Editor’s note: As many of you know, Marie Speziale was the first female trumpet player to play in a major symphony orchestra.
Empowering the Fourth Finger in Beginning String Instruction
Do your students seem to find a thousand creative ways to thwart your attempts to get them to use their fourth finger?
The Dallas Brass: Improving Trombone Slide Technique
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.
Tips to Help Your Students Transcribe Music
I frequently tell my students that I have learned more about music by transcribing it than any book could ever have revealed to me.
Five Ways to Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month
April is Jazz Appreciation Month. It is also Mathematics Awareness Month and National Poetry Month, among others. Why should we choose to celebrate and appreciate jazz instead of trying to solve quadratic limericks or prove iambic pentameter?
Help Drummers Get to the Heart of Swing
Here’s a clear, stripped-down approach you can use to quickly and effectively get your drum students “swinging” without overloading them with excessive technical baggage.
Get More Out of Your Jazz Band Rehearsal: Warm Up Chops and Ears
Any large ensemble director can relate to the feeling of having too much to do, and not enough time. Productive rehearsals require precise lesson planning.
5 Quick Fixes for Young Jazz Trombonists
Having a strong trombone section can take your big band to the next level. It’s tempting to focus on the shout chorus and the sax soli and leave the trombones to their own devices, but a few simple adjustments can bring your young jazz trombonists up a notch, and add power, balance, and consistency to your horn section.
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.
Creating the Jazz Guitar Sound
Life can be difficult for a guitar player in high school jazz band. Band directors don’t always provide clear direction.