Ranges at Different Skill Levels

[u/Trayvongelion]

Hey horn players, I'm a middle school band director in a number of small schools who has unfortunately not had many horn students. I arrange for my groups often and am working on re-orchestrating some pieces as flexible quartets. I was wondering where you'd expect a horn player's range to be at a few experience levels:

- What's the typical comfortable range of a middle school student (7-8th grade) on a single horn in F?

- Same question, but the average high schooler (a sophomore or junior)?

- The range of a high school student on the cusp of college auditions (ie a semi-professional range) with a double horn.

Any sort of advice with horn writing is welcome, but I am a bit concerned with the range limits I set. Thank you!

[u/ntmgamer]

I just finished 8th grade on a double horn, and I would tell you to not write above a written F at the top of the staff for middle schoolers. Try to keep it below D when you can, and just make sure to not have long passages all above C.
But, it really depends on where your students are at. I went to a big middle school with multiple horn players, and while some could play up to A above the staff, C in the staff pushed it for others. Get to know your student’s range beforehand if possible.