A list of basic skills you should be able to demonstrate after 3 weeks of learning your instrument. These habits are really important!
Part I
___ Assemble instrument properly: reed placement, neck strap length, key alignment,
trombone joint angle etc.
___ Demonstrate ready position: sitting on the edge of the seat, both feet flat on the
ground, sitting up straight with appropriate posture (shoulders relaxed)
___ Take a deep, relaxed breath: avoid additional tension in shoulders and face, no air held between inhale and exhale
___ Play a steady note on just the head joint/mouthpiece: fast, steady air, centered pitch, 8 counts at 160bpm.
Part II
___ Demonstrate playing position: same as ready position with instrument in
appropriate playing position.
___ Hum, and sing the given pitch of a Concert F on an “O” syllable.
Play concert F with a beautiful, round, warm tone for 8 beats at 160bpm.
___ Name and finger notes for scale degrees 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5 (F Eb, D C Bb C D Eb F) in Concert Bb as half notes with a metronome at 160bpm.
___ Play the same series at the same tempo with a metronome, demonstrating steady air and a beautiful, round, warm tone.
___ Display proper maintenance and cleaning of instrument (swab, valve oil,
emptying valves, etc). Carefully return instrument to its case without sound.
