THE MIDWEST CLINIC

An International Band and Orchestra Conference

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

IMPROVING THE LOW BRASS SECTION WITH THE LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE

Harvey Phillips & Norlan Bewley

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
I am proud to share todays clinic session with Norlan Bewley, a multi-talented musician, composer,
orchestrator, arranger, publisher, promoter, friend, and music educator. He is equally dedicated to each facet
of his professional commitments. He is tireless in his pursuit of improved communication between music
educators and the students they are charged to educate.
When parents ask, Why should my son/daughter play an instrument and study music? My response,
Because its fun. Playing the tuba at age twelve was fun..... it still is. I soon discovered that the
better others played their instruments, the better I played mine. I sought out the better players as a sure
way to get better myself. And, the better we played as an ensemble, the more anxious we were to get
together, with or without a teacher. We were inspired, and to get the full benefit of inspiration one
must add perspiration. Talent doesnt make great musicians, only time and application can do that.
Improving The Low Brass Section with the Low Brass Ensemble - Elementary, High
School & Beyond
Norlan Bewley has given much thought and experience to the preparation of todays demonstrations. If you
follow this experience with your students and/or colleagues, the results will be impressive. As each student
experiences improvements in the ensemble, their morale, self-esteem, pride, achievement and commitment
will strengthen your program. Low Brass Ensembles, from duets to four-part mass Low Brass Choirs will
flourish. Middle school beginners, high school students and beyond will endeavor to reach their
performance potential. Discussion topics start to include tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, subdivision, rhythm, technique and style. Performing in Low Brass Ensembles will motivate players to listen
and learn from one another.
Norlan Bewley is music director and principal composer- arranger for TOP BRASS (over 1,000 concerts),
which he co-founded in 1979. For twenty years he has taught, performed on and composed for low brass.
In the last ten years he has given more than 600 individual low brass students over 23,000 private lessons.
A graduate of Indiana University School of Music, Norlan Bewley received scholarships to study with
his mentor Harvey Phillips. He continues to serve as Associate Director of Harvey Phillips ensembles
including TUBACHRISTMAS, TUBASANTAS, TUBACOMPANY, and TUBASHOP QUARTET.
He is the primary arranger of music for these ensembles. He edited Carols for a Merry TubaChristmas
adding 14 carols to the original 18 arranged by Alec Wilder. Norlan was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
for composition in 2005.
Harvey G. Phillips
Harvey Phillips and Norlan Bewley are clinicians for Holton and Martin instruments
of the Conn-Selmer Corporation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We express our appreciation and thanks to
RICHARD SAUCEDO
for lending us his Low Brass Section from
THE CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL WIND SYMPHONY

THE MIDWEST CLINIC

An International Band and Orchestra Conference
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Harvey Phillips & Norlan Bewley
THE LOW BRASS RENAISSANCE SINCE 1950
By Harvey G. Phillips
Since 1950 there has been a renaissance (rebirth) of low brass pedagogy, performance, literature,
and equipment. This rebirth of performance standards causes one to consider previous standards.
In doing so, we recognize that great brass performance did not start last week, great playing has
been with us for a very long time. Unfortunately, it is not possible to hear recorded performances
of Jean Baptiste Arban, but acknowledging the incomparable legacy of his Complete Method
compels us to consider that he was a virtuoso performer. A few brass soloists became
international celebrities: Jules Levy and Herbert L. Clarke (cornet and trumpet); Arthur Pryor
(trombone); Simone Mantia and Leonard Falcone (Euphonium); William Bell (tuba). These low
brass players are recognized by their rare recordings and related stories. Others by their
reputations only, such as Gardell Simon and Gordon Pulis (trombone); August Helleberg, Fritz
Geib, John Kuhn, and Fred Pfaff (tuba). It is interesting and sad to note the lack of solo repertoire
available to all these outstanding musicians. Most of their feature solos they wrote for
themselves. Major composers of their generations were either ignored or kept to themselves.
After 1950 a new attitude prevailed. I began seeking out composers, making appointments to
illustrate my instrument. I discovered that a composers life is consumed by sounds, all sounds.
Every composer I approached was enthusiastic. I get frustrated and angry when I contemplate
how many composers might have written for low brass if only they had been asked. (Ravel,
Bartok, Stravinsky, Copland, etc.). Finally, low brass players have come to realize that NO
INSTRUMENT CAN RISE ABOVE ITS REPERTOIRE. A dialog has been established between
composers and low brass players. The future looks good.
In 1950 I was introduced to brass chamber music by The New York Brass Ensemble, The Gotham
Brass Ensemble, Simon Karasicks Brass Ensemble. I liked it. Chamber music turned me around.
I played on every piece, with a singular responsibility as opposed to the orchestra, ie: counting
sixty-five measures, playing twelve, more or less, then sitting out an entire movement. More
times than not, The New York Brass Ensemble performed as a quintet. So, in 1954 we formally
became The New York Brass Quintet. From that brass quintet the world has become proliferated
with hundreds of quintets performing from an impressive, ever growing library.
Through the late sixties and into the seventies new organizations were formed to represent the
brass instruments: The International Horn Society (IHS); The International Trombone Association
(ITA); Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (T.U.B.A.) later changed to
International Tuba- Euphonium Association (ITEA), and last the International Trumpet Guild
(ITG). In 1976 and 1984 brass congresses were held under the auspices of the four brass
organizations. Thus one can see that a brass renaissance continues to flourish and there is no
turning back. When youre on the bottom, the only way is up.

The LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE

The Low Brass Ensemble is a new type of performance opportunity for all low brass
players. It is a cross between the Trombone Choir and the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble,
which are both popular groups. They each exclude the other half of the low brass section
however, so the goal of the Low Brass Ensemble is to allow all of the low brass
instruments to participate in one group.
The instrumentation for the Low Brass Ensemble is trombone 1, trombone 2, euphonium,
and tuba. The music is all 4-part writing, so the Low Brass Ensemble can be used for
chamber music as a quartet, or with multiple players on each part as a large ensemble,
even using the entire low brass section if desired. From an educators perspective, it can
be an easier ensemble to assemble than an all trombone or all tuba/euphonium group,
plus it involves all of the low brass section.
This instrumentation is the best sounding, but the Low Brass Ensemble is very flexible if
adjustments need to be made. It works with just about any combination of the low brass
you may have, as long as the players can handle the part. Examples: 3 trombones and
tuba, 3 euphoniums and tuba, 1 trombone, 2 euphoniums, and tuba, etc. From an
educational standpoint, participation is the key.
The Low Brass Ensemble is a wonderful sounding ensemble! It combines the brilliance
of the Trombone Choir with the richness of the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. As it is a
new group, literature is limited. Norlan Bewley has written Low Brass Ensemble music
for use in his Performance Through Participation clinics, and is developing a music
series in book form for the Low Brass Ensemble.
This handout is available for download at: www.norlanbewley.com

The Low Brass Ensemble

Trombone 1 & 2 - Tuba - Euphonium

www.norlanbewley.com

MIDWEST CLINIC 2005

Improving The Low Brass Section
With The
LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE
Harvey Phillips and Norlan Bewley

Elementary
"Learning Your Way Around The Instrument"
WARMUP: Low-Middle-High on each position/fingering.
LB ENSEMBLE: Start with DUETS. Have everyone play the A part, then the B part. Divide the parts
in a variety of combinations so everyone plays each part, learning to take the lead and to accompany.
Move to simple trios as the students progress.
ISSUES: Low-Middle-High helps students learn their way around their instrument early on. Identifying
notes as the position/fingering numbers plus low, middle, or high at first gives them an idea of where
they are on the horn. They then have a reference to correct themselves if they get off: "Oh, I'm on 1 low
and I'm supposed to be on 1 middle." Note names have no real reference until you've already learned
your way around. The musical alphabet is an easy way the teach note names in any clef.
Rhythm Positions/Fingerings help students build coordination for moving the slide and valves in
rhythm. Have students say the trombone position numbers out loud while they move the slide in rhythm.
Euphonium and tuba students say Tah out loud while pushing the valves in rhythm. They MUST say it
out loud; silently does not work well. Have them whisper if they want to do it in rehearsal while another
section is being rehearsed. Slow the tempo down to where it can be done in rhythm, then speed up the
tempo, keeping in rhythm until the desired tempo is reached.
Tone Production is a tricky issue to teach, especially for beginners. Showing how warm air (vocal
breath) is focused into fast air (wind or air stream) is very helpful. Have students whisper sing loudly on
Tah and slide the pitch up and down as they would to sing (warm air). Note: no vocal chords are used
when playing. While whispering Tah, have them form their embouchure into an Ooo shape, "grabbing"
the air with their lips and focusing it into a strong sounding air stream (fast air). It will have a similar
sound to the letter F, but it is all lips and air, no teeth. Corners will be firm and the sensation will be that
the air is being pulled out, or "sucked right out of you". A good playing exercise is to have students play
a whole note, rest for a measure and continue repeating this in tempo several times to learn how to play
the note and build strength.
MUSIC: Duets from band class books, Yamaha Band Ensembles book 1 - Alfred 5252
Trombone/Baritone + 5253 Tuba, Pop Duets For All - Belwin ELM 00078, Duets For All - Belwin
PROBK 01331 Trombone/Baritone + PROBK 01332

LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE

Harvey Phillips and Norlan Bewley

Middle School
"Building Reflexes"
WARMUP: Continue with Low-Middle-High. Also use it to learn lip slurs.
LB ENSEMBLE: Start with TRIOS. Have everyone play the A part, the B part, then
the C part. Divide the parts in a variety of combinations so everyone plays each part, all learning the
different musical roles of melody, harmony, and bass line. Demonstrate how to adjust balance as the
melody rotates through the ranges of the ensemble. Move to simple quartets as the students progress.
ISSUES: Reflexes are faster than thinking. The coordination skills required for each instrument must be
learned correctly then repeated until they become reflex. Get it right then do it right over and over again.
We are creatures of habit - whatever we do the most we will do automatically, so we must use this to our
advantage or it will work against us. The body only understands ACTION to build reflexes, so Rhythm
is the key. Students will bend the Rhythm to get around undeveloped coordination. All technical skills
must bend to the rhythm to develop coordination. Reflexes = Coordination = Timing = Rhythm, so
everything must meet at the Rhythm.
Lip Slurs are more easily learned by using the throat to move the vocal breath higher
and lower, much like singing. Students tend to force the slurs, especially up, with volume
rather than air speed from the throat. Once learned, smoother slurs come from enforcing rhythm upon
them. Sloppy slurs lack rhythmic coordination. Lips slurs are flexibility from learning to moving the
tone in rhythm.
Tone Production will improve by having students open their throat more for a fuller sound. This requires
sliding the lower teeth below the bottom lip to allow a more open throat. Always keep the chest up for
proper breathing. This is the key to correct posture.
It's much easier to play when full of air, so breath as often as needed to learn to stay full.
Rhythm Positions/Fingerings should remain in continued use to build reflexes.
Low Brass Ensemble is a useful motivator for students at this age. They are shifting from always playing
the melody in the beginner book to sheet music that is often mostly whole notes. Most feel neglected
musically, and without supplemental challenges, will be ill prepared for the demands of High School
music. Feeling overlooked and unimportant within the band leads many (often brighter students) to quit,
so scrutinize the low brass and demand high performance skills from them to build their confidence and
sense of worth. Consider programming more low brass features or have the low brass ensemble play at
concerts.
MUSIC: Yamaha Band Ensembles book 2 - Alfred 5262 Trombone/Baritone + 5263 Tuba, Pop Trios
For All - Belwin ELM 00090, Trios For All - Belwin PROBK 01397,
Pop Quartets For All - Belwin ELM 00102

LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE

Harvey Phillips and Norlan Bewley

High School
"Upgrading With Details"
WARMUP: Rhythm warmup. Learn to match pitch, articulation, release, tone.
Learn to take a breath as a rhythm.
LB ENSEMBLE: Quartets in orchestrated parts. Low brass must often change musical roles quickly,
and must determine which role they are playing at the moment to lead, accompany, bring out a fill, or
drive the bass line appropriately. They must learn to play their parts independently well in order to play
together well. Independence allows them more awareness to match or stand out as needed. Develop
greater understanding of how to play different styles of music - symphonic to jazz and their related
variants, so students know how to completely switch stylistically as the music demands. Use rhythm
positions/fingerings to learn difficult passages.
ISSUES: Matching is a simple yet critical musical skill that is typically overlooked. The tuner is a great
reference but students must then match the pitch together that they just
played individually. Many don't understand this and think they are now in tune once
checked by the tuner, as if "in tune" is a finite state of arrival. Emphasize matching rather than flat or
sharp. This is an "eye-opener" for many students. Once they learn that they should tune this way,
matching articulations, note releases, and tone can be developed.
Projection is a tone production concept that is often unfamiliar to students. They think they sound fine
because their tone surrounds them instead of going to the listener, so
they sound close to themselves and distant to the listener. With projection, they sound
distant to themselves (behind the tone) and close to the listener (back of the hall). A characteristic tone
requires projection, and the lack of it is a major reason why the
tone is not big or full. Without projection, no matter how loud they try to play, they will
never sound big because the tone does not carry so it goes nowhere.
Dynamics require contrast to be effective. Students have trouble achieving dynamic contrast because
they think only in terms of volume. Dynamics require much more.
Dynamics = volume + articulations x mood.
A loud tone with a soft articulation will not sound loud and a soft tone with a loud articulation will not
sound soft. Articulations change the perception of the tone, and
must be matched accordingly with the proper volume to achieve the desired dynamic
effect. For brass, TAH - TOH - TOO are the loud articulations, DAH - DOH - DOO
are the soft articulations. They are mixed and matched by degree with volume to produce a huge variety
of dynamics and tone colors determined by the mood of the music played.
It is not literally how loud or soft (volume) the music actually is, but rather the perception of how loud
or soft the mood of the music seems that creates dynamic contrast.
Inhale and Exhale should sound different. Students usually try to make them the same. Inhale with HO
(no resistance) and exhale with TAH (resistance - vocal breath).
Practice in a loud whisper inhaling HO and exhaling TAH: HOOO - TAAAAAAH

Breathing as a rhythm is the next step in applying the HO-TAH breath. Most students only have one
breath that is the same speed and timing, regardless of the music. Assign a rhythmic value to every
breath and learn to take a quarter breath, eighth breath, or sixteenth breath so the breathing becomes a
part of the music. Non-rhythmic breathing is
often why breaths are so apparent in phrasing. Rhythmic breaths disappear into the music, which is
important for low brass as they need lots of air. But never take a half breath (just kidding).
Sniff Breaths are very useful for low brass, particularly tubas. The mouth breath is the main way to
breathe and should be used to fill-up with air. Sniff breaths are supplemental breaths through the nose
used only to stay full of air when it is difficult to find a place to get a mouth breath. Just remember: a
sniff breath will not get you full of air, but only help
you stay full of air until you can get another mouth breath.
Tonguing faster is something students always want (and need) to learn. It is mostly a matter of learning
to say TAH and DAH clearly as fast as desired. When students try to
tongue faster, they say TUH instead of TAH. This closes the throat, which chokes the tone and shuts
down the tongue. Practice saying TAH out loud and as the speed increases, listen carefully for TUH,
especially when the tongue starts to stumble. Replace every TUH heard with TAH, keeping the rhythm
smooth and even. Learn to say TAH as
fast as you can, basically, much like learning to say a tongue twister.
Sight-reading is dreaded by students because they don't know how to prepare for it. Make sure they
understand that they need to look over the music right before they play it, even if they only have a
minute. Give them a check-list of what to look for: 1) Key signature What is it, does it change? 2) Time signature - What is it, does it change? 3) Accidentals Are there any, what are they? 4) Rhythms - Find the trickiest rhythms and sound them out. 5) Signs - Are
there any repeat signs, coda signs, DC, DS, first and second endings and where do they go back to? This
helps locate potential problem spots before beginning to play, so there are NO SURPRISES. No one
instantly becomes a great sight-reader, so establish a list of priorities: Get the rhythm first, then get as
many fingerings/positions as possible, then get as many notes as possible, in that order. It's not perfect,
but it is the logical way to develop the coordination skill (with practice) to get them all. Students tend to
stop and want to go back and play something they miss over again, so teach them to Keep going, no
matter what. The way to do this is to get the rhythm first, so they can get back on when they get off.
"The right note at the wrong time is still a wrong note" - Harvey Phillips. They must learn to recover
quickly to develop as sight-readers. As their skill grows they can begin to pick-up the articulations,
dynamics, style, and interpretation as well.
MUSIC: Pop Trios For All - Belwin ELM 00090, Pop Quartets For All - Belwin ELM 00102, Quartets
For All - PROBK 01431, Flex-ability Pops - Belwin 0628B, Low Brass
Ensemble Series - Bewley Music 1LB through 12LB

ANSWERS IN ADVANCE
Harvey Phillips - equipment:
The "Harvey Phillips" model Holton TU 330 CC tuba with a Conn 2 mouthpiece.
Norlan Bewley - equipment:
The "Harvey Phillips" model Holton TU 331 BBb tuba with a Bach 7 Megatone mouthpiece, the "Urbie Green" model Martin TR
4501 trombone with a Bach 8 BW mouthpiece, the Holton TR 160 open wrap trombone with a Bach 5GL mouthpiece, the Holton
B302R euphonium with a Bach 5G mouthpiece, and the Besson 968 S compensating euphonium with a Bach 5G mouthpiece.

