ARE BASICS NECESSARY EVERYDAY?REALLY????

Ron Hufstader, Ph.D.Director of BandsUniversity of Texas at El Paso

WHAT ARE THE BASICS?

Tone QualityIntonationRhythmEnsemble PrecisionArticulationBalanceBlend

FOCUS TIMEBetter known as a Warm-UpStretchesBreathing ExercisesScalesIntonation StudiesChorales

TONE QUALITYDevelopment of Individual Tone Quality

Development of Ensemble Tone Quality

INTONATIONRequires a characteristic, focused tone

Requires listening, not looking at a tuner

RHYTHMRhythm is objective, not subjective

Counting system is necessary

ENSEMBLE PRECISIONAttacks and releasesNote lengthAccurate rhythmsBreathe together—Play together

ARTICULATIONMatch the front end of notes

Match the release

Practice various articulations

BALANCEHas a great deal to do with your concept of ensemble sound.

Balance within sectionsBalance within families Balance the ensemble

BLENDBlend occurs when two or more tones come together to achieve unity of sound.

Within the ensemble, blend is used to achieve specific tone colors.

MISCELLANEOUS CRACKED NOTES, GAKS, CHIPS

SQUEAKS

MISSED NOTES

QUESTIONS