Playing a brass instrument by your lonesome can be a bore, regardless of your level of experience. With summer vacation quickly approaching, students may find themselves wondering how to keep their chops in shape without the structured guidance of school music lessons. Luckily, Sweetwater offers a breadth of advice and accessories that can help players maintain their stamina even when they’re not participating in ensembles or private lessons. Check out these tips and tools to build a summer practice routine that’s as fun as it is rewarding!
- Essentials for Solo Practice Sessions
- Helpful Tools for a Successful Warm-up Routine
- Exercises You Can Do with Gear You Already Own
Essentials for Solo Practice Sessions
Before you can begin practicing, you need to make sure you’re equipped with the essentials: a metronome, a tuner, a stand, and a pencil!
Metronomes
Even if you feel you have a steady sense of time, it’s always a good idea to have a metronome on hand. Not only does it help you play in time, but it also allows you to increase your playing speed over time, helping you work your way up to your target tempo. A metronome can also help you learn more complicated time signatures using subdivisions, a skill that is integral to your musical development.
Tuners
Tuning might not be your primary concern when practicing alone, but it’s something you should address even when you’re not playing in an ensemble. Tuning before each practice session can help you develop a better sense of pitch.
After some time, you’ll be able to make spur-of-the-moment tuning adjustments using just your ear.
Stands
If you don’t already own one, then you’re going to want to invest in a solid music stand. Sure, you can prop up your music using a desk, a chair, or (to your parents’ dismay) a pushpin and a bedroom wall, but it’s not without drawbacks. You’ll need a sturdy, height-adjustable stand in order to maintain proper playing posture and technique. Sweetwater offers an extensive selection of stands that includes everything from lightweight, foldable wire stands to robust, heavy-duty stands that mimic the appearance of an authentic onstage music stand. Not sure which one’s right for you? Don’t hesitate to reach out to a Sweetwater Sales Engineer for help deciding!
Pencils
Lastly, you’ll need a pencil to write in tricky fingerings and to mark accidentals and breathing spots. And no, a pen is not an acceptable alternative. You’ll never regret having a pencil, but you will regret not having a pencil!
Helpful Tools for a Successful Warm-up Routine
When it comes to warming up for a practice session, many students find it hard to know where to begin. For this reason, some players turn to what they already know, like a favorite concerto excerpt or fight song. If you or a loved one is guilty of using “Let’s Go Band” as a warm-up, then it’s time to establish a new routine — for your band director’s sake and for your own good.
S.E. Shires Alessi ScaleUp Practice Tool
As any good classical musician will tell you, success starts with scales. It’s crucial that musicians know their scales, and it’s even more important that players drill those scales regularly to maintain a solid musical foundation. The S.E. Shires Alessi ScaleUp is a fun practice tool that eliminates the overwhelmingness and indecision associated with practicing scales by choosing a scale for you. This foam die has a different scale printed on each of its 12 sides, so all you need to do is toss it, play the scale that lands face up, and tuck it away until next time!
S.E. Shires Alessi ExcerptUp Practice Tool
The S.E. Shires Alessi ExcerptUp practice tool is perfect for advanced students looking to audition for college or professional-level ensembles. Similar to the ScaleUp tool, the ExcerptUp is designed to expose players to a variety of major orchestral excerpts, preparing them for auditions and improving their overall literacy. As such, it has a different orchestral excerpt printed on each of its 12 sides. The ExcerptUp is available for trumpet, French horn, trombone, bass trombone, and tuba, with handpicked selections for each instrument.
Keep in mind, however, that the Alessi ExcerptUp does not come equipped with the sheet music you’ll need to learn the excerpts. Reach out to your band director for copies of the excerpts or do a quick Google search — there are free resources available!
Exercises You Can Do with Gear You Already Own
Although it can be helpful, you don’t need special equipment to have a productive practice session. There are plenty of other exercises that are just waiting to be incorporated into your routine — you just may not have thought of them yet!
Lip Slurs
A little lip slur never hurt anyone! (Okay, it might hurt your chops after a while.) But seriously — you can’t go wrong when incorporating lip slurs into your practice routine. It’s a simple exercise that can aid in developing the flexibility and control you’ll need for advanced music later in your career. Plus, lip slurs work wonders to relax your chops before or after a demanding performance!
Long Tones
Much like the way lip slurs loosen up your chops, long tones can open up your low range, leading to increased flexibility even in the highest points of your range. Step down below the staff one whole note at a time, starting on whichever note you like. Descend chromatically, returning to your starting note between each step downward. Or, if you prefer, choose a few tricky low notes and hold onto them for four to eight counts. Still looking for a harder workout? Try slurring between low tones.
Mouthpiece Buzzing
The best advice I ever received as a horn player didn’t come until I was in college. And when I first heard it, it sounded absurd: “Just take your mouthpiece out and buzz it!”
As it turns out, mouthpiece buzzing is infinitely beneficial, but it’s certainly more challenging than it sounds. All you need is your instrument, your mouthpiece, and your music. For significant results, pick a tricky passage or note to focus on. Then, play the notes on your instrument. When you catch yourself struggling to hold onto a note or are unable to keep it in tune, take your mouthpiece out. Then, keeping the pitch in mind, buzz that pitch on your mouthpiece. After a few repetitions, place your mouthpiece back onto your instrument, and play that note again. You’ll find you’re able to hit notes with a cleaner attack than before — a direct result of the hard work you put in just minutes before!
Doing this exercise for just a few minutes a day can help you identify problem areas in your range while strengthening your embouchure. The best part? You’ll reap the benefits both instantly and long-term!
Practice, Practice, Practice with Help from Sweetwater
Student musicians, we hope we’ve inspired you to spice up your next solo practice session. And parents, we hope you’ll share this article with your musicians as they approach summer vacation. If you’re seeking additional assistance, or if you’re looking to purchase or rent a Sweetwater Band & Orchestra instrument, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700!