RUNNING EFFECTIVE SECTIONALS

How to Make Your Band Better from the Inside Out

ByMary Green

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Sectional Requirements

• Minimum requirement– 3 sectionals per concert

• Maximum allowed– 1 per week

• Students will not attend if you have too many scheduled.

• Incentives?– Food (lima beans, Brussels sprouts, etc.)

– Band Bucks

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BE PREPARED

• Plan ahead.–Mark troublesome measures.

– Take notes describing director’s comments during rehearsals

–Make sure that you know all of the correct fingerings.

• Special trill fingerings

• Alternate fingerings

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• WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS:– Small brush for dusting between keys and in tone

holes– Soft cloth – Swab

• Clarinets & Saxes• At least 4 working reeds• Reed Holder

–Not the plastic that the reed comes in• Cork Grease• Mouthpiece Brush

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• WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS (CONT.)

• Oboes & Bassoons

–2 or 3 working reeds

–Reed holder

• Flutes

–Cleaning/tuning rod

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• BRASS INSTRUMENTS:

– Valve oil

– Slide Grease

– Mouthpiece Brush

– Snake

– Soft Cloth

– Valve Brush

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A CLEAN MOUTHPIECE IS A HAPPY MOUTHPIECE!

Wash it with soap and lukewarm water at least once each week.

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TUNES

TECHNIQUE

TONE

THE 3 T’S OF MUSIC

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EACH SECTIONAL SHOULD INCLUDE:

Warm-up

Tuning

Rehearsing

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WARM-UP

• Purpose

– To prepare the brain

• Get ready to concentrate

• Brain & muscles work together

– To prepare the muscles

• Embouchure

• Hands & fingers

– To “warm up” the instrument

• Especially crucial if instrument is made out of wood

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FOCUS ON:

EMBOUCHURE

POSTURE

BREATHINGTONE QUALITY

INTONATION

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EMBOUCHURE

• Each instrument has certain specific characteristics that are unique to it.

– Flutes: The lips should form a small hole.

–Clarinet & Saxes: Check to make sure that top teeth are “resting” on the top of the mouthpiece.

–Double Reeds: Don’t put too much reed in your mouth.

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EMBOUCHURE (CONT.)

• Brass instruments:

– Trumpet

– Trombone

– Euphonium

– Tuba

– French Horn: Approximately 2/3 upper lip and 1/3 lower lip should be in the cup.

Mouthpiece should be centered on the lips…equal amount of upper lip and lower lip in the cup of the mouthpiece.

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GOOD POSTURE

BREATHING

INTONATIONTONE

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BREATHE!

Hot air or cold air?

Demonstrate

Blow hot air to warm hands.

Blow cold air to cool hands.

Ask

Which could you sustain (hold longer)?

Which had more power?

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HA-PEU1. Exhale—say “ha-peu” to rid yourself of all air.

2. Place hands on lowest ribs and inhale using the “straw sipping” method.

1. Students should feel expansion in their backs.

3. Release all air.

4. Repeat steps 1 & 2 then hold your hand in front of your face and blow cold air for as long as you can.

5. Repeat steps 1 & 2 add instrument for step 4.

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TUNING

LISTEN• Section leader gives tuning note.

PLAY• Play tuning note in short “bursts.”

ADJUST

• Adjust your instrument accordingly.

• Pull out if sharp; push in if flat.

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ListenSELF

SECTION

BAND

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MEGA SLOWAlways start as slow as you need

to play it perfectly.

Gradually get faster.

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Rehearsal strategies

NOTE BY NOTELONG—SHORT—SHORT--SHORT

LONG—SHORT SHORT--LONG

Mega Slow

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Divide & conquer

Divide into small “bite-size pieces.

Practice each piece 5x

Put pieces together.

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Phrase

Note to Note

Notes Before

Notes After

Add Measures

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What if he/she still doesn’t get it?!

• Tutor them one-on-one.

• Ask Mr. or Mrs. Green for suggestions.

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HELPFUL HINTS

• Do not lose your patience.

– Move on to something else if the “frustration factor” starts.

• Compliment improvements.

• Be on time when starting and finishing the sectional.

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Practice Makes Perfect

REPETITION

PERFECTION

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