Horns are wimpy, weak-sounding, quiet instruments. Sure, maybe to the those who went to a small school and played in a small band with an uneducated horn player scared to death. But this statement couldn't be more wrong. The horn, just like every other brass instrument, has a ton of volume & power. Just listen to any science fiction movie soundtrack ever.
Horn players just sit in the back of the orchestra/band and miss a lot of notes. Yeah, so would trumpets if they had to play in the high end of there tessa tura the whole time. Playing in the middle of the staff on horn is the equivalent to playing above the staff on trumpet, in terms of accuracy. However, this statement does have some truth, since hornists do sit in the back, and I guarantee that the horn players will be missing some notes. It's just science. But it's mean to point that out.
Horn players are sophisticated wine drinkers. Sure. Lots of them are. Lost of musicians are (particularly conductors). I'm not. But horn players are diverse in the alcohol preferences, just like we are diverse in the orchestra.
Horn players can't play in tune. Well, that's not nice to say. Sure, many jokes can be made about horn tuning, but let's be realistic: Every instrument can struggle with tuning. In young bands and community bands you hear horns out of tune a lot, but that's usually because someone doesn't have their hand in the bell properly. It's an easy fix. So, I guess there's a bit of truth to it, but it all stems from the fundamentals of posture and holding the horn.
The horn is part of the woodwind family as well as the brass family. Eww, gross, no!...We're definitely brass instruments and the personalities defending brass instruments. But the reality behind this statement is how well the horn blends with woodwinds because of the versatility its sound has. Horn parts are generally included in chamber music for woodwinds, and horns are scored to accompany woodwinds in many orchestral works. But never call the horn a member of the woodwind family. Rather, call us the "woodwind family's ambassadors to the brass".
Horn players are always late. This is referring to how we are always behind the orchestra/band in terms of tempo while playing. We may not always be late, but we are even behind the beat more than other instruments. Even a horn sections with very skilled players can sound behind an orchestra, but it's not usually their fault. From the horn player's perspective, they're right in time with the beat. Of course, why wouldn't they be? But the reality is that since they are the only instruments in the orchestra whose sound points generally backwards from the conductor and audience, it takes a fraction of a second for their sound to travel to the front. So, they sound late. It's an ongoing battle between time and the horn section.
Horns are not jazz instruments. False. Totally false. Especially in our day and age. Sure, the big band & jazz combo isn't commonplace for the horn, but you sometimes will see it. Most importantly, though, you are hearing of more horn players playing jazz. There's a ton of chamber music for the horn that is jazzy. The horn is such a capable instrument for jazz, because of its extensive range and versatility with tone & articulation. So yes, the horn is indeed very capable of playing jazz.
Horn players cannot play low (or bass parts, for that matter). One doesn't hear this one often. Most of the time, when you tell people that you can play in normal tuba range on horn, people are surprised...particularly when you play it. But to the serious musicians who haven't been around a good hornist in their career, there is skepticism when you offer to play the bass part for anything. It must be known in this world that horns are capable of playing quite low...and so are horn players.
Horn players are strange and socially awkward people. I had to end with the trues of statements. Yes, it takes a certain breed of human to brandish the horn successful. And to fit in to the horn world. But once you're in, the horn world is the most welcoming and fun-loving instrument family there is. The weird personalities jive well together and give us a lot of great ideas for events, ensembles, and literature. We share the same joys and hardships together. And in the end, realize that the horn truly is God's instrument, not that pesky trombone...
If you feel you have a horn stereotype you want to address here that I didn't, by all means, please share it with us! Write a comment below! I know I didn't cover them all, and I want to hear from you what you've heard and the plausibility (or not) behind it!