MUSE 348
WOODWIND TECHNIQUES
Catalog Entry
MUSE 348. Woodwind Techniques
Three hours laboratory (1).
Corequisite: MUSE 300 or MUSE 400 – Field Experiences in Music Education
Development of skills, teaching methods and materials, field experiences, and knowledge
in the fundamentals of playing, teaching, and maintaining woodwind instruments: clarinet,
saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon.
Note(s): May be taken more than once for a total of 2 credit hours, as prescribed
in degree requirements.
Content
- Teaching behaviors (modeling, diagnosing, prescribing, process) for instrument assembly,
embouchure formation, body-instrument relationships, hand position, fingerings, posture,
breathing, tone production, and articulation for woodwind instruments.
- Methods of tone production and intonation tendencies of woodwind instruments.
- Micro-teaching experiences simulating the instruction of beginning to intermediate
school woodwind players in class lesson situations.
- Development of playing skills on woodwind instruments.
- Evaluation of selected elementary method books and their suitability to woodwind instrument
instruction.
- Sources of solo and ensemble literature for woodwind instruments.
- Brand names and characteristics of good school woodwind instruments, mouthpieces,
and other accessories.
- Minor/emergency woodwind repairs and maintenance.
- Investigation of basic reed selection and adjustment.
- Approaches to vibrato on each woodwind instrument.
Students should engage in at least two (2) hours of observation/participation in public
school setting through MUSE 300:400 – Field Experiences in Music Education as required
for music education majors.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Class activities include reading assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, micro-teaching,
individual and small group performance, individual practice, pass-off submissions
and exams.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
At the conclusion of the course, the student will:
- demonstrate or describe correct assembly techniques, embouchure formation, tone production,
hand position, body posture, body-instrument relationship, and fingerings for the
clarinet, saxophone, flute, oboe, and bassoon
- perform on flute, single reed, double reed woodwind instruments at an intermediate
level with two semesters of instruction, which includes playing the following scales
on two instruments each semester:
- Clarinet
- F scale---F3 to F6
- G scale---G3 to G6
- Chromatic scale---E3 to G6
- Alternate fingerings
- Saxophone
- F scale---F4 to F6
- G scale---G4 to G5
- Chromatic scale---Bb3 to F6
- Alternate fingerings
- Flute
- F scale---F4 to F6
- G scale---G4 to G6
- Chromatic scale---C3 to G6
- Alternate fingerings
- Oboe
- F scale---F4 to C6
- G scale---G4 to D6
- Chromatic scale---Bb3 to D6
- Alternate fingerings
- Bassoon
- F scale---F2 to F4
- G scale---G2 to G4
- Chromatic scale---Bb1 to G4
- Alternate fingerings
- discuss and demonstrate the intonation tendencies of the basic woodwind instruments,
transpositions for each instrument, and various mouthpieces and reeds
- diagnose problems and prescribe possible solutions for common errors with woodwind
embouchure formation, technique, tone production, fingerings, intonation, hand position,
body posture, and body-instrument relationships
- perform basic/emergency woodwind repairs
- describe techniques for producing vibrato on each woodwind instrument
- demonstrate growth in teaching skills
- articulate advantages and disadvantages of using selected method books for elementary
woodwind instruction
- examine wind 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.
- address state and national standards through lesson planning and instruction.
Assessment Measures
- Playing tests which demonstrate:
- tone
- fingerings
- tonguing
- embouchure.
- Written tests on:
- transposition
- mouthpieces and reeds
- basic repairs
- beginning band rehearsal/lesson planning
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
February, 2021
November, 2021