Greetings to all music educators and parents!
In this explainer article and video, we're getting the inside track from top trombonist and educational expert Chris Fower. This video is focused on a different way of teaching children to achieve their first buzz on a brass instrument: using air. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our first buzzing article in the series, which covers the basics of using the humming lip shape to initiate a buzz.
These videos were created by Chris for brass teachers looking for new approaches to learning. Does that mean you have to be a qualified music teacher to understand? Nope! This sage wisdom is a great starting point for parents helping their children to learn, or even self-directed learners wanting to get buzzed about playing brass. If you've just picked up your first pBone, this article and video is the perfect place to start.
The Airflow Method: A New Perspective on Buzzing
Our first method used the natural shape created by humming to start a buzz, which is great for quick results but has some drawbacks. In this session, we'll explore an alternative that focuses primarily on understanding and controlling airflow.
1. Preparing for Success
- Essential Previews: Before diving into this method, it’s crucial to review our earlier videos on basic humming and breathing techniques. These will lay the groundwork for today's exercises.
- Understanding Aperture: Aperture refers to the small gap between the lips through which air flows to create a buzz. This method emphasizes the importance of consciously creating this aperture from the start.
2. Visualising and Targeting Airflow
- Exercise Setup: Teach children to think of their fingers as targets for their breath, much like blowing out candles on a cake.
- Arm Positioning: Extend the arm slightly downward at about 10 to 15 degrees, which mirrors the optimal angle for the mouthpiece.
3. Creating the Aperture
- "The Hollywood Kiss": Encourage children to form their lips as if they were giving a "Hollywood kiss," which naturally shapes the lips into a round aperture.
- Visualisation: By imagining blowing out candles, children naturally form the necessary aperture for buzzing.
4. Integrating the Mouthpiece
- Mouthpiece Positioning: Remind children about the correct placement of the mouthpiece – centred both horizontally and vertically on the lips.
- Angle Adjustment: Ensure the mouthpiece is also angled slightly downward, maintaining the same orientation as the airflow targeting exercise.
5. Putting It All Together
- Exercise with Mouthpiece: Have the children repeat the candle-blowing exercise with the mouthpiece in place, aiming their airflow at their fingers.
- Observing Results: In a typical class, expect most children to successfully vibrate their lips and produce a buzz at this stage.
6. Troubleshooting and Adjustment
- Alternative Methods: For the few children who struggle to create an effective buzz using this approach, revert to the humming method as a supplementary technique.
- Continuous Encouragement: Every child progresses at their own pace. Patience and persistent encouragement are key.
By focusing on controlled airflow and the conscious creation of an aperture, this method offers a structured and effective way for children to achieve their first buzz. It lays a strong foundation for further brass instrument training and helps build confidence from the very beginning.
Topics:
