Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2013
23
stops the air between notes, the ball will drop too far.
A teacher can also hear pitch changes at the beginning
and end of the notes. This means too much of the
tongue is moving, creating different vowel shapes.
Technique
There is no secret to developing technique provided
the tone is centered and articulation is correct.
Consistent daily practice is essential. Scale patterns,
arpeggios and lip slurs are the best way to develop
muscle memory for lasting technique. Begin with
simple patterns and increase the difficulty of the
exercise as you develop your skill level. Start slowly,
gradually speeding up over a matter of weeks, months
and even years.
Monitor for correct hand position. Hands should be
in as natural a position as possible. Hold your arms at
your side and observe your hands. The hands will be
curved slightly and fingers are not touching each other.
When holding the trumpet, I think of the left hand as
holding a glass of water and the right hand as drinking
a glass of water.
Move the valves up and down as fast as possible
without creating tension. This holds true whether
playing whole notes or 32
nd
notes. Whether playing
at mm=60 or mm=180. The valve stroke should never
change speed.
Buzz patterns on the mouthpiece first. Slur then
tongue. Again, use of the Tonal Energy Tuner is a great
practice aide. Keep the buzz like a siren with lots of
tone between the top and bottom of the siren. This
helps the student keep the air steady and smooth when
slurring on the instrument.*
Tim Andersen is a Yamaha Performing Artist. He is in his 25th year of public school teaching. The last twelve of years he has taught in the
Wylie Independent School District. Ten of those years he has been an Assistant Band Director at Wylie High School. He has taught all levels
of instrumental music from 5th grade general music classes through high school.
Mr. Andersen received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While attending the University of Nebraska,
he won the International Trumpet Guild Student Solo Competition in 1981 and 1982. He also won the Music Teacher’s National Association
National Brass Competition in 1981. He received his Master’s degree from Indiana University as well as earning the coveted Performer’s
Certifcate from that institution. After graduating from Indiana University, Tim performed for three years with the Dallas Brass. He was a
featured soloist at the 2nd International Brass Congress in 1984 and was a guest artist at the 1988 International Trumpet Guild conference.
Mr. Andersen has combined a successful teaching career along with a successful performing career. He has performed with the Dallas
Wind Symphony for 25 years and has held the position of Co-Principal Trumpet since 2007. He is a member of the Festival Brass Quintet.
Tim performs, records and tours frequently with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, joining them on their European tour this spring and at the
Bravo Vail Festival in Colorado in 2011 and 2013. Tim can be heard on over 20 recordings with the Dallas Brass, Dallas Wind Symphony
and Dallas Symphony as well as the soon to be released video game, Banner Saga, with music written by Grammy Award winning composer,
Austin Wintory. He is a faculty member at the Blast of Brass summer music camp. Tim is a member of Texas Music Educators Association,
Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu and the International Trumpet Guild.
Developing Advanced Performance Techniques for Trumpet/High Brass
*Access the handout for this exercise at
www.texasbandmasters.org.
Select Resources/Publication Achives and then select
Convention Handouts in the upper left corner. Scroll down to the 2013 handout by Tim Andersen.