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Phrases

Posted by Phrase on 3/5/2025, 3:03 pm

Hello,
What are some ways that help teach your students to not drop phrases, especially tuning at the end of those phrases?
We do breathing exercises, have tuners, I use a harmony director, but still have students not supporting to the end.
Just looking for new ideas or something I maybe forgot about.
Thank you!

Re: Phrases

Posted by Mr. Dude on 3/10/2025, 7:47 am, in reply to "Phrases"

Sometimes I have them write a crescendo underneath the measure to help remind them...

But it mostly starts with your long tone warm up. Are you just blowing through daily drill, not really paying attention? Because there's quite a few "phrases" in your long tones, how are they ending those? I make mine crescendo all the way through the last note and cut off together on every one of them, and that seems to transfer to the music.

Re: Phrases

Posted by I often use on 3/7/2025, 3:53 pm, in reply to "Phrases"

If in 4/4 time - "four touches one"
"Don't let that note lose altitude"
"Push through the note"
"skinny crescendo through the phrase"
"energize the note"

Relay race analogy- hand off the baton. If runners drop the baton they are disqualified.

Really, the phrases don't matter much; this is a skill that has to be developed through repetition.

Re: Phrases

Posted by Curious on 3/7/2025, 10:32 am, in reply to "Phrases"

I'm sure you've given them your expectations about exactly where you want the notes to end. Something I picked up in a class recently was to redraw then note with as much detail as you can. If you want a whole note to touch a rest on the downbeat of the next measure, draw an eighth note on beat one of the next measure and tie the notes together. They may be hearing what you are telling them, but they may need to see it.

Re: Phrases

Posted by CCC on the coast on 3/6/2025, 3:46 pm, in reply to "Phrases"

"Energize the end of the note."

Just saying that seems to work sometimes.

Re: Phrases

Posted by WTX Retiree on 3/7/2025, 2:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Phrases"

This is GREAT! Thanks.

Re: Phrases

Posted by You might try on 3/6/2025, 10:29 am, in reply to "Phrases"

Staggering players.

Dovetailing where players who enter later complete the end of the phrase (especially lengthy passages) with good air.

Of course, this would only work with more than one on a part.

Re: Phrases

Posted by WBB on 3/6/2025, 9:37 am, in reply to "Phrases"

Have you recorded and played it back to them? Have you demonstrated using words that trail off (get softer at the end)? Have made them mark their music? Have you gone down the row to see who is dropping the phrasing?

Most phrases end at a bar line. Make it a rule that you do not breathe at a bar line. I am almost certain that they are seeing the end of a phrase, have been taught to breathe their, and are subconsciously relaxing so they can breathe. Only reason I am guessing what is happening is from my personal experience as a director and performer with this issue.

Re: Phrases

Posted by Warhawk on 3/6/2025, 8:09 am, in reply to "Phrases"

I have used literature, reciting it to the class, demonstrating the concept of driving to end of the phrase as opposed to tailing off.

Re: Phrases

Posted by me on 3/7/2025, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Phrases"

Recording and playback definitely open their eyes a bit. So does braking down into smaller groups and possibly even playing along with them to point out that they are not stretching the note as long as you are. At the end of the day, be persistent. Don't allow them them to be incorrect and praise improvement.

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