Discussion on High-Range Excerpts for Trombone

Speaker

• Alessi Principle, New York Philharmonic

Main Topics

High-Range Excerpts Challenges

• Common Issues:
  • Struggling with high-range notes
  • Issues with dynamics, e.g., Strauss excerpts and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique
  • Frustration with squeaking notes vs. playing full notes
• Importance:
  • Recognizing the difference between squeaking and producing the entire note

Demonstration

• Piece Mentioned:
  • Strauss Trombone Solo, plays with the sixth horn
• Focus On:
  • Getting the right compression

Concept of Compression in Playing

• Analogy:
  • Robotic trombone players with a metal frame, a tank, a tube, and a compressor
• Key Point:
  • Learning to use the body, particularly the torso, for proper compression

Exercises for Students

• Example Exercise:
  • Yelling or shouting to learn to use the torso effectively

Practical Tips

• Shouting Exercise:
  • To feel the proper use of body muscles in projecting sound
  • Example of shouting across the street to engage torso muscles