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Brass Articulation

Posted by Chris P. Bacon on 2/11/2025, 4:19 am

Howdy!
How would you get a 6th grader to articulate instead of "nah or yaw" for French Horn Trumpet and trombone? I'm a percussionist and I've tried everything I know from buzzing to sizzling. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated 🙏
TIA!

Re: Brass Articulation

Posted by Brass teacher on 2/20/2025, 9:04 am, in reply to "Brass Articulation "

Using a coffee straw, have the student place it in their mouth touching where you would want the tongue to touch (top of the teeth for high brass). Then have them practice blowing constant air through the straw using an "m" shape to imitate what their airstream should be doing. Finally, have them tongue the tip of the straw using "Tu" and listen to it; demo it for them so that they can hear your air stopping and starting by using the tongue to tap the straw.

Eventually, you can wean them off the straw onto the real instrument. Just remind them to think about what it felt like to tap the straw (top of the teeth).

Re: Brass Articulation

Posted by Me on 2/11/2025, 9:13 am, in reply to "Brass Articulation "

Tu.

Re: Brass Articulation

Posted by Me on 2/11/2025, 9:09 am, in reply to "Brass Articulation "

TAH.

TAH.

Say the letter T.

Say it again.

Say it through the instrument.

If they're not articulating, they have to use their tongue properly.

Do they have a related speech issue?

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