MUSE 349

MUSE 349
BRASS TECHNIQUES

Catalog Entry

MUSE 349 Brass Techniques

Three hours laboratory (1). 

Co-requisite: MUSE 300 or MUSE 400: Field Experiences in Music Education (for observation hours in public schools related to instrumental techniques)

Development of skills, teaching strategies, and materials; knowledge of history and fundamental of performing, teaching, and maintaining brass instruments (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba) through classroom experiences, peer teaching, and field experiences.

 

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.
10. The history of brass instruments and performance techniques. 

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Class activities include reading assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, microteaching, individual and small group performance, individual practice, and exams. A pedagogical approach will be used so that the students will be able to teach others what they learn. Students will engage in lesson planning, peer teaching, assessment, and reflection for beginning brass instrument instruction.

 

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: 
   1. Tone
   2. Fingerings
   3. Tonguing
   4. Embouchure 
2. Written tests on: 
   1. Transposition
   2. Mouthpieces
   3. Basic repairs
   4. Method books

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval

February, 2021

January, 2022