Opening the Jaw for Proper Brass Embouchure Who This technique benefits brass players, including trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium, and tuba players, from middle school beginners to advanced students, and band directors teaching them in school or community ensembles. What The challenge is teaching brass players to open their jaw and separate their teeth to […]
Open Up and Say, “Ahh…” (Brass) Read Post »
Using the Third-Valve Slide for Tuning Alternate Fingerings on Bb Trumpet Who This technique benefits Bb trumpet players, particularly middle school beginners with weaker embouchures, and band directors guiding them in school or community ensembles. It helps students achieve precise intonation in band settings. What The challenge is correcting the flat intonation of higher notes
The Third Rail (3rd valve on trumpet) Read Post »
Switching Trumpet Players to French Horn via Mellophone Who This process benefits band directors transitioning trumpet players to French horn in school or community ensembles, particularly middle and high school students struggling with trumpet’s demands but showing musical aptitude. What The challenge is helping trumpet players who strain with the instrument’s high notes and tight
Building Bridges: Trumpet to French Horn via Mellophone Read Post »
Using the First Valve Slide for Tuning on Brass Instruments Who This tuning technique applies to players of BBb tuba, Bb euphonium, Bb treble clef baritone, and Bb trumpet. These brass instruments, common in school and professional bands, benefit from first valve slide adjustments to achieve precise intonation, especially for students developing their ear. What
First-Valve notes (Eb- & Ab-Concert) Read Post »
Tuning the 5th Partial on Brass Instruments Who This tuning issue affects all brass instruments: trumpets, trombones, French horns, euphoniums, and tubas. Whether in middle school, high school, or professional bands, players of these instruments face challenges with the 5th partial’s flatness, impacting ensemble intonation. What The 5th partial in the harmonic series—such as 4th
Tuning the 5th partial Read Post »
