Trombone Studio Handbook Henry T. Law
[email protected] (316) 285-2851
Table of Contents Program Description Requirements Calendar Policies (Payment, Rescheduling, and Cancelation) Lessons Small Ensembles Studio Recitals Honor Bands Solo Ensemble Festival Masterclasses Equipment Maintenance Student and Parent Signature
Introduction Welcome to the Trombone Trombone Studio Studio of Henry Law. Law. This document is designed to guide both students and teachers through everything that happens in the Trombone Studio. At any time feel free to contact me at my email email or phone number listed above or take a look at my website SlideAdvantage.com
Program Description In this extracurricular activity students will be introduced to the world of Trombone and and will learn skills skills such as performance and self-discipline. As you continue through this hand book it is important to understand that for progress to be made students must must be willing to practice practice the music assigned assigned to them for at least 5 hours a week. If you do not have that time available, available, then trombone trombone lessons lessons might not be for you. Nonetheless, adding adding lessons to a student’s student’s schedule will
enhance their experience in all ensembles they are involved in and it will give them the skills they need to continue music, at whatever capacity, upon completion of high school.
Mission The Mission of my Trombone Lessons is to give students the knowledge necessary to continue on in music, at whatever capacity, upon completion of lessons. This will be done through work in scales, etudes, solo literature and performances.
The rate for lessons is $20 per 30 minutes.
Requirements and Expectations To begin taking lessons you must meet this prerequisite:
Enrolled in band class at school
The following is required for continued involvement in the studio:
Continued enrollment in band
Audition for District Ensembles
Play in Trombone Studio Recital
Play a solo in Solo and Ensemble Festival
The following is expected:
Attendance of Lesson
Payments made by the time of the lesson
Students arrive at least 5 minutes early to lessons
4-5 hours of practice for 30 minute lessons
8-10 hours of practice for hour long lessons
The goal of every lesson is to make steady progress in all areas the student is working in for eventual perfection or near perfection of the concepts and skills.
Calendar September 16 th
District Jazz Auditions
November 4th
District Band/Orchestra Audition
District Jazz Performance Performance November 18th
Get Trombonified
December 2nd
District Band/Orchestra Performance
December 12th
Studio Concert
January 6th
All State Band/Orchestra/Jazz Band/Orchestra/Jazz Audition
February 22 st-24th
KMEA Convention/ All State Rehearsals/Performances Rehearsals/Performances
April 14th
Regional Solo/Ensemble Festival
April 28th
State Solo/Ensemble Festival
May 8th
Studio Concert
May 20th
THE LAST LESSON
Policies
Payment Policy
The rate for Lessons is as follows o
$20 for 30 minute Lessons
o
$40 for 1 Hour Lessons
Payment must be made at or before the scheduled lesson time of the student and can be done multiple ways.
o
Cash
o
Check
o
Card (Via Square Reader)
o
Venmo (@henrytlawlessons) (@henrytlawlessons)
o
Cash App (@henrytlawlessons) (@henrytlawlessons)
All things are possible through communication, so if there is a problem just let me know via email at
[email protected] [email protected]
Rescheduling Policy
Rescheduling means that the student cannot make their scheduled time but would like to change the date and time of that lessons.
24 hours-notice must must be given in order for a lesson to be rescheduled. rescheduled. If 24 hours before isn’t met then the student will be charged the Lesson Fee for
their time.
Cancelation Policy
Canceling means that the student will not be at their scheduled time therefore they will not be charged the Lesson Fee for their time
24 hours-notice must must be given in order for a lesson to be canceled. If 24 hours before isn’t met then the student will be charged for their time.
If possible the student will be rescheduled
Lessons
In lessons your students will be required to purchase etude books, solo literature, and cleaning cleaning materials for their instrument. instrument. Each student’s needs are
different, so each student’s purchase list will be different and will be determined after 1 or 2 lessons with materials provided from me until the purchase has been made. It is also important to note that lessons lessons are an extracurricular extracurricular activity but still r equires equires just as much or if not more work than the student’s class.
In lessons we will go over the following:
Maintenance of the Trombone
Musical Concepts
Music Theory
Aural Skills
Trombone Technique
Solo Literature
Etude Books
Jazz
The Last Lesson
At the end of each year the Trombone Studio will gather at my house for a few hours of fun and food provided provided by myself. This is my way of thanking the student and their parents for participating in the Studio.
Small Ensembles
Trombone Ensemble Each semester there will be a Trombone Ensemble that will play on the Studio Concert. This ensemble will will consist of all members members in the Trombone Trombone Studio as well as any community members members that want to play. The music will be given out in lessons to studio members, and over email for community members. Then, with one rehearsal, the Sunday afternoon before the recital, we will play the one piece.
Trombone Quartets If possible, students from the same high school can form a quartet and take the ensemble to Solo/Ensemble Festival in the Spring and play at the Studio Recital in both semesters. semesters. The rehearsals for the the piece would need need to be worked out with their high school band director, which I can do, or be held at a time that all ensemble members can be there and that I could be there occasionally to coach them.
Studio Recitals At the end of every semester there will will be a Studio Recital. It will be held at different locations locations each time depending depending on what space is available. Each student will perform their solo piece with piano accompaniment (hired by me) and play in the Trombone Ensemble. Ensemble. If the student has been working on jazz that semester semester then they will also play a jazz chart with the rest of the students also working on jazz.
Concert Dress Although most high schools require tuxedos or all black for the trombone studio all I ask is that that you look professional professional and comfortable. comfortable. This may mean a suit for some and a button down with slacks for others but there are a few rules.
No jeans
No tee shirts
No tennis shoes
No Leggings/Yoga Pants Pants
No Short Skirts/Dresses Skirts/Dresses
If you have any q uestions about what will work and what won’t please ask. Once again, the goal is professional but comfortable.
