French Horn Lessons in Minnesota

What French horn lessons cost across Minnesota, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 18 min read

French horn lesson prices across Minnesota
Meet teachers
How French horn learning works in Minnesota
Auditions and events in Minnesota
Starting at any age
Finding the right teacher
French horn in Minnesota
Area by area
A little French horn history in Minnesota
Frequently Asked Questions

French horn lesson prices across Minnesota

A one-hour French horn lesson in Minnesota typically costs $60 to $95, and a half hour $33 to $52. Most towns sit close to that range. The Minneapolis area runs highest, up to $100 an hour.

Every town has two guides: a French horn lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.

Find your town

Town	30 minutes	One hour	Guides
Minneapolis area
Minneapolis	$33–$55	$63–$100	Lessons Costs
St. Paul	$33–$54	$62–$99	Lessons Costs
Bloomington	$33–$53	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Brooklyn Park	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Plymouth	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Woodbury	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Lakeville	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Blaine	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Maple Grove	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Eagan	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Burnsville	$33–$53	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Coon Rapids	$33–$53	$61–$96	Lessons Costs
Eden Prairie	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Apple Valley	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Edina	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Minnetonka	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
St. Louis Park	$33–$54	$62–$98	Lessons Costs
Shakopee	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Cottage Grove	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Maplewood	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Richfield	$33–$54	$62–$98	Lessons Costs
Inver Grove Heights	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Roseville	$33–$53	$61–$96	Lessons Costs
Andover	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Savage	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Brooklyn Center	$33–$53	$61–$98	Lessons Costs
Fridley	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Chaska	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Oakdale	$33–$53	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Ramsey	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Prior Lake	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Rosemount	$32–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Elk River	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Shoreview	$33–$53	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Chanhassen	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
White Bear Lake	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Farmington	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Champlin	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
New Brighton	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Crystal	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Otsego	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Columbia Heights	$33–$54	$62–$99	Lessons Costs
Hastings	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Lino Lakes	$32–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Golden Valley	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
West St. Paul	$33–$53	$61–$98	Lessons Costs
New Hope	$33–$53	$61–$98	Lessons Costs
Forest Lake	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
South St. Paul	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
St. Michael	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Stillwater	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Hopkins	$33–$54	$62–$98	Lessons Costs
Anoka	$33–$53	$61–$96	Lessons Costs
Ham Lake	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Buffalo	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Hugo	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Monticello	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
Robbinsdale	$33–$54	$62–$98	Lessons Costs
Rogers	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Waconia	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Lake Elmo	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Mounds View	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Vadnais Heights	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
North St. Paul	$33–$53	$61–$98	Lessons Costs
Big Lake	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
East Bethel	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Mendota Heights	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
North Branch	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Victoria	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Little Canada	$33–$53	$61–$96	Lessons Costs
St. Cloud area
St. Cloud	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Sartell	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Sauk Rapids	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Duluth area
Duluth	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Hibbing	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Cloquet	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Mankato area
Mankato	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
North Mankato	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
St. Peter	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Faribault area
Faribault	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Northfield	$32–$47	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Other Minnesota towns
Albert Lea	$32–$47	$59–$86	Lessons Costs
Alexandria	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Austin	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Bemidji	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Brainerd	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Fergus Falls	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Grand Rapids	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Hutchinson	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Marshall	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Moorhead	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
New Ulm	$32–$47	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Owatonna	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Red Wing	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Rochester	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Willmar	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Winona	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Worthington	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs

Meet a French Horn Teacher in Minnesota Before You Continue Weekly

The free first lesson is a low-pressure way to meet the teacher, experience the teaching style, and decide whether weekly live online french horn lessons feel right for you or your child in Minnesota.

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Gray Smiley

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Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 5 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Minnesota via Zoom

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How French horn learning works in Minnesota

How does French horn fit school music in Minnesota?

Minnesota school band is the main route for a French horn player, with many districts introducing band in fifth grade and others waiting until sixth. Minneapolis Public School District has band in some elementary schools for fifth graders, while Saint Paul Public Schools, District 625 starts at Capitol Hill in fifth grade and Anoka-Hennepin offers beginning band in middle school. Minnetonka Public Schools lets students choose band, orchestra, or choir from fifth grade. Since public schools must offer arts but music need not be one of the required areas, private lessons can keep a horn student moving even when school offerings differ.

When school music starts in Minnesota districts

Minneapolis Public School DistrictBand5th grade in some elementary schools

Saint Paul Public Schools, District 625Band5th grade

Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District 196Beginning band5th grade

Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191Band5th grade

Eden Prairie Public School DistrictBeginning band5th grade

Mounds View Public SchoolsBand5th grade

Edina Public SchoolsBand5th grade

School District 197Band5th grade

Who runs what for Minnesota horn players?

