Have you noticed how students may seem deaf to your directives and challenges, yet they become all ears if you praise them? That they may
baulk at music practice – but the right words inspire them to do just that?
A Festival of Superlatives!
The Ultimate Brass Event for Professionals, Students and Amateurs will take place at the historic Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria, June 1-5, 2011. After the brilliant success of the 2008 Festival, brass players from around the world will meet once again in Lower Austria at the Schagerl Brass Festival.
We face the usual New Year challenges; sorting classes, timetables, concert diary and events. Getting to know new students. Not just names, but their ability, application, initiative, temperaments.
"Better not let on I'm nervous or I might not get the gig" is a common thought amongst auditioning and performing musicians. Many nurse their anxieties as a murky secret, assuming they alone suffer.
With a shortage of quality brasswind cases available at present, we decided to do some homework and find cases that offers excellent protection, is made from high quality materials and is slim line and durable.
James Morrison, jazz player extraordinaire, sick with nerves? Excuse me? That veteran who'd abseil into a performance playing trumpet? Even naturals' can suffer knots of fear at some time.
James hilariously fessed up at Maryborough Music Conference and in his book, Playing My Own Trumpet:
The Francois Louis ligature for clarinet is a dream to play on. Traditionally used for saxophones, it has a ‘jazz player’ stigma attached to it, which in some respects is mildly true.
Endorsed and played by world renowned saxophonist and composer David Liebman, the much anticipated Keilwerth SX-90R Shadow tenor saxophone has finally arrived in our store.
'I just want to have fun with my music!' students say. Yet teachers know poor foundations hinder enjoyment. The overcommitted most need to learn time management. So how much practice is enough practice?
When Arnold Jacobs died on October 7,1998, he left a legacy of concepts and former students that few have equalled. During his lifetime Jacobs drew an endless parade of musicians to his studio, from the obvious tuba players to professional singers and woodwind players. Because he suffered a childhood illness that left him with diminished lung capacity, Jacobs began to study the mechanics of breathing. This soon became a lifetime pursuit that was never an end in itself, just a means to play well ...
One of the most frustrating things about playing a woodwind instrument is the eternal search for a consistently good reed! Regardless of brand or strength, the following is a guide on how to prepare your reeds for clarinet and saxophone to get the most out of them.
All quality woodwind musical instrument reeds are made from the giant grass called Arundo donax. As a natural material, reed cane is subjected to a variety of environmental pressures
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Stress can leave you breathless
I examined a clarinet-playing diploma student who simply forgot to breathe. As he normally had good breath control, he was surprised at his uncharacteristic behaviour under stress. We both laughed and this relieved the pressure.
Vandoren have always been very serious about preserving the environment for future generations and would like to share with you the steps Vandoren have taken towards this goal.
The cane used to manufacture reeds is a 100% natural plant. We use no fertilizer or pesticide during its growth and no chemical components during its transformation into reeds. The shiny part of the reed, it should be mentioned, is not varnish but the bark of the cane. Any leftover cane resulting from reed manufacturin...
For many woodwind players, finding the “ultimate” mouthpiece can be a life long journey. Each player is different and, whether one plays soprano sax or bass clarinet, the choice of a mouthpiece is never easy. There are so many variables, such as your own oral cavity, jaw profile and teeth formation.
Lets face it as brass players we love the sound of our horn! There is something incredibly empowering about making all that tubing resonate and bounce around the house.
The trumpet is one of those magical instruments that have long been used to signal the grand entrance of royalty, is heard on every Hollywood blockbuster soundtrack, and is irreplaceable on Melbourne Cup Race day.
Buying the cheapest instrument you can find, usually every time handicaps the learning player, due to poor mechanical functionality, poor tuning (intonation) and in most cases poor quality mouthpiece, resulting in
the player giving up after a short time, believing it is too difficult for them, when the instrument is the blame..
