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BrassBulletin

International Magazine for Brass Players

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Practical Hints

Part 1

By James Stamp

Practical Hints

One of the best sets of exercises I know is the Technical Studies by Herbert L. Clarke (Carl Fischer, no. 02280). Here, to start my series of practical hints, are some recommendations which will certainly enable you to make noticeable progress.

First Study (page 5)

Start by re-numbering the lines of this study as follows: line 13 = 1, line 14 = 2, line 12 = 3, line 15 = 4, 11 = 5, 16 = 6, 10 = 7, etc.

Here is how I suggest you practise these lines:
(Example: line 1 (13))

Brass Bulletin image

The additional portion indicated by the square brackets is only played first time.

If you do not manage to play line 24 (25), stop at the last high line which you can play, but retain the low alternations from page 5.

Second Study (page 8)

Take line 37 for example:

First play it like this:

Brass Bulletin image

By practising like this you will learn to "place" and "centre" your notes correctly and to improve the fluency, flexibility and intonation of your playing.

For warm-ups see my book "Warm-ups + Studies" (Editions Bim, CH-1630 Bulle/Switzerland).

In no. 31 of Brass Bulletin (September 1980) we shall look together at some more ways of improving our practising of these excellent exercises by Herbert L. Clarke.

Brass Bulletin 30, II / 1980 page 21

All content is protected by copyright © Brass Bulletin 1980–2026

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