MUS 4336 - 2017

Brass Literature and Pedagogy

(Team-taught by the Brass Faculty)

Kent Eshelman (Kent_Eshelman@) / MMB 222 710.6526
Brent Phillips (Brent_Phillips@...) / MMB 121 710.6534
Jeffrey Powers (Jeffrey_Powers@...) / MMB 220 710.6527
Wiff Rudd (Wiff_Rudd@...) / MMB 122 710.2869

The purpose of this course is to equip students with a working knowledge of the literature and pedagogical techniques and sources for all of the brass instruments. The course is well suited and required for all advanced performance majors seeking a career in full time professional performance or teaching at the collegiate level. Music Education majors will find the course material vital in their pursuit of pedagogical truths as a band director and educator. The semester will be divided into four units presented by the four resident brass faculty (horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/tuba).

Each professor will present the history and development of their instrument(s), demonstrating how the literature from each period reflects composers’ working knowledge of these instruments in their time and the performance capabilities of those performing their works. Discussions regarding historical and contemporary concepts and performance techniques based upon listening assignments, will be included in each of the four units.

Course schedule:

Trombone - January 9, 11, 18, 23, 25, 30 and Feb 1

Horn - February 6, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, and Mar 1

Tuba/Euph - March 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 and April 3

Trumpet - April 5, 10, 12, 19, 24, 26 and May 1

Other specific areas of study, often presented through weekly student projects and listening assignments, will include:

solo and like-instrument literature

etudes and methods

warm-up and practice routines for all instruments

orchestral, wind band, and chamber repertory

survey of pedagogical resources for the teaching studio

discussion of teaching approaches

jazz styles and improvisation

graded literature and curriculum development for the teaching studio

international “schools” of playing & survey of “name” performers

standard excerpts for professional auditions

preparing for auditions, stage presence, stage fright

developments in style through the recorded audio history of brass soloists/ensembles

survey of contemporary websites pertinent to the brass world

Resource notebook: Each member of the class will be expected to provide copies of their surveys/projects/reviews for each member of the class. If provided in a timely fashion, the professors will assist in the printing of these materials. In addition to weekly assignments, students are expected to compile and organize materials from class into a resource notebook suitable for future use in the teaching studio.

Lesson Observations: significant portion of this class will include the observation of several applied lessons within each of the brass area studios. A Lesson Observation Form, to be completed for each lesson, should be included in the comprehensive notebook. Pedagogical techniques observed in these sessions will be presented/discussed in the weekly meeting and the brass studio classes. Lesson Observations should be completed during the same time as the corresponding session.

Graduate Students will be expected to develop their projects and reports, with regard to length and scope, to a level appropriate for pre-DMA/PhD studies and in particular, potential discussions in their upcoming oral examinations.

Grading and absence policy: Because of the seminar nature of this relatively small and project-based class, and the limited meetings with each professor, absences will generally not be tolerated. Exceptions would include documented illnesses or pre-approved absences for unique calendar conflicts such as professional or festival auditions.

Twenty percent (20%) of the final grade will be determined by each professor (20% X 4) with the comprehensive notebook determining the final 20% of the semester grade.

Title IX: If you or someone you know would like help related to an experience of sexual violence including sexual assault, harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or other type of non-consensual sexual conduct, please contact Kristan Tucker, the Title IX Coordinator at Baylor University, by email () or phone (254-710-8454).