Minnesota’s student opportunities are split among school contests, all-state auditions, and teacher-run activities, so the right route depends on whether you want a band honor or an individual event. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) runs regional high-school solo, small-ensemble, and large-ensemble contests. The Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) selects high-school All-State Band members, while the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) offers instrument contests and examinations through participating teachers. The Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) runs state Honor Bands for grades 6–8 and 9–10, but those are separate from the French horn All-State route.

Who runs what in Minnesota

Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)

Runs: Runs regional high-school solo and ensemble music contests.
For: Minnesota high-school music students

Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA)

Runs: Runs All-State Band auditions and ensembles.
For: Eligible high-school band students through sponsors

Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA)

Runs: Offers student contests and examinations for instruments.
For: Students through participating teachers

Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA)

Runs: Runs state Honor Bands for grades 6–8 and 9–10.
For: Middle- and early-high-school band students

Auditions and events in Minnesota

How does a horn player reach Minnesota's top student honors?

For French horn, Minnesota’s top statewide school honor is the MMEA All-State Band. A student auditions as a sophomore or junior and must remain in good standing in a secondary-school band through the following February; a current MMEA and NAfME sponsoring teacher must teach the student through then. The 2027 audition platform opens January 1, with video due by noon March 2. Selected students attend camp in Moorhead July 27–31, 2027, then perform February 18–19, 2028. A separate individual honor is the Mankato Symphony Orchestra concerto competition: Minnesota high-school students in grades 9–12 who live or study in the state submit a preliminary recording by February 1, 2027, with selected finalists playing live February 27 in Mankato.

The French horn route in Minnesota, step by step

School band and sponsorBe a sophomore or junior in a secondary-school band, in good standing through the following February, with an eligible sponsoring teacher.
All-State video auditionPlatform opens January 1, 2027; submit scales and etude videos by noon March 2.
Summer campSelected band members attend camp in Moorhead in late July 2027.
February performancesAll-State students perform February 18–19, 2028.
Concerto competition alternativeMinnesota grades 9–12 students submit audio by February 1, 2027; selected finalists perform February 27 in Mankato.

The Minnesota French horn year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

MFMC State Student AuditionsEntry fee: $25 per categoryStart the piece Jul to Oct

Start the piece Jul to OctJan 25

Young Artist CompetitionRochester Chamber Music SocietyStart the piece Oct to Jan

Start the piece Oct to JanApr 10

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

For 2027 MMEA All-State, a French horn student prepares the entire brass scale page, choosing either scale set, and the complete assigned etude with the specified ending. Each component needs its own continuous-take video file, so lessons should build reliable starts, clean releases, and steady playing from beginning to end. The Mankato Symphony concerto competition begins with an audio preliminary recording and, for selected players, a live final. Three to six months of weekly work on an event piece gives the student time to learn it, refine tone and accuracy, and make a confident recording.

What else is there to enter?

For students who want a smaller individual goal than All-State, the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Voice and Instrumental Contest and Solo Festival asks for one repertoire selection, with instrument materials guiding the choice. The Minnesota State High School League Solo & Ensemble Contest gives school musicians a regional solo or ensemble performance, and each region sets its own events. These options suit students who want feedback and a performance experience without making All-State selection the only measure of progress.

French horn events in Minnesota, 2026–27

2027 All-State Auditions

Minnesota Music Educators Association

When: Auditions open January 1, 2027; deadline March 2, 2027. All-State camp July 27–31, 2027; February performances February 17–19, 2028.
Entry: $1,050 per student for 2027–28 All-State camp
Who: Minnesota high school students; see MMEA eligibility policies

MFMC State Student Auditions

Minnesota Federation of Music Clubs

When: Application deadline January 25, 2027; recording deadline January 31, 2027
Entry: $25 per category
Who: Minnesota high school juniors and seniors; teacher must be an MFMC member

Young Artists Competition

Golden Valley Orchestra

When: Auditions January 12 or 19, 2027; concert April 25, 2027
Entry: $60 per audition application
Who: Junior: up to 15; Senior: 16–19

Young Artist Competition

Rochester Chamber Music Society

When: April 10, 2027
Entry: Ask the organizer
Who: Students enrolled in Minnesota pre-college programs (K–12)

Homeschool and private school students

Minnesota resident homeschool students may take part in their resident district’s extracurricular activities on the same basis as public-school students. For MMEA All-State, a homeschooled student must be shared-time enrolled in a secondary-school band and in good standing there; private-school students in secondary-school ensembles are also included. These routes let a horn student participate in school band opportunities while learning at home or attending private school.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on French horn

French horn often suits a child around age 9 or 10, when a growing student can manage the instrument’s weight and begin controlling a steady breath. Starting then gives you or your child time to build a clear tone and comfortable handling before school band rehearsals, without relying on school music to provide every early step. Private lessons also give a beginner individual attention as school playing begins, so the student can connect new band parts with the breathing and sound they have already practiced.