TROMBONE - EUPHONIUM - TUBA

Recommended Accessories
There are many other fine mouthpieces and products for low brass. This list represents choices that are reliable, affordable, and
relatively easy to find for most students and educators.

TROMBONE
Small Bore .480 to .509
Mouthpiece: small shank
Bach 12C, Yamaha 45C2 - smaller
Bach 7C - standard
Bach 6 AL, Yamaha 48 - larger
Bach 5GS, Yamaha 51C4, Bach 5G, Schilke 51, Yamaha 51 - even larger
Large Bore .547
Mouthpiece: large shank
Bach 6 AL, Yamaha 48 - standard
Bach 5GS, Yamaha 51C4, Bach 5G, Denis Wick 5AL, Schilke 51, Yamaha 51 - larger
Bach 4G, Schilke 52, Yamaha 52 - even larger
Hand slide Lubricants: Reka Super-Slide, Slide-O-Mix, Binak 495, Trombotine, Cream (many brands)
Tuning slide Lubricants: Leblanc Slid-Eze, Schilke Tuning Slide Grease, Yamaha Tuning Slide Grease
Rotor oil for trigger: Holton, Binak 495
Mutes:
Straight - Tom Crown
Cup - Humes and Berg
Plunger - Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart (old fashioned style)
Harmon: JoRal Bubble

EUPHONIUM
Mouthpiece: small or large shank
Bach 6 AL, Yamaha 48 - smaller
Bach 5G, Schilke 51D, Yamaha 51D - standard
Bach 4G, Denis Wick 4AL, Yamaha 52, 53 - larger
Denis Wick SM 3 - even larger
Valve oil: Holton, Binak 495
Tuning slide Lubricants: Leblanc Slid-Eze, Schilke Tuning Slide Grease, Yamaha Tuning Slide Grease

TUBA
Mouthpiece:
Bach 12, Yamaha 67C4, 68B - smaller
Bach 7, Conn Helleberg, Schilke Helleburg, Denis Wick 3, Yamaha 66 - standard
Perantucci 48, 50 - larger
Valve oil: Holton, Binak 495
Tuning slide Lubricants: Leblanc Slid-Eze, Schilke Tuning Slide Grease, Yamaha Tuning Slide Grease

MOUTHPIECE INFORMATION
Comparison Chart and Major Brand Links
Ten Questions with Doug Elliott - Good embouchure information
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/10q-dougelliott.asp
Guide To Brass Mouthpieces
http://www.abimusic.com/brmpcfaq.htm
Trombone/Euphonium Mouthpiece Comparison Chart
http://www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com/seriescharts/ltchart.html
Tuba Mouthpiece Comparison Chart
http://www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com/seriescharts/tuchart.html
Yamaha Mouthpiece Comparison Chart
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/winds/product/spec/other/mp_spec/p_main2.htm
Schilke Mouthpiece Comparison Chart (click on pdf)
http://www.schilkemusic.com/
Bach Trombone/Euphonium Mouthpiece Catalog
http://www.bachbrass.com/mouthpiece/mouth14.php
Bach Tuba Mouthpiece Catalog
http://www.bachbrass.com/mouthpiece/mouth22.php
Conn and King Mouthpiece Catalog (pdf at bottom of page)
http://www.cgconn.com/content/ckb.php
Denis Wick Mouthpiece Catalog
www.normans.co.uk/pdfs/Denis%20Wick.pdf
Curry Trombone/Euphonium Mouthpiece Catalog
http://www.currympc.com/v.php?pg=454
Curry Tuba Mouthpiece Catalog
http://www.currympc.com/v.php?pg=455
Perantucci Mouthpiece Catalog
http://www.custommusiccorp.com/Accessories/brassacc.html