20 Pieces in Changing Meters 
______for_Unaccompanied_Trombone___

Brass Teachers   11th/12th grade_H.S. trombonists	animated trombone courtesy of Music Graphics Galore

$9.95 + shipping Published by Puna Music Company PO Box 3004, Teaneck, NJ 07666  Toll Free: 1-888-586-8677 www.punamusic.com Respected Music for J.H. and H.S. Private Study Order it from this online order form (MasterCard/VISA/Discover)

- for tenor trombone (no F-attachment)
- range: E2 to Bb4
- nearly all time signatures
- non-"key" (all accidentals, no key signatures)
- bass clef only
- 31 pages
 

The objective of this book is to provide musical practice material covering a wide variety of meter signatures (time signatures) in various changing contexts. The pieces may also be suitable as unaccompanied contest or recital pieces arranged in "suites" of any combination in the manner in which pianists often perform sets of Chopin etudes.

To The Teacher: These etudes are intended for the private trombone student at the 11th-12th grade High School level, although they can also be useful as remedial or preparatory material at the first year college level. Range, technique and rythmic complexity have been minimized in order to avoid creating too many things for the student to focus on at once. For most students at this level, meter changes and interval structures within a non-tonal context are enough. Technique and range are more than adaquately covered in other methods and studies.

To The Student: Always remember that the goal is not only to count beats accurately, but to also feel the meter. Keep in mind that all meter signatures, no matter how complex they may look, are ultimately made up of sub-groups of 2-beat patterns and 3-beat patterns. Remembering this principle will guide you in figuring out any meter signature and determining how the beat flow should feel.

20 Pieces is not only about changing meters. Many musical works of the 20th century composer s also use different forms of melodic and harmonic structures than are commonly found in much popular works, jazz and works of the 17th through 19th centuries. For that reason, none of these etudes have key signatures. This is because either the "key sense" changes frequently or there is no sense of key intended at all. You will find lots of accidentals. You will find yourself learning to hear intervals (distances between pitches). Above all, remember that this is music and therefore phrases and melodic statements will be valid and meaningful, just as they are in other styles.

About Ken Davies

A Wisconsin native. Attended U. of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - B.Mus (U. of Wisconsin-Madison) - Attended Yale School of Music - M.A. (Middle Tennessee State Univ.) - M.M. (U. of Colorado-Boulder -- Awarded Cecil Effinger Composition Fellowship). Trombone teachers have included Paul Wallace, Robert Gutter, John Swallow, David Loucky and William Stanley. Professional performance experience in all forms includes 10 years (1972-82) with Nick Russo & Gabriel's Brass at Walt Disney World, Florida. While in Orlando, he also taught privately hundreds of brass students at all levels and also acquired credits as a composer-arranger-producer for records and TV.

What They're Saying...

"This book stands alone in its departure from overplayed etudes and vocalise's to a progressive trombone study of new and original music."
....Pete Vriesenga, bass trombonist and
  President of Denver Musicians Association, Local #20-623 AFM

"Musically excellent and technically sound."
...Buddy Baker, Professor of Trombone (Emeritus), University of Northern Colorado

"Of the books trying to do what you have done, yours has succeeded."
...Dr. David Loucky, Professor of Trombone, Middle Tennessee State University