Music 3111 High Brass Methods, Fall, 2015

Dr. Buckner, RFA 216, 870-230-5410

, http://fac.hsu.edu/bucknej/hbm/hbm.htm

Course Description/Objectives: A study of brass pedagogical techniques, including elementary and advanced teaching procedures and analyzing student problems. All students will demonstrate a basic proficiency on the Trumpet and the Horn. Two class meetings per week.

Instructional Procedures: Lecture and playing high brass instruments (Specific playing assignments depend on student's background.)

Evaluation:

4 written tests @ 20%
4 playing tests @ 5%
Total: / = 80%
= 20%
= 100%

Students are expected to practice outside of class. Tests will be with open notes; however, only typed notes may be used during the tests.

Grading Scales:

Regular Scale / Extra Credit Scale - See below:
95-100 = A / 90-100 = A
87-94 = B / 80-89 = B
78-86 = C / 70-79 = C
70-77 = D / 60-69 = D
0-69 = F / 0-59 = F

Extra Credit Scale will only be used if the student presents a bound notebook with all typed class notes. All pages must be numbered and a detailed table of contents is required.

Mid-term grades, if given, will be based on scores at that time.

Attendance/Make-Up Policy: Students are expected to attend every class. Your future students deserve the best possible teacher. Therefore, THERE ARE NO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES! Each unexcused absence will result in a 10% reduction in the final average. (Excused absences include serious illness, death in the immediate family, HSU field trips, and ensemble tours.) The student should notify the instructor in advance of an absence (whenever possible) to be certain that it will count as excused. If you are ill, you must e-mail or call and leave a message the day of the illness. In rare circumstances, students will be allowed to write a 3-page, double-spaced research paper with at least 3 sources and endnotes to make up an unexcused absence. (Double spaced, Times New Roman 12 font, no more than 1” margins.)

Texts:
Whitener A Complete Guide to Brass: Instruments and Technique (CG)
Buckner Brass Class Handbook (BC)
Handouts (HO); Handouts #2-8 (HO2-8)

Henderson State University, “The School with a Heart,” offers quality undergraduate and graduate education to a diverse student body. As Arkansas’s public liberal arts university, we empower each student to excel in a complex and changing world.


Students with disabilities: It is the policy and practice ofHenderson State University to create inclusive learning environments. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement—such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos—please notify the instructor as soon as possible. If you have not previously contacted the Disability Resource Center (870-230-5475), I encourage you do so. For more information, visit the DRC website at http://www.hsu.edu/Provost/TRIO/Disability-resource-center.html.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism and/or cheating of any type are violations of the Code of Ethics; it is something Henderson State University takes very seriously. If you do not know what constitutes plagiarism, please visit with the instructor before turning in any assignment that includes material from outside sources (not your own thoughts). Making a few changes in someone else’s sentence and presenting it as your own is plagiarism.

Plagiarism and/or cheating will not be tolerated and will result in one of the following:

An “F” on the paper/test
An “F” in the course (cannot drop with passing grade)
More severe disciplinary action (probation, expulsion, etc, depending on circumstances and past records)

Cell Phones/Computers: Computers may be used to take notes during class. Cell phones may not be used.

Class Overview

I. Importance of Class - #1

II. Importance of Tone Quality - #2

III. *Warm Up and Playing
*A. Attitude - #2
*B. Posture - #2
*C. Breathing - #3
*D. Embouchure - #4
E. Articulation - #5-6
F. Proper Instrument - #7
TEST #1 - #8
G. Instrument Care - #9
*H. Warmup Routines - #10
*I. High Range - #11-12
*J. Low Range - #13
K. Endurance - #13
L. Pressure - #14
M. Braces - #14
TEST #2 - #15
N. Flexibility - #16
O. Multiple Tongue - #17
P. Flutter Tongue - #17
Q. Initial Attacks - #18
R. Soft Playing - #18
S. Vibrato - #18 / T. Intonation - #18
U. Relaxation - #19
V. Problems - #19
W. Psychology - #19
X. Fingering - #20
Y. Transposition - #20
Z. Methods - #20
AA. Preparation - #20
TEST #3 - #20 (Take Home)
IV. Equipment
A. Mutes - #21
B. Mouthpieces - #22-24
C. Instruments - #25-29
D. Reference Materials - #29
V. Repair - #30-31
VI. Lip Problems, Wisdom Teeth - #31
TEST #4 - Final - #32
*Part of the daily warmup

Tentative Class Calendar

No. / Day / Date /
Topic
/ Readings
Playing Assignments
Basics: Sound, Air, Embouchure, Articulation
1 / T / Aug 25 / Introduction; Two Basic Approaches;
Concept of Sound; Recordings / CG (160); BC (2-3); HO (2); HO2 (1-3); HO3 (9-10); HO4
(1-2, 11-14); HO5 (1, 26-27), HO7 (16-26), HO8 (3-4)
2 / Th / Aug 27 / Attitude; Posture; Breathing / CG (141-146); BC (411); HO (3-8); HO2 (4-17)
3 / T / Sept 1 / Embouchure; Mouthpiece Placement / CG (146-151); HO (9-9b)
4 / Th / Sept 3 / Mouthpiece Buzzing; Articulation / CG (154-156); BC (12); HO (10-14)
Issue Mouthpieces and Trumpets;
Form Embouchure; Buzz Sirens
5 / T / Sept 8 / Articulation Teaching Aids
Buzz Sirens and Melodies
Practical: Matching Students with Instruments, Instrument Care; Warmup
6 / Th / Sept 10 / Matching Students to Instruments; Assembling Instruments;
Holding Positions / CG (55, 164, 166-172, 178, 188)
Issue Horns
Buzz Sirens and Melodies
7 / T / Sept 15 / Written Test #1 (classes #1-#5)
Playing Test #1 (Mouthpiece
Only: Sirens and Melodies)
8 / Th / Sept 17 / Instrument Care / BC (18-20); HO3 (8); HO7 (1-3)
9 / T / Sept 22 / WarmUp Routines / CG 262; BC (2126); HO (15-16); HO5 (4)
Pedagogy: Range, Endurance, Flexibility, Multiple Tonguing, etc.
10 / Th / Sept 24 / High Range / CG (151-154, 158-159); BC (2733), HO6 (3-12)
11 / T / Sept 29 / High Range, cont.
12 / Th / Oct 1 / Low Range, Loud/Soft Playing; Endurance / HO2 (18-22); HO4 (3-5)
13 / T / Oct 6 / Pressure
14 / Th / Oct 8 / Pressure, cont.; Braces / CG (187-188); BC (34-35); HO5 (6)
Playing Test #2
15 / T / Oct 13 / Written Test #2 – Take Home!
(classes #6-#12) / BC (36); HO (17)
Flexibility; Lip Slurs
Th / Oct 15 /
- Fall Break -
No. / Day / Date /
Topic
/ Readings
Playing Assignments
16 / T / Oct 20 / Multiple Tongue; Flutter Tongue / CG (156); BC (37)
17 / Th / Oct 22 / Initial Attacks; Soft Playing; Vibrato; Intonation / CG (33-35, 59-62, 122-123, 160-161); BC (38-40); HO2 (23-28)
18 / T / Oct 27 / Relaxation; Problems; Inner Tennis / BC (1); HO (18-19);HO2 (29)
19 / Th / Oct 29 / Fingering; Preparation Transposition; Methods / CG (35-37, 165); BC (4145, 52); HO (21); HO3 (3-7); HO7 (4, 13-15, 27-31)
Equipment: Mutes, Mouthpieces, Instruments
20 / T / Nov 3 / Mutes / CG (37-38); HO2 (30)
Written Test #3 – Take Home!
(classes #13-18)
21 / Th / Nov 5 / Mouthpiece Choice / CG (20-21) ; HO7 (8-10)
Written Test #3 – DUE!!
22 / T / Nov 10 / Mouthpiece Components / BC (46-49)
Playing Test #3
23 / Th / Nov 12 / Mouthpiece Numbering Systems / HO2 (31-32), HO8 (5)
Switch Instruments
24 / T / Nov 17 / Instrument Selection / HO4 (6-8), HO6 (13-17), HO8 (1-2)
Trumpet and Horn Specifics
25 / Th / Nov 19 / Trumpet / CG (24-33, 39-46, 112-113, 114, 118-121); BC (50-54); HO (20, 24-27); HO5 (8-25)
26 / T / Nov 24 / Tuning the horn / BC (55-56); HO2 (33-37); HO7 (11-12)
Th / Nov 26 / - Thanksgiving -
27 / T / Dec 1 / Horn; Reference Materials / CG (47-59, 63-68, 121-122, 124-137); BC (58-63); HO (22-23); HO3 (13-20)
Repair Basics and Injuries
28 / Th / Dec 3 / Lip Problems; Wisdom Teeth
Student Evaluations
29 / T / Dec 8 / Brass Instrument Repair
/ BC (64); HO (28); HO2 (38-45); HO4 (9-10); HO6 (19-21); HO7 (1-3, 32-34)
30 / Th / Dec 10 / Brass Instrument Repair, cont.
Playing Test #4
Clean and Turn In Instruments
31 / Th / Dec 17
8-10 AM / Final (Written Test #4)
(classes #19-30) / NOT comprehensive!!

Handout Topics

Class #1 – Introduction; Two Basic Approaches; Concept of Sound; Recordings

CG (160) – Concept of Sound

BC (2-3) – A Listing of Some of the Most Excellent Brass Players on Record
HO (2) – Sound...The Most Important Ingredient in All Music

HO2 (1-3) – Mike Hedden e-mail; Body vs. Brain

HO3 (9-10) – Do Not Underestimate Your Students, As They Deserve Your Very Best

HO4 (1-2, 11-14) – Survivor: Public School First Year Band Director; Third Variable; Educator's

Viewpoint: Your College-Bound Music Students Need and Deserve Some Special Preparation

HO5 (1, 26-27) – Supplementary Texts; Educator's Viewpoint: Balanced Life

HO7 (16-26) – What It Takes to be a Music Major; Welcome Address; Looking Back

HO8 (3-4) – When Was the Last Time You Performed for Your Students?

Class #2 – Attitude; Posture; Breathing

CG (141-146) – Tone Production

BC (411) – Breathing; Arnold Jacob’s Breathing Exercises

HO (3-8) – Wind and Song; Thoughts to Ponder

HO2 (4-17) – Dallas Brass Windmaster

Class #3 – Embouchure; Mouthpiece Placement

CG (146-151) – The Embouchure and the First Steps in Playing

HO (9-9b) – The Brass Player’s Face; Mouthpiece Melodies

Class #4 – Mouthpiece Buzzing; Articulation

CG (154-156) – Attack and Tonguing; Styles of Attack and Shaping Notes

BC (12) – Facial Characteristics

HO (10-14) – Mind Over Metal; Williams Scales

Class #5 – Articulation Teaching Aids


no readings

Class #6 – Matching Students to Instruments; Assembling Instruments; Holding Positions

CG (55, 164, 166-172, 178, 188) – Right-Hand Position; Playing Position; Keys to Good Playing Position; Assembling Brass Instruments; Removing Condensation

Class #7 – Test #1


no readings


Class #8 – Instrument Care

BC (18-20) – The Importance of a Clean Instrument; The Care of a Schilke Instrument

HO3 (8) – Care of Your Valve Instrument

HO7 (1-3) – Clean Your Brass Instrument!

Class #9 – WarmUp Routines

CG (162) –How to Warm Up and Practice Effectively
BC (2126) – Breath and Range Expansion Studies; Warmup Routine; Warmup Materials; Tone Studies,
Part I; Alterations to Clarke Technical Studies

HO (15-16) – The Daily Practice Routine for Brass Players; Flow Study #3
HO5 (4) – Arban #9 and #10

Class #10 – High Range

CG (151-154, 158-159, 162) – (changing pitch); Range and Endurance; How to Warm Up and Practice Effectively

BC (2733) – Range Expansion Slurs; Jazz Trumpet: How High is High Enough?

HO6 (3-12) – Bernie Glow

Class #11 – High Range, cont.


no readings

Class #12 – Low Range, Loud/Soft Playing; Endurance

HO2 (18-22) – Performance: A Director's Guide to Trumpet Basics

HO4 (3-5) – Embouchure Fatigue: the Physiological Factors

Class #13 – Pressure

no readings

Class #14 – Pressure, cont.; Braces


CG (187-188) – Surviving While Playing a Brass Instrument with Braces

BC (34-35) – Brace Relief Shields; Brace Guard

HO5 (6) – Morgan Bumper

Class #15 – Test #2; Flexibility; Lip Slurs

BC (36) – Basic Lip Slurs

HO (17) – Arban Lip Slurs

Class #16 – Multiple Tongue; Flutter Tongue

CG (156) – Multiple Tonguing
BC (37) – Multiple Tongue Practice Aids

Class #17 – Initial Attacks; Soft Playing; Vibrato; Intonation

CG (33-35, 59-62, 122-123, 160-161) – Intonation; Intonation and Tuning; (marching brass intonation);

Vibrato

BC (38-40) – Developing Intonation

HO2 (23-28) – The Problem of Tuning Correctly; The Battle to Correct Intonation in the Studio of Charles

Geyer

Class #18 – Relaxation; Problems; Inner Tennis

BC (1) – Supplementary Texts

HO (18-19) – Don't Say Don't; Performance Tips for Success

HO2 (29) – Embouchure Cure

Class #19 – Fingering; Preparation; Transposition; Methods

CG (35-37, 165) – transposition; (fingering); (valve motion)

BC (4145, 52) – Solos and Contest: How to Do Your Best; Recommended Methods; Miscellaneous: Triple Tongue Scale Pattern

HO (21) – Horn Transposition

HO3 (3-7) – Adolph Herseth Lesson Notes

HO7 (4, 13-15, 27-31) – Piston Valve Struggles; Efficient Practice; Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits

Class #20 – Mutes

CG (37-38) – Mutes

HO2 (30) – Mute Designations and Recommendations

Class #21 – Mouthpiece Choice


CG (20-21) – General Mouthpiece Suggestions; Mouthpiece Recommendations
HO7 (8-10) – Brass Mouthpiece Recommendations

Class #22 – Mouthpiece Components

BC (46-49) – Trumpet/Trombone Mouthpiece Comparison Charts; Yamaha Brass Mouthpiece System; Yamaha Brass Mouthpiece Comparison Chart; Holton Farkas French Horn Mouthpieces

Class #23 – Mouthpiece Numbering Systems

HO2 (31-32) – Bach Mouthpiece Descriptions; Bach Megatone Mouthpieces

HO8 (5) – Trumpet Backbore Comparison Chart