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Playing Tips

  • Tom’s Tips

    Thomas Palmatier | December 11, 2023SBO+: I get asked to present quite a few conducting workshops, especially for busy music educators who may not have the time or money to attend the many summer symposia that are out there. From time to time, I will share some of the things I often include in those workshops. Your Equipment The baton […] Read More...
  • Tom’s Tips

    Thomas Palmatier | November 1, 2023SBO+: I get asked to present quite a few conducting workshops, especially for busy music educators who may not have the time or money to attend the many summer symposia that are out there. From time to time, I will share some of the things I often include in those workshops. Your Body is Your […] Read More...
  • Dynamic Review

    Shane Bradford | October 15, 2023While helping new groups gain confidence and gel, take the opportunity to explore the world of dynamics and emotional expression through their music. An easy example is to play the “band anthem”… Hot Cross Buns. Once a good sound has been established, begin to explore dynamics and emotions by having the band play the song […] Read More...
  • 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...
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