Welcome to the Horn Studio at the University of Texas at Austin!

The UT Horn Studio’s focus is designed to help students become more skilled, more confident and more creative on the horn. I focus primarily on teaching students to truly listen for their own magnificent horn sound and let that sound be the path for improving technique, style, phrasing, finesse, ease of playing, and musical confidence.  Inspiring them to become efficient and effective in the practice room is of course, tantamount! Lessons consist of a balanced "diet" of Etudes, Exercises, Orchestral Excerpts, Solo Work, and prep for proficiencies, performances, chamber music, summer festivals, and recitals.  Individual needs, determined by the student and the instructor, dictate the amount of time spent in each area.

The mainstay of my teaching at the University of Texas is with the horn studio, giving private instruction to students ranging from incoming freshmen non-majors to graduate level performance majors.  I also supervise a graduate teaching assistant and together we share the duties of teaching the studio members, MUS 201 non-majors, and MUS 115 music studies (education) students; coaching horn quartets; and running the horn choir and studio class.  The usual size of the horn studio is 16-20 DMA, MM, and undergraduate students in various music programs. In addition to lessons, horn students also take part in weekly studio classes covering a variety of topics. There are classes where we perform for each other and learn to be critical and constructive; hold mock auditions where we simulate the real-life orchestral audition experience;  and discuss repertoire and current and relevant issues like musicians and drugs, ensemble deportment, the psychology of performance, and pedagogy. We also embark on special projects like composing new music for horn and reading relevant books together.  The students become acquainted with a wider spectrum of music, ideas, and concepts related to being a horn player and musician. Studio Class is a place where we build community, excellence, inspiration, support, mutual respect, and pride. The ultimate goal is for students to become better people and true musicians with--and without--the horn.

Patrick Hughes
Associate Professor of Horn