Good basic metronome article

Nothing fancy but there's a good basic metronome article here: Buying a Metronome. If you snoop around that site you'll also find info about some good Christmas music for brass solos and duets. Well worth visiting.

Must Have Equipment - Basic Stuff That Every Brass Student Needs

I realize that sometimes my students can't read my mind, but my job would be so much easier if they could. What brought about this obvious statement was an incident in a lesson yesterday. A student mentioned that she was having trouble practicing because the music kept falling over. When I asked her about the type of music stand she was using, she looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face. No one had told her and her parents that a music stand was a necessary piece of equipment for musicians.

It seems obvious, doesn't it? Well it is to those of us who have been playing for years, and that's the problem, at least for me. I haven't been very good at putting myself in the shoes of my students and their parents. It's been so long that I don't remember what it was like to not know about music stands. I guess I assume that they'll figure things like that out...but really, they shouldn't have to. They paying good money for me to help guide them through their child's music education. And that's why I'm writing today.

There is some equipment that every brass student needs, besides their instrument, mouthpiece, case, and music. This is a quick list of "must haves" off the top of my head.

1. Slide grease & spray bottle (trombonists) or valve oil (valved brass players & trombonists with F attachment)
2. Tuning slide grease
3. Cleaning snake
4. Mouthpiece brush
5. Music stand
6. Pencil - (I know, really basic, but a lot of my students don't have one with them)
7. Metronome - optional for younger students, but really an invaluable practice aid
8. Tuner - optional for younger students, but really an invaluable practice aid
9. Mutes
10. Lyre - if you're in a marching band and aren't required to memorize your music
11. Instrument stand - optional but convenient

I'm sure I'll think of other things to add to the list later, but that's a good start.

On Playing and Practicing - Wednesday's Stream of Consciousness

Today was spent molding young minds...most of them willingly. They seem perfectly satisfied with listening to me while actually in my presence, though my words apparently fall out of their heads and stay in the studio with me, at least based on how many of them actually DO what I say.

Nah, that's not entirely fair. I have a number of quite diligent students, within the time constraints of their way-too-busy schedules. It must be hard to master all the many things they seem to be studying. I have students who are taking lessons or classes outside of school in 3 or 4 things. Surely you can't really master that many things.

I guess dabbling is the "thing" right now. My goal might be for them to master the trombone but I don't think that's the goal of many of my students. It seems more like another notch on their resumes, mostly for the consumption of the college of their choice. Ironically, several of them could be really good, if they would put in a bit more time. Not even a lot. Just a bit more.

Sigh....