Brass Bulletin 4, I / 1973 (page 7–12) · 2 min. read
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Editorial

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To be able to identify the different roles which brass instruments play in the music world, it is absolutely necessary to analyse and define the diverse types of music and to agree upon a common terminology. On the whole it can be said that brass instruments show their particular character in the following types of music :
a) official or functional music ;
b) folkloristic music ;
c) popular music ;
d) music grown out of and based upon culture and tradition ;
e) avant-garde music (reformative or revolutionary).

Each one of these categories has its own educational system :
a) official music : musical societies, official brass bands (of village, town or state) and military organisations. Instruction in groups or individually.
b) folkloristic music : self-instruction or formation of small groups. Knowledge of the instrument is acquired by practice, observation and advice from more experienced players of the group ;
c) popular music : like in b) or a) or even coming from d) i.e. methodical, traditional instruction. Many influences welded together can also result in a certain method, f.i. in jazz ;
d) traditional music : systematical traditional method of teaching the technical and the musical part of playing an instrument, founded and recognized (mainly) by professional musicians and taught in official or private institutions such as conservatories, music academies and the like. Some outstanding professional musicians give courses (private or in groups) to top class pupils ;
e) avant-garde music : almost like b) i.e. self-instruction. Imagination and a sense of adventure inspires new ways and means in music and even leads to the creation of new instruments. It is the speculative development of the auditory conscience that is the driving spirit here, contrary to the methods of a), b), c), d).

The above subdivisions are of course not « hermetic » ; many musicians find their own way passing from one to the other.

We shall by and by analyse each category and its pedagogical system so as to illuminate the possibilities offered to-day in the domain of teaching to young musicians in quest for the most gratifying path towards the chosen goal.

It is a sad fact that at present there is hardly any contact between students of the different categories and thus no mutual stimulation or inspiration. To help establish such contacts BRASS BULLETIN proposes to introduce the different brass instruments and their players to each other and counts on the cooperation of its readers !

In the general investigation that BRASS BULLETIN will publish here the educational system is considered the most important item, it will be examined in detail. Here a few questions : What exactly is taught to-day ? How is it done and -- very important -- with what goal (if any) ? What possibilities are there for young musicians ?

A young American trumpeter pointed out not long ago that the system in the U.S. urged every pupil on to become a virtuoso, with the remarkable result that thousands of brilliant musicians with brilliant diplomas in their pockets face brilliant unemployment, unless they turn to teaching, teaching of course young musicians to become brilliant virtuosos ...

This of course is a fundamental problem. What exactly can the thousands of young musicians expect who chose to become brass players ? What part will our instruments have in the music of the future ? To complete our own thoughts on the subject, please let us have yours - thank you !

Jean-Pierre Mathez

Speaking also in the name of subscribers and readers, the editorial staff wishes to express its gratitude to the PRO HELVETIA foundation for its generous help, which encourages us in our effort.

To survive however BRASS BULLETIN needs a great many more subscribers : we count on you all, friends and readers, to help us keep BRASS BULLETIN alive, for it is the bulletin of all of us together, BRASS BULLETIN is the voice and the ear of every brass player ! So please let each one of you find a new subscriber in the next fortnight - THANK YOU !

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