When I interview/audition a new student, either in studio or at KBHC, in order to look at the player's embouchure, I ask for a three octave F major (concert Bb) scale, starting on pedal F, slurred to top line F, breath, and back down. Then, I ask for the arpeggio, same way.
About half the people, including college performance majors and HS kids planning to be performance majors don't even KNOW their scales and arpeggios, no less practice them every day. The next part of the process is to play notes on the piano and have the student play them on the horn in order to determine if they can recognize intervals. About half or more will fail miserably at this, also. IMO, you need to KNOW all your scales, arpeggios, broken arpeggios and intervals in order to maximize your limited practice time. Practice them until you KNOW them. Then, a daily or weekly or monthly or yearly or bi-annual or decadenal routine of them for maintenance, whatever, is up to you. This knowledge, coupled with impeccable rhythm, will enable you to sight-read better, learn music quicker, and perform in general at the highest level. If you are inclined to be a professional, without it, you will end up "pumping gas" as the old saying goes. (I guess the updated version of that is "flipping burgers"). That's not to say that I have known some pro's who were lousy sight readers, though, but I think they never played to the best of their abilities or competed well at the highest level with those who could. Don't neglect any fundamentals. If you don't have them mastered, then you had better practice them until you do. Then, it's easier (and faster in the long run) to go on to learning repertoire. Personally, I practice scales, arpeggios and broken arpeggios often. At least several days each week. Helps keep my lip in shape and my mind and ear alert. I vary the sides I use to make the fingerings interesting. I can sight read anything you put in front of me and have no fingering problems on any instrument I pick up. Single, double, descant, triple, F, Bb, HiF, Eb, you name it. It took a lot of study and practice to get to this point, not just on the horn, but ear training, solfege and piano as well. Use your time effectively and you can get there, too, if you make a plan. Your $100 tip of the day. Kendall Betts _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
