Horn is such a versatile instrument, thus the concept of characteristic tone is actually quite situationally dependent. But for our purposes as teachers, horn sound should be really round, warm, open and resonant.
Power Up! French Horn Tone
Power Up! Step by Step: Building the Foundations for Successful Music Learning
It is a musician’s job to synthesize rhythms, note names, pitches, articulations, expressions, sound, and more…all at once. Dr. Anita Collins, who is an educator, researcher, and writer in the field of brain development and music learning, says that “playing music is the brain’s equivalent of a full body workout.” Applying all of those skills when you are learning a new piece of music can feel particularly daunting.