice of the Tenor Horn and Windows of the World.
  • It's harder than it sounds, and it's a real crowd-pleaser.  It's fast and loud!

Episode 58 - Piston/Rotor Horns - week of September 14, 2008

Episode 57 - Bb Marching Horns - week of September 7, 2008