Writing and Teaching Materials

It is common among many literatures for band instruments, especially brass, to be Bb and Eb major centric. Similarly, orchestral instruments, such as strings, love the sharp keys of A and D major. With the intent of developing greater aural awarenesses, this book contains melodies in Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian modes. Examples are set in both treble and bass clefs, and allow opportunity for direct comparisons between tonalities. Additionally, performers are encouraged to play the bass lines and harmony voices by following the included harmonic progressions.

Within any traditional mode of learning, what a student receives in school (band) and what they receive in private lessons is likely a great jump in difficulty. This is due to most standard repertoire being quite challenging already. There is not as much repertoire that explores the in-between that helps students to understand how the instrument works and how to make it work for them. This book allows horn players to hopefully "bridge the gap" between standard literatures with carefully crafted exercises of harmonic series', valve combinations, articulation, slurs and starts, and melodic fluency.

Many brass musicians go through a process of trialing horns at some point in their career. I myself have owned and sold around a dozen instruments, and have come to find that the process is very intimate. This brief guide explores philosophies that seek to illuminate your own desires, making the whole process of choosing an instrument more objective and clear.