About
The French Horn may be considered the hardest instrument to play by the Guinness World Records, but I would like to simplify the art of horn playing down to three elements: music, air, and buzz. Music is the destination and the roadmap of your music making on the horn. The air is the fuel that makes your musical vehicle move forward. Finally the buzz is like the handle that steers the car so that you can stay on the right path all the way through!
By studying with me, you'll be able not only increase your skills on the horn, but also gain wide range of knowledge including ear training, music theory, and music history!
During my time in St. Louis and Sarasota, I've taught many private lessons as well as brass and woodwind sectional coachings. This background also allows me to teach other brass instruments as well. I really love working with students regardless of their skill level and guiding them towards exciting and rewarding experiences learning music. Adapting to the Covid-19 era, I can offer individual as well as group lessons online.
1) I love the sound of the horn and sharing its sound through teaching and performances. Unlike popular online entertainment like TV shows or video games, learning the horn is an active, tangible experience that is hard to come by these days. The more people can appreciate music and the process of music making, the better our community as a whole will grow!
2) Helping students improve not only on the horn, but also concepts that can be applied outside of music. Many of the the qualities needed to improve on an instrument can be directly applied to daily life: vision, discipline, and clear plans. Teaching is a rewarding experience for me when I see my students grow as both horn players and wonderful people!
3) Whether it's getting into all-state ensemble or an adult student looking to join a local community band/orchesta, I love helping people achieve their goals. With my strong educational and professional background, I have the high quality information and skills that wil help you on your journey!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1) Assessment: For beginners I check for basic ear training skills. For intermediate and advanced students, I would ask them to play a piece of their choosing. This process helps me to figure out where the students stand.
2) Defining goals: What does the student ultimately want to achieve? Move up to a higher ensemble at school? Get into All-State ensembles? Join a local community band or orchestra? Considering majoring in music at the collegiate level?
3) Proper Breathing
4) Proper Buzzing (embouchure formation, lip tension)
5) Specific short-term and long-term plans
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Born in South Korea and raised in Hawaii, Young Kim was exposed to music at an early age. Starting the violin at four and piano at six, he still went onto study the trumpet and the flute before finally settling on the French horn in middle school.
Since then, the horn has taken him all over the world from the Sydney Opera House to KKL Luzern in Switzerland. Under the tutelage of Eric Ruske, Young earned his Bachelor in Music Performance degree from Boston University with summa cum laude honors. While in his undergraduate studies, he also spent a semester abroad at the Royal College of Music in London studying natural Horn with Susan Dent. William VerMeulen accepted him into the Rice University horn studio in 2011, and upon completing his Master’s, Young won the fourth horn position in the Sarasota Orchestra (FL).
He has also performed as a guest musician with the Colorado, Hawaii, Houston, Memphis, Naples, Omaha, and San Antonio Symphonies as well as touring with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Summer of 2016 marked a special occasion as he got to perform for the first time in his home country with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2018, Young won an audition for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Assistant/Utility Horn position.
In the summer seasons, Young performed in Aspen, Banff, Breckinridge, Colorado, Lucerne, Mozaic, National Repertory Orchestra, and Pacific Music Festivals. He was also offered a position with the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera and performed two seasons as second horn with the Central City Opera.
A passionate educator, Young started creating educational content for the Korean horn community in early 2019. These contents, marked #HornTip (#호른팁), are essays, translations of pedagogy materials, and YouTube videos that discuss a wide range of topics. Efforts continue not only to provide new contents but also to make English translations and subtitles for a global audience.
After two seasons in St. Louis, Young has moved to join his family in Aurora, Colorado and is enjoying a diverse career in both performance and education.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
One 30-minute Trial Lesson: free
45-minute Lesson: $45 (preferred for beginners)
60-minute Lesson: $60 (preferred for intermediate/advanced students)
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students at all stages of their lives. I have taught students at elementary school level all the way to working adults ready to take on a new challenge!