The Holistic Horn - A New Paradigm of Brass Playing & Musical Mastery

You’re not on stage to be liked.
You’re there to create an experience.
In this episode, I sit down with Ruby Rose Fox, vocalist and founder of Muscle Music, a nervous system school for artists.
We explore a completely different way of understanding performance, presence, and connection.
Traditional advice like “just relax” or “be confident” doesn’t truly work… discover in this episode what to do instead.
This conversation reshaped how I think about performing, not as “trying to sound good,” but as leading energy.
If you’ve ever felt nervous, stuck, or disconnected on stage (or even in life), this one is for you.

TOPICS
Why stage fright is driven by hormones, not mindset
The concept of “Super Play” and how it unlocks authentic performance
How to use nervous energy instead of fighting it
Why trying to “sound good” actually makes you play worse
What it means to be a nervous system leader
The hidden role of dopamine and prediction errors in performance anxiety
Practical tools for handling anxiety in real time
Why great performers make the audience think about themselves, not the performer

🌐 Links
High Range Magic for French Hornists: https://highrangemagic.com
Ruby's Website: https://muscle-music.comRuby's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musclemusic__/

This episode is sponsored by  @HighRangeMagic , a comprehensive & innovative online program for horn players. Find out more at https://www.highrangemagic.com/☯️ Holistic Horn Ep. 18 - Dr. Natalie Grana: A Singing Approach to Accuracy & MasteryNatalie Grana is the author of A Singing Approach to Horn Playing, horn faculty at Loyola University, and a professional hornist in the Gaudete Brass. In this episode we explore Natalie's transformational experience with solfege, and how singing has impacted her horn playing. We compare & contrast "fixed do" versus "movable do" systems and their pros & cons for use in horn playing.Main themes:- How a clear internal hearing system reduces fear and overthinking- Solfège as a tool for trusting what you hear instead of forcing outcomes- Why clarity of intention often fixes “technical” problems- The connection between hearing, confidence, and freedom- How Natalie teaches solfège to college students at Loyola- Meeting students where they are — even if solfège feels intimidating at first- Why many musicians were taught solfège in a disconnected or unhelpful way- Reframing solfège as a living musical language, not an academic exerciseRESOURCES:https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Approach-Horn-Playing-Training/dp/0197603572https://www.highrangemagic.comAbout the podcastHosted by hornist, educator, and entrepreneur Mars Gelfo, The Holistic Horn podcast features incredible personalities from the horn & music world, providing actionable insights, inspiration, and thought-provoking ideas to help you live your best life as a musician and whole human.If you like this episode, show some love by hitting the like & subscribe buttons!#frenchhorn #podcast #brassinstrument #brasspedagogy #highrange #solfege  @HighRangeMagic ​

This episode is sponsored by @HighRangeMagic an innovative online program for horn players. Find out more at https://www.highrangemagic.com/
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☯️ Holistic Horn Ep. 17 - Brian KM: The Electronic Hornist
Innovative electronic horn player Brian KM joins us for a wildly inspiring episode about creativity, self-presentation, persistence, and carving your own path in the brass world.
Brian has performed across Australia, Canada, and the U.S., directed the Melbourne Rainbow Band, toured internationally with his multimedia shows, and previously served as principal horn of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band (150–200 gigs a year).
In this podcast, we cover:
- How Brian built a thriving career through proactivity, self-producing, and constant creativity
- Why "everyone deserves a no”
- His philosophy of being the ocean, not the wall: finding pathways around obstacles
- The realities behind touring and residencies
- His simple, athletic warm-up (why boring fundamentals matter)
- The gear + setup behind his horn/electronics performances
If you're curious about alternative career paths, overcoming fear, or expanding your creativity, this episode is for you.
RESOURCES:
https://www.briankm.com
https://www.highrangemagic.com

**About the podcast**
Hosted by hornist, educator, and entrepreneur Mars Gelfo, The Holistic Horn podcast features incredible personalities from the horn & music world, providing actionable insights, inspiration, and thought-provoking ideas to help you live your best life as a musician and whole human.If you like this episode, show some love by hitting the like & subscribe buttons! #frenchhorn #podcast #brassinstrument #brasspedagogy #highrange @HighRangeMagic ​

This episode is sponsored by @HighRangeMagic an innovative online program for horn players. Find out more at https://www.highrangemagic.com/
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☯️ Holistic Horn Ep. 16 - Oren Marshall: Powerful Breathing for BrassOren has performed with nearly every major London orchestra, recorded on soundtracks like Mission Impossible, and teaches at the Royal College of Music. He’s known for his groundbreaking work that blends classical performance, improvisation, and his own invented instruments.

In this follow-along podcast, we cover:
- Oren’s three-realm breathing practice: health, expansion, and resistance
- How breathing shapes your nervous system and stage confidence
- How yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong inform Oren's approach to music
- Why conditioning your breath might be the most important part of your practice routine

We go hands-on with breathing drills you can try along with us.This episode is for every musician who’s ever wanted to sound (and feel) more free!

RESOURCES:
https://www.orenmarshall.com
https://www.highrangemagic.com

**About the podcast**
Hosted by hornist, educator, and entrepreneur Mars Gelfo, The Holistic Horn podcast features incredible personalities from the horn & music world, providing actionable insights, inspiration, and thought-provoking ideas to help you live your best life as a musician and whole human.If you like this episode, show some love by hitting the like & subscribe buttons! #frenchhorn #podcast #brassinstrument #brasspedagogy #highrange @HighRangeMagic ​

This episode is sponsored by @HighRangeMagic an innovative online program for horn players. Find out more at https://www.highrangemagic.com/
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☯️ Holistic Horn Ep. 15 - Elizabeth Freimuth: Mentorship & Freedom
Elizabeth Freimuth, new professor of horn at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and principal horn of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 19 years, joins us for this month's episode.
In our conversation, we cover:
- How fundamentals become freedom when you know why you're practicing
- Channeling your full emotional range into music
- The value of real mentorship
- What inclusion means in music today
Elizabeth brings wisdom to this conversation as we talk about the many paths horn players can take:[spoiler alert!] you don't need to be an excerpt jockey to have a horn career these days!
Hope you enjoy.
RESOURCES:
https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/about/the-orchestra/elizabeth-freimuth/
https://www.highrangemagic.com
**About the podcast**
Hosted by hornist, educator, and entrepreneur Mars Gelfo, The Holistic Horn podcast features incredible personalities from the horn & music world, providing actionable insights, inspiration, and thought-provoking ideas to help you live your best life as a musician and whole human.If you like this episode, show some love by hitting the like & subscribe buttons! #frenchhorn #podcast #brassinstrument #brasspedagogy #highrange @HighRangeMagic ​