The trombone/euphonium student will be graded according to his ability to meet the expectations stated in the Philosophy and according to: 1) jury grade, 2) studio grade, and 3) participation in studio class, student recitals, guest artist and faculty recitals and presentations. Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully demonstrating his/her abilities should contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation in this course and overall college experience.
JURY GRADE - 50% of semester grade
Everyone enrolled at the 142 level or higher are required to give a jury performance at the conclusion of each semester of study. However, this requirement may be waived if the student gives a recital or other major performance on campus during a jury semester. The jury will also grant or deny degree recital approval and recommend that each student either advance to the next level of study or stay at the present level (or possibly regress to a lower level). The jury examination:
a. holds the student accountable for all materials and techniques covered in the course.
b. requires the student to draw together all musical and educational experiences to date into a representative performance sample of achievement and understanding.
c. provides the means for evaluating the student's progress in light of the objective of the course.
At the discretion of the instructor, the jury performance will consist of:
a. Two contrasting solos with accompaniment if an accompaniment part exists, and/or etude material to demonstrate the student's ability to project a musical experience.
b. Performance of orchestral exerpts that have been studied during the term.
c. One of these selections must be performed from memory.
d. Performance of scales, arpeggios, sequences or tunes by ear.
Jury performances are 15 minutes long.
STUDIO GRADE - 50% of semester grade
Each student will develop an individualized daily routine in consultation with Prof. Hall. The goal of this routine is acquisition of technical skills, range, endurance, strength training and maintenance. Students are expected to develop mastery in these areas and to alter their routine to acquire new skills. The following basic format is recommended:
20% Long tones + mouthpiece buzzing + dynamics
20% Slow slurs + dynamics
10% Flexibility + dynamics
10% Tonguing: single, double, triple
8% Long, low, slow, loud playing
20% Scales and arpeggios
10% Range/endurance
2% Warm down
Daily Routines by David Vining is the required text. But students may consult the following resources for daily routine material, and/or generate their own material.
Apivor. 24 Exercises for Tenor Trombone (scale/arpeggio etudes).
Arban/Alessi/Bowman. Method.
Clarke. Technical Studies.
Colin. Advanced Lip Flexibilities.
Davies. 20 Etudes in Changing Meters.
Fox. The Art of Doodle Tonguing.
Gane. Circuit Training for Trombone.
Gay. Trombone Studies for Legato and Slide Technique.
Hall. Gym.
Handrow. Einblasübungen für Posaune.
Johnson. Progressive Studies for the High Register.
Kopprasch. Sixty Selected Studies.
Maxted. 20 Studies.
Marsteller. Basic Routines. Advanced Slide Technique.
McChesney. Doodle Studies and Etudes.
McDunn. Trombone Master Studies.
Mueller. Technical Studies Vols. 1 and 2
Nightingale. The Warm-up Book.
Ostrander. 20 minute warm-up.
Pares. Scales.
Reift. Warm-ups for Trombone.
Remington. Warm-Up Exercis. ed. D. Hunsberger.
Salvo. 241 Double and Triple Tonguing Exercises.
Schlossberg. Daily Drills & Technical Studies.
Slokar. Daily Drills.
Slokar/Reift. Double and Triple Tonguing, The Scales, vol. I and II.
Uber. Trombone Warm-Up Procedure.
Vining. Daily Routines.
Waits. Advanced Flexibility Studies.
Wilson/Viola. Chord Studies for Trombone
Technical Skills Exam
Each student will master 13 exercises during their time at ODU. They are not the only technical exercises to be studied, but they are the ones the instructor will use to measure technical mastery of your instrument. Technique will be tested three times each year: 1) during a lesson in Sept., 2) during a lesson in late Nov. or early Dec., 3) during a lesson in late March or early April. Steady progress is expected on these exercises; they are to be practiced as part of the daily routine. There are 930 possible points. Each student must achieve a gain of around 100 points each year to advance to the next level of study.
Weekly performance of etudes, solos, ensemble excerpts, clefs, etc. are graded in a more subjective way, as is necessary. A letter grade will be given each week relative to progress displayed from week to week. The student is expected to assimilate the basic philosophies of the playing systems presented and display a progressively developing command of the systems in performance and instructional situations, and is also expected to cultivate and maintain a cooperative and positive attitude.
Each lesson assignment will be recorded on a Lesson Assignment Sheet with one copy given to the student and one copy kept in the studio file. Assignments will be dated and satisfactory completion of the assignment will be noted. Consistent and continual development of the student's overall playing ability and musicianship is expected and will be reflected in the Studio Grade.
From time to time various conflicts will arise with scheduled lesson appointments. Students are expected to notify Prof. Hall in advance if they are to miss a lesson; a voice-mail message or email will suffice. A missed lesson without notice or legitimate excuse will result in a grade of "F" for that lesson and will not be made up. If the student has a legitimate excuse (illness, emergency, university sponsored activity) and provides advance notice, or if the conflict originates with the instructor, the instructor will make-up the lesson. However, whether the conflict originates with instructor or student, it is the responsibility of the student to reschedule the lesson in a timely manner. Lessons that are preempted because of university-wide holidays or ensemble tours are not figured into the semester studio grade.
Studio Class/Special Presentations
All trombone/euphonium students are required to participate in studio classes and to perform on student recitals once each semester, performance majors twice each semester. Performers are to select and prepare a suitable piece with help from the instructor, and should be prepared to discuss any musical, technical or formal aspects of the piece and be knowledgeable about the composer. Participation is required for all faculty brass recitals and guest artist brass events on campus as well. These classes and events are just as important as lessons. Failure to participate in a studio class or recital - for any reason - can never be made up. Failure to perform in studio class or recital during the semester cannot be made up and will count as a lesson grade of "F." Notable exceptions to your attendance at these events are unavoidable class conflicts, and in the case of graduate students, vocation conflicts.
Students are generally expected to engage in one hour per day of individual practice for each credit of applied music they are taking. Students taking two credit lessons should practice a minimum of two hours per day, the volume of practice assumed by this course. This time does not include ensemble rehearsals or other performance activities. The student must therefore learn to manage their time efficiently and pace practice with performance.
The final semester grade is reckoned this way:
50%: Jury Grade - the average of letter grades given by each jury member.
50%: Studio Grade - the average of letter grades given for each lesson. However, you must earn a minimum of 100 technique points each year to advance to the next level of study.
Adjustments: Studio Class/Student Recitals/Special Presentations - failure to perform in studio class or recital adds a lesson grade of "F" to Studio Grade. On the other hand, fine performances, noteworthy participation and solid effort will enhance your Studio Grade. According to Department of Music policy, the instructor may raise or lower the final grade by one letter at his discretion.
A semester grade of "Incomplete" will only be given under the most extreme circumstances. If it is given, the very next lessons taken by the student, no matter when they are scheduled, will serve to resolve the incomplete grade. The student is responsible to make up lessons that count towards a grade of "I" in a timely manner.
