It was interesting to display the pBuzz and pBugle at the Midwest Clinic this year as band directors were curious about our exhibit of “Instruments for Foundational Learning.” While many had heard and read about pBuzz, many had still not seen one.
The response was universally positive. Everyone agreed that learning to produce a pitch, create a tone, and move air is certainly foundational to future ensemble playing, not only for band but also for choir and even orchestra. Everyone agreed that moving air is incredibly important and that the recorder teaches students to NOT move air. Those students who have learned on pBuzz tend to have a much larger sound coming from any beginning ensemble.
Students also learn to listen to and learn from each other. pBuzz learners usually stand and the kinesthetic movements pBuzz provides are highly desirable as well.
Learning these on just six notes in one partial is also incredibly foundational. Once learned, the same lesson applies to other partials. That’s why we developed the pBone Mini, a smaller trombone for smaller bodies. It’s an easy transition from pBuzz to pBoneMini with its additional partials and moving air in a slightly larger instrument. Teachers who utilize pBuzz will often get a half dozen pBone Mini instruments for those who are ready.
pBuzz teaching materials are readily available from our website. These include four-week and ten-week lesson plans, a teachers' manual, and seven one-minute videos on how to teach buzzing (for those who have not buzzed since college). There are even band arrangements to showcase the pBuzz class for beginning and advanced bands, as well as with marching band. It’s a great way to showcase musical progress to the parents and administration as well as introduce the band program to students uniquely and excitingly.
pBuzz is just the beginning of our musical “pJourney” for students. All pInstruments are authentic instruments that perform very well in group teaching classrooms and emphasize the building of competencies of SELF (self-awareness and self-management), OTHERS (social awareness and relationship management), and DECISIONS (responsible decision-making – all key components in the social and emotional learning (SEL) platform.
pInstruments are intentionally designed to provide a great multi-year learning experience and provide children opportunities to participate in music creation through visual, aural, and kinesthetic learning styles. pInstruments can be an important tool as students develop their social and emotional concepts of self through many life-changing benefits, including:
For additional information about our instruments, curriculum assistance, classroom learning tools, and more, please check out our resources page.
Growing Elementary Music Pathways
Answering the call: Equity in Instrumental Music Education
Teaching with pBuzz checks all the boxes for teaching basic music skills
Teaching with pBuzz provides early skills needed for success in music