Pirates Band Wiki

Other Playing Resources

Beginner Resources

(Aimed at 5th Grade Band)

Instrument Basics Videos

Flute

Clarinet

Brass

Overtone/Shelf Warmup for Lip Building

This exercise is generally not recommended for younger students, because it can do more harm than good if done incorrectly. Talk to me about it (email me or in a lesson) if you're not sure.

When doing this exercise, make sure that you are moving through it with your best sound, supporting the air well. Try for the smoothest slurs with the fewest breaks possible. Do not keep rolling through if you’re missing notes; instead, slow down to get the note you missed before going on. You do not have to play this with a consistent pulse for it to be most effective. Try playing through the entire line top to bottom.

Trumpet

Overtone Warmup - Trumpet.pdf

Horn

Overtone Warmup - Horn.pdf

Trombone

Overtone Warmup - Trombone.pdf

Overtone Warmup - Trombone with Trigger.pdf

Euphonium

Overtone Warmup - Euphonium.pdf

Tuba

Overtone Warmup - 3-valve Tuba.pdf

Overtone Warmup - 4-valve Tuba.pdf

Selected Clarke Studies

The Clarke Studies are a commonly-used, and well-renowned set of technical exercises originally written for cornet. I've selected many that are of particular use and transposed them for all brass instruments

They are in the order that they are presented in the Clarke Studies themselves, rather than in the order I would recommend as most useful.

#32 is the most useful to start with, followed by #37 and #39. From there, I would encourage working on more of the exercises based on the “second study” before moving onto those based on the “first study.”

Horn - Selected Clarke Studies.pdf

Trombone-Euphonium - Selected Clarke Studies.pdf

Trumpet - Selected Clarke Studies.pdf

Tuba - Selected Clarke Studies.pdf

Arban Scales

Based on the Major Scales chapter of the famed Arban method, Eric Bolvin has helpfully set these exercises for trumpet, trombone/euphonium, and tuba

The Complete Arban Scales for Trumpet.pdf

The Complete Arban Scales for Trombone & Euphonium.pdf

The Complete Arban Scales for Tuba.pdf

Archive of Old Assessments

Fall 2021

All - F21 Rhythm Assessments.pdf

Spring 2021

All - Spring '21 Rhythm Assessments.pdf

Fall 2020

All F20 Rhythm Assessments - Semester 1 Rhythm Assessments.pdf