Honor Bands The Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) holds two events for students, the District District Honor Ensembles, and and the State Honor Honor Ensembles. All of the ensembles are auditioned. auditioned. As listed in the calendar, calendar, District Ensembles Ensembles Auditions are required by all members of the studio and State Ensembles are required of those who can audition (Sophomore or older and made a District Ensemble).
There are 3 Ensembles at each level the student can audition for: Jazz, Orchestra, and Band, but they can only participate in at each each level. The Audition music will be worked on in lessons and the students high school band director will be in charge of signed signed students up who want want to audition, audition, so make sure to talk talk to them about auditioning.
Solo & Small Ensemble Festival Every spring the Kansas High School Activity Association (KSHAA) hosts both a Regional Solo Solo & Small Ensemble Ensemble Festival and a State Solo & Small Ensemble Festival. It is a requirement of the studio to participate in the Regional Solo & Small Ensemble Festival and if the student is in a Trombone quartet they are required to play play in that as well. If the student scores scores well enough in the Regional Festival then they will play their solo at the State Festival in front of different judges.
Once again, the students high school band director is in charge of signing students up to participate in the Festival, so make sure to talk to the about participating. If you have any questions about it do not hesitate to ask.
Masterclasses Occasionally, myself or the surrounding colleges will bring in guest artists to give lectures or masterclasses about the trombone, brass instruments, performing, performing, or any other musical topic. I will give this information information to the student and make sure they are able to make it to the masterclass masterclass if they want to attend. If the Artist is brought in by me it is required for all studio members to attend.
There are many different options when it comes to trombone equipment but here are my suggestions.
Instruments There are many different options when purchasing a trombone but I suggest the following manufacturers.
Yamaha (best instrument for the money)
Conn
Bach
No matter what you you are thinking about about buying, please please tell me. I can give more tips and pointers on what to stay away from and how to test it.
Mouthpieces The mouthpiece that comes with the instrument probably won’t be the best
fit for the student. Within lessons using my cabinet of mouthpieces, the student and I will find one that works for the student and ask that they purchase it.
Maintenance All instruments require some tender love and care occasionally but here are some things that you can do to make your trombone last longer and stay playing like new. All of these things things will be gone over over in lessons.
Lubrication Students will need to purchase slide oil and tuning slide grease to apply to their instrument. I suggest the Yamaha Slide Lubricant Lubricant (liquid not cream) cream) or the Slide-O-Mix for for slide grease. And Hetman’s Hetman’s Synthetic Synthetic tuning slide grease. grease. All can be purchased at the local music store. The student needs to apply Slide Oil to their inner slide every 3-4 hours of playing or once a day if the student student doesn’t play play for that long long in a day. The student
will need to apply Tuning Slide Grease once a week to all tuning slides
Cleaning the Trombone There are two parts to cleaning the trombone weekly cleaning and monthly cleaning and yearly cleaning. cleaning. For weekly cleaning the student student will need a couple of things: 9 sq. ft of cheese cloth (can be purchased at Dillions), and a cleaning rod (3 ft long and should have come with the the instrument). The student will need to swab the inside of the outer slide and wipe off the outside of the inner slide s lide at least once a week.
For month cleaning the student will need the same supplies as weekly cleaning with the addition of warm warm water and a little bit of dish soap. soap. The following in the procedure
Put about 3 inches of warm water with a touch of dish soap in a deep sink.
Plug one side of the slide and place end into the water
Move slide back and forth sucking water up into the slide
Repeat plugging other side
Drain Sink
Repeat all steps without soap in the sink
Swab out the inside of both the inner and outer slide (but be very careful)
Wipe down the outside of the inner slide
Leave out to air dry for about 30 minutes
Put back together and enjoy playing
All of this will be gone over in lessons.
For yearly cleaning the trombone needs to go into a music repair shop for a deep clean. They will take everything everything apart, apart, clean and polish the the instrument and put it back together. together. I suggest taking it to BAC in Kansas City to get this done. With these few cleaning sessions, your trombone will last much longer and it will continue to play well for a long time.
Student and Parent Signature Through the Handbook I hope I have made it clear what the expectations of the Trombone Studio are and that either the parent or the student shouldn’t hesitate to
call or email me for more more information. To ensure that I have a document that that can hold both the student and the parent accountable for the items in the handbook I request that both the student and the parent sign this sheet at the bottom.
Student Signature ____________________________ __________________________________________ __________________ ____
Parent Signature ____________________________ __________________________________________ ____________________ ______
References Allen High School https://www.tmea.org/assets/pdf/educa https://www.tm ea.org/assets/pdf/educator_toolkit/A tor_toolkit/Allen_Band_HB.pdf llen_Band_HB.pdf
Holdenville High School http://www.holdenville.k12.ok.u http://www.holde nville.k12.ok.us/HANDBOOKS/BA s/HANDBOOKS/BAND/Band_Hndbk.p ND/Band_Hndbk.pdf df
Norwell High School School https://nhsmusic.files.wordpress.com https://nhsmusic.f iles.wordpress.com/2017/09/2017-18-handbo /2017/09/2017-18-handbook.pdf ok.pdf
Metea High School http://www.meteamusic.org/upl http://www.m eteamusic.org/uploads/4/7/9/7/479 oads/4/7/9/7/47978763/mv_m 78763/mv_music_department_han usic_department_han dbook_16-17.pdf
Goddard High School http://www.ksmea.org/_site2/assets/new http://www.ksm ea.org/_site2/assets/newteachers/docs/God teachers/docs/Goddard%20HS%20Band% dard%20HS%20Band% 206A.pdf
