Playing Brass Technique
Embouchure, breathing, articulation, slide positions, range and practice methods.
Arban’s Complete Method: What It Is, How to Use It, and a Free PDF Download
The brass world's most famous method book: who Arban was, what's inside, how to get the most out of it, and a free download of the complete 356-page PDF.
TechniqueBreath Control: Secrets from Free Divers and Singers
Breath control is everything in brass playing — it's what lets you sustain long phrases, keep your tone consistent, and get through powerful passages…
TechniqueTrombone Slide Positions: Getting the Coordination Right
Mastering the co-ordination between the slide and the partials is key to mastering the trombone
TechniqueThe Dreaded Cracked Note (And How to Fix It)
Every brass player cracks a note sooner or later. You go for a clean sound and get something that sounds like a car backfiring.…
TechniqueLip Trills
Lip trills alternate rapidly between two notes using only your lips, without touching the valves or slide. Here's how I'd approach building them. Warm…
TechniqueAdvanced Brass Techniques: Mastering Extended Playing Methods
This one's for intermediate to advanced players who've got the basics locked in. Technical accuracy is only part of the picture at this level…
TechniqueThe Importance of Proper Breathing Techniques for Brass Players
Breathing is so automatic we barely think about it — until you pick up a brass instrument, where how you breathe genuinely determines how…
TechniqueDemystifying Slide Positions for Double Trigger Trombones
If you play a double trigger bass trombone and you've gone looking for a slide position chart that actually works, you've probably noticed a…
TechniquePlaying Low Notes
Low notes come down to one thing above all else: a slow, well-supported air stream. Start with the setup. Sit tall with good posture…
TechniquePlaying High Notes
Buzz on the mouthpiece. Buzzing your lips on just the mouthpiece is one of the best ways to build the lip strength you need…
TechniqueTips for Learning Scales
Nail the basics first — note names, how a scale is built, and reading the sheet music in front of you. Practice a little…
TechniqueWhy Learn Scales?
Scales get a bad rap, but they're one of the most useful things you can spend time on. They build technique — sharpening finger…
TechniqueTenor Clef: A Crash Course
The first time you see a tenor clef at the top of a piece, it can look downright alarming. The good news is it's…
TechniquePractice Time
Getting real value out of your lessons and practice time comes down to one simple habit: writing things down. Most students struggle to remember…
TechniqueUsing Articulation to Shape Sound
Articulation is what turns a string of individual notes into actual music. You shape it by combining your tongue and your air stream in…
TechniquePractice Imperfectly
Here's a principle worth remembering: practicing the wrong thing just teaches you to play the wrong thing more consistently. Practice done properly is what…
TechniqueThe Importance of Sight-Reading Well
Being a confident sight-reader opens up a lot of doors — more music, easier collaboration, more opportunities to just sit in and play with…
TechniqueProjecting Sound Efficiently
Projecting your sound isn't the same as playing loud. What you actually want is to fill the room with as little effort as possible,…
TechniqueBuilding a Wide Range is the Result of Air Control and Strength
Building a wide range is one of the real marks of an accomplished player. Higher notes come from your lips buzzing faster, and that…
TechniqueDevelop Your Own Sound
Playing the right notes isn't enough — a good player produces an attractive, consistent tonal colour every time they play, and that tone doesn't…
TechniqueEmbouchure: The Foundation Everything Else Is Built On
Embouchure is how you hold your mouth and lips against the mouthpiece — and it's the single biggest factor in your tone, range and…
TechniqueControlling Airflow
You can't play well without controlling your air. Brass instruments run on focused airflow — it's what creates the buzz in the first place.…
TechniqueThe Importance of Good Posture
Playing well takes focus, energy, and — above everything else — free airflow from your lungs to your lips. Good posture is what makes…
TechniqueHold Your Trombone Like You’re Serious About Playing
Holding the instrument correctly every single time sets you up to play at your best — it gives you good airflow, good posture, a…
TechniqueThe Value of Practice — How to Raise It
Anyone listening to a musician perform can tell, almost instantly, how much they've practiced. A well-prepared player sounds better, enjoys playing more, and the…