Tips
Some students do not play instruments as well as they might because they seem to lack a clear idea what that weapon in their hands is supposed to sound like. In clinic settings, or when guest conducting, I often ask students what they would do if they wanted to become a great basketball player. Their answers tend to be, “I would practice and watch great players like Stephen Curry or Lebron James.”
So now that we’ve discovered many have a “basketball hero” I inquire, “So what is your plan to become a great trumpet, oboe, or clarinet player?” Incredibly they often sit there with few ideas at all.
My favorite Jerry Sternin quote says, “It’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting.” Sharing that idea with students just stops the room in its tracks, but rather quickly the lights seem to come on. Take just a moment to ponder that thought-provoking statement for yourself and see what you make if it. Much depth in those 23 little words.
So, do you want to be a great clarinet player? Well if you sit there thinking, “I want to be a great clarinet player!, I want to be a great clarinet player!, I want to be a great clarinet player!” while you pound your forehead with your fist, you’re probably still a rather weak clarinet player - and now your head hurts. But if you observe a great clarinet player, and start to act like that person, rather quickly you will get better! Your “actions” (that word contains ‘act’) will soon become good life-long habits.
Everyone needs a “Tone Hero.” A professional player on their instrument whose superb quality of sound is what they want for themselves. And why is tone so important? Well simply – your tone is EVERYTHING! Carlos Santana once stated that if he were playing, and the audience could not recognize him in just three notes, there was something wrong with his TONE. And he’s a guitar player!!
How much more important is tone to an
instrumental ensemble like a band or orchestra? As much or even more.
On most band adjudication sheets the first two boxes are assessing tone. Now you might counter with, “Hey, wait a minute. That second box is often labeled intonation. What does that have to do with tone?” Well, have you ever tried to tune two or more students with poorly developed tone qualities? I tell students that a tone like a fuzzy bunny and one like a laser beam can’t be tuned to each
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That Click Who Is Your "Tone Hero?" Dr. David McCullough This article is being shared with us on the recommendation of Jim Duren, Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame Member.
other. When individual student tone qualities improve so does their ability to play in tune with each other. Those individual maturing tone qualities also provide you better opportunities to teach good ensemble intonation. And look at that second-box word a different way. In–TONE–ation. Once again, tone is everything.
So how do we help students understand that their tone is their responsibility? As teachers we provide breathing and embouchure technical assistance, but those who insist that their students each select a personal “tone hero” find commitment to individual tone development to be stronger. Those teachers also report that overall ensemble tone and intonation improve better and faster as well. So how do we assist our students in discovering their own “tone hero?”
Like most music teachers I have lots of good recordings. But since there are few ways to legally share recordings with students, I created the list below at the request of a local band director. This short list was meant simply to get recordings into students’ ears via the internet without them spending money. It was never meant to be a list of “who is the best,” or a complete and comprehensive discography. Many of the recordings were chosen in the hope they might have appeal for young instrumentalists. The intent is to entice students into discovering for themselves what incredible performers on their instruments are out there using a technology they find easy to use.
So here we go. I encourage you to tailor the list below for your students. The needs of a Jr. High Band differ greatly from a Collegiate Jazz Ensemble. Revise this list, or create one of your own, considering what YOUR band needs. And then ask your students a simple but vital question, “Who is YOUR tone hero?” Check them out on YouTube!
Flute Gudrun Hinze – piccolo James Galway Jean-Pierre Rampal – jazz flute
Oboe John De Lancie Marcel Tabuteau Ray Still Alex Klein Jean-Luc Fillon – Jazz Oboe
August/September 2019
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