A teen in Minnesota

A Minnesota teen can join band through school and aim for the MMEA All-State Band when eligible, while regional Solo & Ensemble contests offer another school-year performance goal. All-State selection reaches sophomores and juniors through a sponsoring teacher, then leads to a summer camp and February performances. Weekly lessons fit best when the student chooses a clear target with the teacher and keeps it alongside school rehearsals, so an audition or contest becomes part of the season rather than a separate burden.

Starting or coming back as an adult

Adults in Minnesota have places to keep playing with other musicians, including the Bemidji Area Community Band in Bemidji, the Roseville Community Band in Roseville, and the Central Minnesota Community Orchestra, whose players come from St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, and Little Falls. The French horn belongs naturally in concert-band and orchestral parts, so an adult can work toward rejoining an ensemble or building the control to play one. It is never too late to start or return; a dedicated teacher meets you at your current reading, breathing, and playing level.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good French horn teacher do?

A strong French horn teacher helps you or your child build a centered tone, steady air, accurate pitches, and the stamina that band playing and All-State recordings require. Fit matters as much as training because a younger beginner, a teen with an audition goal, and an adult returning to the horn need different pacing and encouragement. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree in horn. You can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one, then switch teachers at no cost if the match is not right.

How do live online French horn lessons work?

A live Zoom horn lesson lets the teacher hear tone, articulation, rhythm, and pitch in real time, while seeing posture, hand position, and how the student breathes between phrases. A quiet room, music stand, and stable camera view of the player and horn make it easier to work through a band part or prepare an audition recording. There is no commute, and you can work with a teacher who fits rather than relying on the closest option. In Minneapolis or Bemidji, you or your child gets the same weekly one-on-one lesson and teacher choice.

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French horn in Minnesota

Where to hear French horn

In Saint Cloud, the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra offers a concert package for one student and two adults, giving a family a way to hear how the horn works within a full orchestra. Duluth adds another option through the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, where children 12 and under pay $5 for a ticket and older students ages 13–17 pay $10. Hearing both orchestral and chamber performances helps you or your child recognize the horn’s role in different ensemble settings.

Where to play with others

Across Minnesota, young horn players can look to youth orchestras, while adults can pursue community ensembles. Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies has horn openings in several orchestras, including Sinfonia East, and its winter audition videos are due December 1, 2026. In Bemidji, the Bemidji Area Community Band welcomes musicians of every skill level for its summer concert band. In Circle Pines, the Centennial Community Band invites adults to renew their playing in a symphonic ensemble.

French horn around Minnesota, area by area

Minneapolis area

In the Twin Cities, Minnesota Youth Symphonies offers wind and symphony orchestra opportunities, while Rock U in Minneapolis gives students a band setting. For listening, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts offer free reserved tickets for students of all ages when requested starting two weeks ahead. Minnesota Opera also has $10 youth rush tickets on performance day for young people 20 and under, making it easier to hear live orchestral playing in Saint Paul.

School year: Sep 8 to Jun 11, 37 lesson weeks (Minneapolis Public School District)
Town guides: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Woodbury, Lakeville, Blaine

Duluth area

Duluth’s Music in the Park series offers free Tuesday concerts in summer, giving horn students a relaxed way to hear live music. UMD’s music calendar also includes free, non-ticketed events, including student brass and woodwind chamber concerts. Together these options offer different kinds of ensemble listening, from outdoor performances to smaller student groups, without requiring a formal student program.

School year: Sep 8 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Duluth Public Schools)
Town guides: Duluth, Superior, Hibbing, Cloquet

Rochester area

Rochester-area students can audition for Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras, which serves youth in grades 4–12 and includes brass players in its Concert Orchestra. For listening, Rochester’s Riverside Music Series offers five free Sunday-evening concerts at Mayo Park in summer 2027, with no tickets required. Rochester Symphony Kids also presents Peter and the Wolf on a Saturday afternoon at Dakota Middle School.

