MUSC 349
BRASS TECHNIQUES
Catalog Entry
MUSC 349 Brass Techniques
Three hours laboratory (1).
Develops skills, teaching methods and materials, field experiences, and knowledge in the fundamentals of playing, teaching, and maintaining brass instruments: trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba.
Detailed Description of Course Content
1. Teaching behaviors (modeling, diagnosing, prescribing) for instrument assembly, embouchure formation, body-instrument relationships, hand position, fingerings, posture, breathing, tone production, and articulation for brass instruments.
2. Methods of tone production and intonation tendencies of brass instruments.
3. Micro-teaching experiences simulating the instruction of beginning to intermediate school brass players in class lesson situations.
4. Development of playing skills on brass instruments.
5. Evaluation of selected elementary method books and their suitability to brass instrument instruction.
6. Sources of solo and ensemble literature for brass instruments.
7. Brand names and characteristics of good school brass instruments, mouthpieces, and other accessories.
8. Minor/emergency brass repairs and maintenance.
9. Approaches to vibrato on each brass instrument.
At least 2 hours of observation/participation in public school settings is required for Music Education majors.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Class activities include reading assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, microteaching, individual and small group performance, individual practice, and exams.
Goals and Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, the student will:
1. demonstrate or describe correct assembly techniques, embouchure formation, tone production, hand position, body posture, body-instrument relationship, and fingerings for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba.
2. perform on specified brass instrument at least the level of a beginning student with one semester of instruction, which includes playing Bb and Eb concert scales (one octave) on each of the instruments.
3. discuss and demonstrate the intonation tendencies of the basic brass instruments, transpositions for each instrument, and various mouthpieces.
4. diagnose problems and prescribe possible solutions for common errors with brass embouchure formation, technique, tone production, fingerings, intonation, hand position, body posture, and body-instrument relationships.
5. perform basic/emergency brass repairs.
6. describe techniques for producing vibrato on each brass instrument.
7. demonstrate growth in teaching skills.
8. articulate the advantages and disadvantages of using selected method books for elementary brass instruction.
9. Students will assemble a database of brass music literature in a wide range of genres, styles, historical periods, and cultures (Western and non-Western) appropriate for use in school instrumental programs at beginning and intermediate levels.
10. Students will address state and national standards through brass instruction.
Assessment Measures
1. Playing tests which demonstrate:
a. Tone
b. Fingerings
c. Tonguing
d. Embouchure
2. Written tests on:
a. Transposition
b. Mouthpieces
c. Basic repairs
e. Method books
Other Course Information
The rewriting of this course is part of the restructuring plan for the Department of Music. By consolidating some of the courses specifically designed for Instrumental Music Education majors, placing some courses on a two-year rotation, and utilizing other existing courses, faculty resources will be conserved, while instruction critical to the professional preparation of Instrumental Music Education majors is retained.
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
Revised April, 2009