Upon first seeing a trombone, anyone can recognize that controlling the slide is going to be important.What few people realize is that the effects of slide technique extend well past the slide itself.
The Dallas Brass: Mental Triggers for High Brass Efficiency
It seems like one advantage of playing a brass instrument is that you can play many different notes with the same fingering, thanks to what is known as the harmonic series.
A Game Plan for Great-Sounding Saxophone
Producing a beautiful sound should be the first goal of any musician. Correct notes and rhythms performed with poor sound quality?
The Dallas Brass: Helping Students Switch to Tuba
Change happens. Students move, graduate, or are abducted by aliens. Whatever the reason, at some point you’re going to need some students to switch to tuba.
The Dallas Brass: Projection Tips for Your Horns
The horn is a versatile instrument, capable of making beautiful, velvety tones, while also taking on the role of strong and exciting musical characters.
Brass Tone Quality: No Instruments Required
What is the most revered individual musical quality? Overwhelmingly, the answer is sound, or tone quality. Just like our voice, our tone defines us.
Avoid This Mistake with Your Beginning Oboe Students
I was honored this year to present a talk at both the Midwest Clinic and the IMEA (Indiana Music Education Association) conference entitled “Foundations for Successful Oboe Students.” I decided to propose this title because of my experience teaching beginning oboe students, and my understanding of the challenges they face in the first few years of playing the “ill wind that no one blows good.” (I disagree with this quote, of course!) In addition, many band directors and music education majors have asked for help, sometimes in confidence (“the oboe scares me” is not an uncommon sentiment).
Contrasting the Classical and Jazz Saxophone Embouchure
Today’s saxophonists are expected to perform many styles of music at a high level. Consequently it’s vital they know how to correctly formulate an embouchure that will allow them to do so.
Brass Tactics: Building Virtuosity in the Brass Section
Developing a strong brass section requires individual attention to brass fundamentals. There are five areas of brass study that need to be practiced daily in order to maintain technique as well as further developing technique.
Fun and Games with Young Instrumentalists
You’ve no doubt heard the old saying, “You can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Likewise, sometimes you can get more out of your young instrumentalists when you embed the learning in a game!