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This page will be developed
as a resource centre for students, including links to interesting websites and
downloads of useful learning/practice material.
For a free copy of
Arban's Cornet Method follow this link.
http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=22898
Arnold Jacobs
Arnold Jacobs
(June 11, 1915 - October 7, 1998) was an American orchestral tuba player who was
most known as the principal tuba player for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from
1944 until his retirement in 1988.
Jacobs was considered one of the
foremost brass pedagogues of his time and was considered an expert on breathing
as it related to brasswind, woodwind, and vocal performance. Due to childhood
illness and adult onset asthma, his lung capacity was significantly impaired. He
is best remembered for his playing philosophy which he referred to as "song
and wind".
Follow the link
below to find a selection of clips from his lectures and masterclasses:
Arnold
Jacobs Masterclasses
A fantastic website by a
brilliant horn-player and complete horn-nut
Pip
Eastop
Well worth a
look.
Full of interesting
and entertaining articles about horn-playing
Book Lists by
AB Grade for all Brass Instruments
The Booklists are
a guide for parents to purchasing books. It is an attempt to make it easy to see
which books are most useful at each grade. Books I recommend are highlighted in
bold.
The Yellow section
is repertoire pieces. Blue is studies and Green is fun stuff. Important
technical books are orange.
Click on the link to download a pdf file.
10 Ways to
Get the Most Out of Your Lessons
| 1. |
Practise
regularly between lessons: |
10
minutes a day is a good amount for beginners but the more advanced you
become the more practice you need to do to maintain your standard. 20
-30 minutes a day is a good rule of thumb for players around Grade 3 to
5. Find a time in the day when practice can become a routine thing. Of
course if you are very serious about your playing and want to reach the
top you will do a lot more. |
| 2. |
Be
ambitious |
Get
involved in ensembles at School, Music Centre and local brass bands. The
more playing you do the better you will become. Aim to work your way up
the “Progressive Pathway” to the higher level groups such as the
County Youth Orchestra. Learn from all the experiences you have along
the way. |
| 3. |
Have
something well prepared for every lesson |
This
may be a piece or study that was set in a previous lesson or something
you have been playing and want advice on. Make sure it is well practiced
and you have overcome as many as possible of the technical difficulties. |
| 4. |
Think
about what you have done in the lesson |
Each
lesson will raise one or two really important points that you need to
build on through the week. Keeping a notebook is a good way of
remembering what things to work on. |
| 5. |
Get
to know the repertoire |
Listen
widely to recordings and go to concerts to broaden your knowledge of
music of different styles. It is important that you like the pieces you
are playing. Discuss with your teacher the things you would like to play
- but be open to exploring new repertoire that the teacher recommends. |
| 6. |
Ask
questions |
Think
what you need to develop in your playing and ask your teacher questions.
That is the best way of making a teacher really work for you. |
| 7. |
Warm
up before your lesson |
Particularly
important for players at higher levels who need to spend time on
technical specifics and on repertoire and do not want to waste lesson
time covering routine work. |
| 8. |
Structure
your practice |
You
will improve a lot quicker if you spend your practice time well. Just
playing through the things you like may be enjoyable but is unlikely to
develop all aspects of your playing.
If you are able to be disciplined in your approach divide your practice
time to include:
Warm-up
/ Technical - Longs notes, Lip Slurs,
Scales and Arpeggios, Tonguing
Workshop
– specific exercises and Studies to develop particular skills
Repertoire
– Pieces that you are working on for exams and lessons
Fun
stuff – very important to enjoy yourself
as well. |
| 9. |
Start
working on theory |
You
need to pass Grade 5 Theory if you are going to go on to Grade 6
Practical. |
| 10. |
Be
energetic and enthusiastic |
...
even if it is after a long day at school .... it’s infectious and a
happy teacher is a good teacher! |
Download Scale Sheets for Brass
Associated Board
Graded Exams - 2010-2012 Syllabus
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