Class location: Band Hall (PBJ Commons)
Class schedule: MW 8:00-8:50 AM

• Course Objectives
  1. Coverage of teaching techniques and information applicable to all brass instruments, such as the harmonic series, breathing technique, basic embouchure principles, articulation, etc.
  2. Coverage of teaching techniques, including information dealing with particular problems encountered in playing and teaching trumpet and horn. Selection and maintenance of equipment (instruments, mouthpieces, etc) will also be covered.
  3. Develop rudimentary playing skills on the trumpet and horn.
  4. Coverage of pedagogical literature.
• Class Activities
  1. Playing experience on trumpet and horn (using the Walter Beeler Method for the Cornet (Trumpet), the Marvin Howe Method for the French Horn, and selected supplemental material).
  2. Lecture/Demonstrations
  3. Assignments and tests.
• Class Schedule
  1. Monday and Wednesday 8:00 (A.M.)
  2. Additional help available TBA.
• Grading Criteria
  1. 2 Written Quizzes - 33.33%
  2. 3 Playing Quizzes - 33.33% (2 on tpt., 1 on hn.)
  3. Final Exam (Written) - 33.33%
  4. Attendance: After third absence, semester grade lowered by one letter for each additional absence (e.g. 4 absences means a B would be the highest possible grade, 5 absences means a C ... etc.

Course calendar

Week 1

• the Trumpet:
  care and maintenance
  posture and playing position
• Embouchure:
  formation and function
  mouthpiece placement

Week 2

• Acoustic considerations:
  the physics of tone production
  the overtone series
  intonation problems
  overtone series
  valves in combination
• Beeler, Method pp. 2-3

Week 3

• Embouchure:
  components of the embouchure
  teaching techniques
• Beeler, Method pp. 3-5

Week 4

• Articulation:
  two primary rules of articulation
  articulation (attack) styles (single tongue)
  staccato
• Beeler, Method pp. 5-6

Week 5

• Breathing technique:
  five points of control
  teaching techniques
• Beeler, Method pp. 7-8

Week 6

• Practice and review
  
• Beeler, Method pp. 10-11

Week 7

• Written Test 1
• Playing Test 1 (trumpet)

Week 8

• Review Written Test 1
  
• Multiple tonguing:
  double tonguing, triple tonguing
  practice/teaching strategies
• Beeler, Method pp. 31-32

Week 9

• Flexibility:
  "type 1" and "type 2"
  purposes
  practice/teaching strategies
• Tonal center: practice/teaching strategies
• Vibrato: practice/teaching strategies
• Beeler, Method pp. 9, 13, 14, 15

Week 10

• Equipment:
  trumpets (various keys), cornet, flugelhorn
  mouthpieces
  materials, construction, plating,
  recommended brands and models
• Beeler, Method pp. 9, 13, 14, 15; 40, 52

Week 11

• Embouchure problems: causes, consequences and solutions (handouts: Gates)
• Warm-up and daily routine: purpose and components
• Beeler, Method pp. 40, 52

Week 12

• Written Test 2
• Playing Test 2 (trumpet)

Week 13

• the Horn:
  care and maintenance
  stringing a valve
  posture and playing position
  sitting position for smaller students
  hand position
• Horn embouchure
  differences from trumpet regarding mouthpiece placement
  tonal concept (different from trumpet!)
• F and B-flat horns, double horns
• Howe, Method pp. 2-3

Week 14

• Overtone series
• Fingering: using both "sides" of the double horn (handouts: Farkas, Jones, Hunt)
• Tuning: "compromise" tuning (handouts: Farkas)
• Howe, Method pp. 4-7

Week 15

• Equipment: construction, mouthpieces, recommended brands and models; mellophone
• muting and hand-stopping technique (handouts: Farkas, Hunt)
• Howe, Method pp. 9-11; 13

Week 16

• Review of pedagogical literature for trumpet and horn (handouts: Gates, OMEA, Iowa)
  methods
  special studies
  etude collections
  solos
• Howe, Method pp. 14-16; 18, 23
• Playing Test 3 (Horn)
• Take-home final exam: due by Wednesday of Final Exam week
  (Part I: Comprehensive brass and trumpet pedagogy; Part II: Horn)

Return to: [ UM Home | Liberal Arts | Music ]
Last modified 13 August 1997
Copyright © 1995, 1997, University of Mississippi. All rights reserved.