How to improve the overall low brass section?

• 03-18-2006 12:19 AM

  derekream Joined on 04-05-2005 The Colony Texas Posts 133

  How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact I would like to know from anyone that has played in orchestras, or is playing in one right now. The section I play in is a good section, but at times when we play things in octaves, or chords, we tend to not play them as a whole section accurately. We have played a bunch of Dvorak Symphonies, and lots of big brassy pieces, but the fact is, is that when we play, and some chords dont come out as they are supposed to, no one wants to fix it at times, I mention things like this, but we tend to not listen to each other 100% of the time, its more like we listen to each other about 60% of the time, and, I am just wanting to know from you fellow orchestral bass trombonist, what can I do to get all of the low brass, me, tenor bones, and tuba, to play as a whole, to make things sound loud and full, and outstanding? I admit, when we play Mahler, I have just totally made the bass trombone come out, and sometimes more than it needs to, and so have the tenors and tuba, so, I would love it if I could get some really good feedback to follow, and mention at our Sunday rehearsals. Thank you. Derek Ream Bass Trombonist www.derekream.org New England Conservatory

• 03-18-2006 11:33 AM

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  quesonegro Joined on 10-25-2003 Cologne, Germany Posts 205

  Re: How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact Derek It looks to me like you need to talk to your section mates. Define together what it is you want the section to be, to sound like. Maybe talk both about what works well and what needs to be done differently. Remember also that even in a section where you feel that the others aren't listening, you can still take the responsibility for your own voice, your own playing. Starting with the bassbone/tuba blend for instance. In my experience, when people around you play to loud and don't listen, you playing even louder just adds pain to hurt. One thing that I did alot with the section I played with in college was to play chorals and hymns. Simple 4-part pieces. That worked great for us in building a sound and getting the chords balanced. Balance is a very important part of intonation. The key, I think, is communication and practise. That goes for a lot of things in life. Good luck //Mattis Mattis Cederberg BassBone/Tuba/Cimbasso West Deutsche Rundfunk Big Band-Cologne, Germany Member of the moserobie label in Stockholm

• 03-19-2006 6:02 AM

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  derekream Joined on 04-05-2005 The Colony Texas Posts 133	hi Reply Contact The choral warm-ups sound like a good idea, I will bring a couple of Chorals tomorrow before rehearsal to see how this works. Thank you very much, this will be very interesting to see how this goes. Derek Ream Bass Trombonist www.derekream.org New England Conservatory

• 04-23-2006 5:05 PM

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  Re: How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact derek, part of the problem you might be having there are different tone qualities. see if you guys can work on having the same tone qualities and such, and a consistancy of the tone quality. make sure the notes are centered too...things such as the chorale out of brahms 1 don't quite lock in if say the bass bone has a really diffused sound. Otherwise, doing chorales and such is a great idea to developing a section sound.

• 03-23-2008 1:25 AM

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  bassbone1 Joined on 03-19-2008 Posts 6

  Re: How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact I think in my 7 years of playing you should talk to the players.if you dont know them get to KNOW THEM!!!! mostly becouse if thay dont now anyone you kind of shy awy from playing thair for tone qaulity is poor. but get into sectionals and find a way to focus more or the low brass will fall every time. Travis bass trombonest James Wood High

• 03-24-2008 5:01 AM

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  Cul Joined on 11-07-2005 Bundaberg QLD Australia Posts 35

  Re: How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact Absolutely! Sectionals is the best way to work on it. It will give you an opportunity to listen to your section and identify where the issues are. You can then focus on blending your sounds, and building an awareness of how your parts fit in with each other. Having that basic foundation of how your part works with the trom section, you then listen out for any doubling of your part throughout the orchestra, brass band, whatever. You then start to listen around the full group and then you know where your part fits in. Cul Cul Bundaberg Municipal Band No.1 Queensland Australia (1995 - Present) Bach 50B30 & Schilke 59

• 04-04-2008 1:55 AM

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  bassbone1 Joined on 03-19-2008 Posts 6

  Re: How to improve the overall low brass section? Reply Contact I have another great way to make the low brass section sound much more full. its very simple really. do you guys remember when in your yunger years in band that the band teach. would make a game called telophone? you play a note or somone else play and you have to repeat it. well take what ever music you are playing or working on know and when in sectionals go down the row and make shere that everyone sounds the same. no fluffs in the tone just how you play it. p.s. you mite have a much more fuller tone after that becouse the player will have much more confadence in playing know that he or she can play with out missing notes [] i hope it helps a little bit. just thought of somthing fun to try. Travis bass trombonest James Wood High