Learning to play alphorn? - Is, not difficult, like singing . . .
The alphorn’s total range of notes consists of about 10-12 natural tones.
However, with these relatively few tones (a piano has almost 100 tones) it is possible to play beautiful melodies which mainly orientate on the major key triad. Learning this natural instrument is possible for every person at every age. Even for slightly musically gifted people. (And fortunately, that includes almost everybody; I never met anybody who was completely unmusical, but a lot of people who were unjustly told so by parents, teachers or colleagues).
You do not have to be able to read notes, as it is quite easy to learn them during the process of learning the instrument, and at the beginning, 3-4 tones are sufficient. While it is helpful to play the Alphorn from music, it is not at all necessary, as herdsmen played and improvised on it for centuries. The famous trumpeter Louis Armstrong became a star and did not know a single note. He learned reading music at an advanced age from his third wife who was a pianist.
You can learn Alphorn by yourself with the aid of a good “school” or a teacher (which is usually easier). Even a good trumpet, horn, or trombone teacher can teach you the basics. What the Alphorn demands is a good, natural breathing and a persistent, but not ex- aggerated training of lips and breathing musculature – skills that many “overcivilized” people lack nowadays.
Music therapists and anthroposophically oriented clinics already integrated this old instrument in their work.
You can learn Alphorn by yourself with the aid of a good “school” or a teacher (which is usually easier). Even a good trumpet, horn, or trombone teacher can teach you the basics. What the Alphorn demands is a good, natural breathing and a persistent, but not ex- aggerated training of lips and breathing musculature – skills that many “overcivilized” people lack nowadays.
Music therapists and anthroposophically oriented clinics already integrated this old instrument in their work.
See link or at request. Individual or group lessons at Alphorn-Center.
For private Alphorn lessons please contact: Alphorn-center.
With these components you notice the very easy:
1 Exercise book,
1 Booklet with easy pieces of play,
and 2 CDs associated
for 45,00 Euro
1 tuner
(adjustable to the basic tuning F)
for 23,90 Euro
Here is an excerpt from the learning package: "Drei leichte Stücke für Alphorn"
PDF for viewing and printing
Alphorn methods & etudes
- Schüssele F.: Lernpaket, Schule & Mitspiel-CD, Leichte Stücke & Mitspiel-CD 45,- €
- Schüssele F.: Moderne Alphornschule: Alphorn-Atmung-Ansatz (1/2) 16,- €
Zum Selbststudium oder als Duostudien vom Anfang bis zu gehobenem Niveau – theoretischer und praktischer Teil – Atem- Stütz - Ansatztraining, Rhythmusschulung – Grundregeln f. dauerhaften Blaserfolg
- Schüssele F.: 10 leichte Stücke - nicht höher als e´´, wahlw I, II, III, IV (1) 12,- €
- Schmid/Sommer/Studer: Schule für Alphorn (1/2) 24,- €
- Schmid/Sommer/Studer: Test-Etüden (Ergänzung zur Schule) (1/2) 19,- €
- Sommer H-J.: Von Berg und Tal., leicht, nur bis e´´wahlw. I, II, III (1) dazu erhältl. 12,- €
- Sommer H-J.: Von Alp zu Alp, wie Obiges, wahlw. I, II od. III (1) dazu erhältl. 12,- €
- Studer H.: Das mehrstimmige Alphornspiel II – IV (23) 25,- €
- Molnar J.: Übungen und lustige Stücke nur mit CD I (2/3) 29,- €
- Molnar J.: 25 Musikalische Visitenkarten - nur mit-CD I (2/3) 29,- €
- Molnar J.: 58 Tägliche Übungen- nur mit-CD I (2/3) 29,- €
- Wichser B.: Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau I, II od. III (1) 19,- €
Playback CDs with sheets
Alphorn + Orgel, Chor, Orchester, Stubenmusik, Oberkrainer, Jazz, Pop etc.
- Bartesch R.: Alpine Reflections F/Ges Episch breit angelegtes Stück mit Popelementen) (3+) 30,- €
- Bartesch R.: Touched by Mozart ( im klassischen Stil) F/Ges – (CD Münchner Philharmoniker), wahlw. I od. II (2) 25,- €
- Bartesch R .: Reach out (Bebop/hot Swing Live-Bandbgl.) (2) 25,- €
- Haber M.: Lustige Alphornpolka - F/Ges, wahlw. I od. II (2) 17,- €
- Haber M.: In den Alpen I - F/Ges (5 Stücke), wahlw. I, II, III (2) 25,- €
- Haber M.: In den Alpen II - F/Ges (5 Stücke), wahlw. I, II, III (2) 25,- €
- Haber M.: Alph.-Schlager -Sierra Madre, Gloryland, Amazing Grace, u.a.- F/Ges, wahlw. I, II, (2) 25,- €
- Roloff/Schüssele: Sierra Madre F/Ges, wahlw. I, II, III, IV (1) 15,- €
- Schüssele F.: Aida - Triumphmarsch ( 7 populäre Weihnachtslieder 25,-
- Schüssele F.: Dixieland - Medley 25,-
- Schüssele F.: Weihnachtslieder -Medley ( 7 populäre Weihnachtslieder 25,-
- Sommer H-J. : Play along Alphorn Bd. 1 + 2 + 3 – F+Ges (2) je 25,-
- Sommer H-J.: Von Berg u. Tal/Von Alp zu Alp Cd zu gleichnamig. Heften A47 + 48, wahlw. I, II, od. III (1) 16,- €
- Sommer H-J. : Aus den Tälern CD zu gleichnamig. Heft A50, wahlw. I, II, III (1) 16,- €
Jazz, Ethno, E-Musik, Pop, Schlager
- Bartesch R.: Reach out (Bebop/hot Swing (Live-Bandbgl.) (2) 25,- €
- Haber M.: Alphorn-Schlager (Sierra Madre, Gloryland, Amazing Grace, u.a.) wahlw. I, II, (2) 25,- €
- Roloff R., Schüssele F.: Sierra Madre - F/Ges, wahlw. I, II, III od IV (1) 12,- €
- Sommer H.-J. : Play along Alphorn, Bd. 1 + 2 + 3 - F/Ges (2) je 25,- €
Übe-CDs
- Schüssele F.: Übe-Cd zu Moderne Alphornschule 15,- €
- Schüssele F.: Übe-Cd zu 10 leichte Stücke 15,- €
- Als Lernpaket mit den beiden Heften 45,-
- Sommer Hans-Jürg: Von Berg u. Tal/Von Alp zu Alp Übe-CD zu A 47+48 16,- €
- Sommer Hans-Jürg: Aus den Tälern Übe-CD zu A 50 16,- €