Town guides: Rochester

Mankato area

Mankato offers both a youth orchestra path and a welcoming community band: the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra lists its Youth Symphony Orchestra for fall and winter sessions, while the Mankato Area Community Band has no auditions. To hear music, the Serendipity Music Series offers free midweek midday performances, and the Mankato Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony on the Prairie is a free-will-donation concert in North Mankato.

School year: Sep 8 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Mankato Area Public Schools)
Town guides: Mankato, North Mankato, St. Peter

Faribault area

In Faribault, free Concerts in the Park bring live music to the Historic Central Park Band Shell on Thursday evenings from mid-June to mid-August. Northfield adds another listening option through St. Olaf Music Department events, which are free and open to the public unless noted. These concerts let a horn student hear ensemble sound in a range of settings without needing a formal student program.

Town guides: Faribault, Northfield

Owatonna area

Owatonna offers free live music through Downtown Thursdays, held on the first Thursday of each month from June through September. For a player seeking a youth ensemble, Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras in Rochester accepts brass players, including French horn, and offers several orchestra levels. That combination gives an Owatonna student both a local listening habit and a regional performance goal.

School year: Aug 31 to Jun 4, 38 lesson weeks (Owatonna Public Schools)
Town guides: Owatonna

A little French horn history in Minnesota

Minnesota’s French horn community includes the Twin Cities Horn Club, which organizes public concerts and performance ensembles for horn players of all ages and abilities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The Medalist Concert Band’s 2026 Earl C. Benson Concerto Competition winner, Ella Kahnert, was a St. Paul Central High School alumna who had played French horn for nine years. For you or your child, that offers a local example of how sustained school-age study can lead to a featured performance.

Start French Horn Lessons at Lesson With You!

One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
Weekly options for changing family calendars
Develop skills for school band, orchestra, auditions, ensemble playing, and range confidence
Claim a free first 30-minute lesson

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good French horn teacher in Minnesota?

Choose a teacher who can help with tone, breath control, articulation, and the school or audition goal you have in mind. Lesson With You offers weekly one-on-one Zoom lessons with teachers who hold at least a bachelor’s degree in horn, and you can choose a teacher or ask us to recommend one.

Do live video French horn lessons really work?

Yes, because a teacher can hear your tone and rhythm and see posture, hand position, and breathing in real time. You can learn at home without a commute and work with a teacher who fits, whether you are in Minneapolis or Bemidji.

When do Minnesota schools start teaching French horn?

Many Minnesota districts begin band in fifth grade, while others start in sixth, and French horn is learned as part of band. For example, Minneapolis Public School District offers band to fifth graders in some elementary schools, while North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale starts beginning band in sixth grade.

How does a horn player reach Minnesota's top student honors?

The main statewide school honor is the MMEA All-State Band, which French horn students audition for as sophomores or juniors through a sponsoring teacher. The 2027 video deadline is March 2, followed by camp in July and performances in February 2028; the Mankato Symphony concerto competition is another individual route.

Can homeschool students enter Minnesota music contests?

Yes, Minnesota resident homeschool students may take part in extracurricular activities through their resident district on the same basis as public-school students. For MMEA All-State, they must take part in a secondary-school band through shared-time study and remain in good standing in that ensemble.

What age should a child start French horn lessons?

Many children are ready around age 9 or 10, when they can manage the horn and begin developing steady breath control. Starting before or alongside fifth-grade band gives a child time to learn tone and music reading before school rehearsals move quickly.

Is it too late to learn French horn as an adult in Minnesota?

No, adults can start or return to French horn at any age and build toward community band or orchestra playing. A weekly teacher can tailor the pace to your experience, breathing, reading, and goals.

How much are French horn lessons in Minnesota?

French horn lessons in Minnesota typically cost about $71 an hour, or $33 to $52 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.

French horn lesson prices across Minnesota

Meet a French Horn Teacher in Minnesota Before You Continue Weekly

Find Your Next French Horn Teacher in Minnesota

Gray Smiley

How French horn learning works in Minnesota

How does French horn fit school music in Minnesota?

Who runs what for Minnesota horn players?

Auditions and events in Minnesota

How does a horn player reach Minnesota's top student honors?

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

What else is there to enter?

Homeschool and private school students

Starting at any age

Starting a child on French horn

A teen in Minnesota

Starting or coming back as an adult

Finding the right teacher

What should a good French horn teacher do?

How do live online French horn lessons work?

French horn in Minnesota

Where to hear French horn

Where to play with others

French horn around Minnesota, area by area

Minneapolis area

Duluth area

Rochester area

Mankato area

Faribault area

Owatonna area

A little French horn history in Minnesota

Start French Horn Lessons at Lesson With You!

More for Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions