TRUMPET, TROMBONE, TUBA, EUPHONIUM LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
(for ages 7 and up)
What to expect during a typical Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, or Euphonium Lesson:
The main styles of music that utilize brass instruments are classical, jazz and band music. All three styles require at least some music theory, and jazz will require the student to learn improvisation. Generally, with consistent practice, students can progress relatively quickly on brass instruments compared to other instruments. Depending on the style and the instrument, a student can reach an intermediate level in a year or so.
Classical and jazz music require more theory, and some classical music requires the student to learn to transpose, change the music from one key to another, on sight. An intermediate level of proficiency will allow the student to play most band repertoire and much of classical and jazz repertoire as well. Moving from intermediate to advanced can take several years, as the techniques being learned become more complex and subtle.
Sound is produced on a brass instrument by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece. Pitch is modified by valves or a slide, and by altering the tension of the lips in the mouthpiece. This tension is called embouchure.
In a first brass lesson, the teacher might start by having the student experiment, first simply producing a note, then trying to alter it by changing the embouchure using the tongue, jaw and cheek muscles. Next the student will learn basic fingerings for valve instruments, and slide positions for the trombone. The student will practice moving up and down the scale, moving smoothly from one note to the next. Once this has been mastered, the student is ready to begin learning songs.
As the student advances, exercises for breath control, finger dexterity, tonguing (punctuating notes by pressing the tongue against the front teeth and releasing it), and embouchure control will be introduced, as well as more advanced techniques like trilling, bending notes, double-tonguing (using both the tip and the middle of the tongue for faster articulation), and circular breathing (breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth simultaneously by storing air in the cheeks in order to sustain notes longer). Basic music theory will also be taught along the way.
- Proper posture
- Breath control/exercises, finger dexterity, tonguing
- Sound production
- Proper embouchure
- The overtone series
- Valve fingerings/slide position systems
- Note reading, sight reading
- Warm up exercises, scales, etudes
- Major and minor scales and arpeggios
- Music theory, ear training, dictation
- Basic improvisations, and learning songs by ear
The main styles of music that utilize brass instruments are classical, jazz and band music. All three styles require at least some music theory, and jazz will require the student to learn improvisation. Generally, with consistent practice, students can progress relatively quickly on brass instruments compared to other instruments. Depending on the style and the instrument, a student can reach an intermediate level in a year or so.
Classical and jazz music require more theory, and some classical music requires the student to learn to transpose, change the music from one key to another, on sight. An intermediate level of proficiency will allow the student to play most band repertoire and much of classical and jazz repertoire as well. Moving from intermediate to advanced can take several years, as the techniques being learned become more complex and subtle.
Sound is produced on a brass instrument by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece. Pitch is modified by valves or a slide, and by altering the tension of the lips in the mouthpiece. This tension is called embouchure.
In a first brass lesson, the teacher might start by having the student experiment, first simply producing a note, then trying to alter it by changing the embouchure using the tongue, jaw and cheek muscles. Next the student will learn basic fingerings for valve instruments, and slide positions for the trombone. The student will practice moving up and down the scale, moving smoothly from one note to the next. Once this has been mastered, the student is ready to begin learning songs.
As the student advances, exercises for breath control, finger dexterity, tonguing (punctuating notes by pressing the tongue against the front teeth and releasing it), and embouchure control will be introduced, as well as more advanced techniques like trilling, bending notes, double-tonguing (using both the tip and the middle of the tongue for faster articulation), and circular breathing (breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth simultaneously by storing air in the cheeks in order to sustain notes longer). Basic music theory will also be taught along the way.
