Page 34 - Bandworld Magazine 2015

Bass Clef Note-Reading
Congratulations on your choice to play a low brass instrument! The first thing we need to do is learn how to read notes on the bass clef. Learning the bass clef notes is very simple. The notes are organized on a graphic system of 5 lines and 4 spaces, just as they are on the treble clef. Line notes are those with a line running directly through the note head. Space notes are those that are centered between two lines, with no line running through the note head. As you advance in your study of the bass clef, you will also encounter notes on ledger lines. We will cover ledger line notes in the next section.
The musical note vocabulary is limited to the letters A through G. If desired, these notes can then be modified by adding a sharp sign or a flat sign. A sharp sign raises the pitch by one half-step, while a flat sign lowers the pitch by one half-step. These symbols are called accidentals. This explains how we end up with notes such as B-flat or C-sharp. The other common accidental is the natural sign. This symbol restores the note to its original pitch.
Accidentals are always placed before the note on the music staff. Here are the 3 most common types of accidentals:
Let‟s start with the line notes.
There are a few phrases that may help you when learning the names of the line notes. Here are a few that I like to use:
The Trombone
= FLAT = SHARP = NATURAL
Great Big Dogs Fight A lot
OR Good Burritos Don‟t Fall Apart
Basic Instrument Facts
 Pitched in B-flat, an octave above the tuba (pitched in B-flat) and an octave below the trumpet (pitched in B-flat).
 Uses a slide to allow the player to change pitches by altering the length of the tubing.
 Cylindrical bore – tubing diameter remains relatively constant.
 Music generally written in concert pitch.
 Length of tubing – 9 feet.
Anatomy of the Trombone
For a detailed diagram of the trombone and its components (with and without the “F” trigger attachment), please refer to Appendix A.
Mouthpiece
Most beginners start with a Bach 12C mouthpiece. It has a medium cup with a medium- wide rim shape. It allows the player to produce a brilliant, crisp tone. It corresponds well with trombones that have small bore sizes.
After playing for a year or two, many players switch to a Bach 6.5 AL. This is the suggested mouthpiece for trombone and euphonium players in the SDA band program. The 6.5 AL has a medium-deep cup and a medium-wide, well-rounded rim shape. This slightly larger mouthpiece will facilitate better tone and more flexibility for most players. It is recommended for players who “desire a round, mellow tone of great carrying power and substantial volume.” (http://www.bachbrass.com)
While the 6.5 AL mouthpiece works well for most players, it may not be the perfect
mouthpiece for you. Everyone‟s lip and dental structures are unique. Therefore, certain
mouthpieces may or may not be ideal for a given student. There are several mouthpiece manufacturers that produce quality alternatives to the Bach 6.5 AL. Make sure that the mouthpiece you are using is a comfortable fit for you. If this is the case, consult your teacher or a knowledgeable music dealer in the area.
Lines are always numbered from the bottom up. Therefore, “G” would be line 1, “B”
would be line 2, and so forth. This information becomes very helpful if the director asks you to play a “4th line „F‟”.
3 11 1/4 size sample pages
The Euphonium
The Tuba
Basic Instrument Facts
 Pitched in B-flat, an octave above the tuba (pitched in B-flat) and an octave below the trumpet (pitched in B-flat).
 Uses 3 or 4 valves (usually piston valves) to allow the player to change pitches by altering the length of the tubing.
 Conical bore – tubing diameter increases gradually.
 Music generally written in concert pitch.
 Length of tubing – 9 feet.
Anatomy of the Euphonium
For a detailed diagram of the euphonium and its components, please refer to Appendix B.
Euphonium vs. Baritone
For the most part, the euphonium is very similar to the baritone horn. The primary difference exists in the tubing diameter, which is slightly smaller on the baritone. The baritone‟s tubing is primarily cylindrical, while the tubing on the euphonium is primarily conical. The bell may also be slightly smaller on the baritone. Both instruments are pitched the same way. Some baritone parts are written in treble clef, a very common practice in British brass bands. The euphonium pictured above is slightly different than those used in the SDA band program. The compensating 4th valve is positioned on the side of the instrument, rather than next to the 3rd valve. It is played with the left index finger rather than the right pinky finger.
Mouthpiece
The preferred mouthpiece for euphonium players in the SDA band program is the Bach 6.5 AL. The 6.5 AL has a medium-deep cup and a medium-wide, well-rounded rim shape. This mouthpiece will facilitate better tone and more flexibility for most players, in contrast to smaller alternatives. It is recommended for players who “desire a round, mellow tone of great carrying power and substantial volume.” (http://www.bachbrass.com)
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Basic Instrument Facts
 Pitched in B-flat, an octave below the euphonium and trombone (pitched in B- flat), and 2 octaves below the trumpet (pitched in B-flat).
 Uses 3 or 4 valves (usually piston valves) to allow the player to change pitches by altering the length of the tubing.
 Conical bore – tubing diameter increases gradually.  Music generally written in concert pitch.
 Length of tubing – 18 feet.
Anatomy of the Tuba
For a detailed diagram of the tuba and its components, please refer to Appendix B.
Mouthpiece
There are 2 preferred mouthpieces for tuba players in the SDA band program. They are the Bach 18 and the Bach 24AW. The Bach 18 has a deep cup with a medium-wide rim shape. This mouthpiece is recommended for its volume and versatility. It is a great mouthpiece for all-around work. It has an even high register, and allows for a “substantial tone of excellent carrying power.” (http://www.bachbrass.com)
volume is desirable.” (http://www.bachbrass.com)
While the options presented here are very common in school band programs, they may
not be the perfect mouthpiece for you. Everyone‟s lip and dental structures are unique. Therefore, certain mouthpieces may or may not be ideal for a given student. There are several mouthpiece manufacturers that produce quality alternatives to the models described above. Make sure that the mouthpiece you are using is a comfortable fit for you. If this is the case, consult your teacher or a knowledgeable music dealer in the area.
Valves
The tubas in our program have 4 valves. The valves are played with the right hand. The 4th valve allows for some alternate fingerings, the most common being the substitute of 4th valve for the 1 and 3 combination for intonation purposes. You can also use 2 and 4 as a substitute for 1, 2, and 3. Essentially, the 4th valve extends the low range of the instrument by adding additional tubing to the instrument.
24
nd
rim. It is “an excellent mouthpiece whenever a sonorous, dark tone quality of enormous
The 2
option is the 24AW. This mouthpiece has a deep cup with a wide, well-rounded
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