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The Secret is in the Tongue
Thomas Palmatier | September 10, 2023For performers of voice or wind instruments, so much of good sound production relies on proper placement, shape, and use of the tongue. In this and the last few issues, we have featured articles about producing a great sound on various woodwind instruments and each of them described a very different technique for using the […] Read More... -
Listen Up!
Brian Bankston | August 20, 2023Listening and hearing are two different things. Hearing is involuntary and listening is voluntary. The student “hears” the birds, rain, teachers talking or the tone of their instrument. However, they can choose to “listen” to those sounds through focused attention on the sonic details. Focused hearing is listening. Remind your students to not just hear, […] Read More... -
Here’s One Time it’s OK for Your Jazz Band to be Square
Mike Lawson | July 16, 2023When rehearsing your jazz ensemble, try setting them up in a box (square). This will allow them to hear each other better and be more aware of what the other sections are playing. Joseph Canzano Tampa, FL SBO+ is proud to partner with legendary composer Robert W. Smith and his composers to bring you monthly […] Read More... -
Sliding into Trumpet Success
Rebecca Warren | May 11, 2023When starting beginning trumpet players, I have students immediately go to D and C#/DH below the staff in their method book. Have them write in “S” on D and “SS” on C#/DH. “S” is for Slide and “SS” is for Super Slide. Teach using the 3rd valve slide and 1st/3rd slides from day 1 when […] Read More... -
The “M-P” Technique
Mike Lawson | April 2, 2023Through my years of teaching beginner trumpet players, I found that the “M-P” technique has been the most successful way to teach embouchure. I had read books and had many trumpet teachers talk to me about how to create an appropriate embouchure. I always found it difficult to convey those concepts to not only elementary […] Read More... -
Learning to Inhale
Brenda Jean Hamilton | March 13, 2023Without a proper inhale, the tone quality suffers. The solution is practicing mindful inhalations before phonation. Here is a 4-step process for inhaling before singing: Expand the ribs 360 degrees and keep them expanded. Drop jaw, lift velum. Release abdominal muscles on inhale. Belly button moves toward spine upon phonation. Brenda Jean Hamilton Lecturer of […] Read More... -
Mix Them Up!
Mike Lawson | February 19, 2023When rehearsing your concert band (or orchestra, or choir), try seating them outside of their section. This gives the students a chance to hear what other voices in the ensemble are playing/singing. In addition to enhancing the awareness and balance of the ensemble, this will help when teaching/discussing melody, countermelody, and harmony. Joseph Canzano […] Read More... -
Everything’s Better with a Smile
Mike Lawson | January 15, 2023For musical theater repertoire, encourage your students to have active smiles while singing. This will help to achieve the signature forward placement of Broadway performers and brighten up the timbre. For classical repertoire, encourage students to impersonate the mouth shape of the singer Cher. This will help to contain spreading of the corners of the […] Read More... -
Don’t Just Hear…Listen!
Mike Lawson | December 15, 2022Listening and hearing are two different things. Hearing is involuntary and listening is voluntary. The student “hears” the birds, rain, teachers talking, or the tone of their instrument. However, they can choose to “listen” to those sounds through focused attention on the sonic details. Focused hearing is listening. Remind your students to not just hear, […] Read More... -
Tongue Position
Zachary Fell | November 13, 2022One of the things I find that my early saxophone and clarinet learners need to focus on is tongue placement. The technique I was taught, and I find very helpful, is to have the tongue in an “E” vowel shape. This keeps the back of the tongue flat in the back of the mouth and […] Read More... -
Teaching Beginning Trumpet Embouchure
Charles Mekealian | October 13, 2022Through my years of teaching beginner trumpet players, I found the “M-P” technique has been the most successful way to teach embouchure. I had read books and had many trumpet teachers talk to me about how to create an appropriate embouchure. I always found it difficult to convey those concepts to not only elementary age […] Read More... -
Specialization Fosters Success
Mike Lawson | September 5, 2022Have your students play in instrument-specific choirs or chamber groups such as trumpet ensemble, clarinet ensemble, low brass ensemble, brass choir, woodwind choir, string quartet, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, etc. This will develop your student’s section playing and help achieve a blended sound/sonority throughout the sections and in full band or orchestra. Joseph Canzano Tampa, […] Read More...
