Beginning Brass Players Fingering and Position Drill
Steven Holgate
[email protected]
Governor Mifflin School District
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
CAI
Internet
Level:
Elementary
Class:
Instrumental
Equipment:
Computer, Internet Connection, and Current Browser with Macromedia Flash Player.
Duration:
15 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
The students should have started to play brass instruments for about a year.
NAfME standard of 1994 Addressed:
NAfME standard of 1994: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
NAfME 2014: Performing
NAfME standard of 1994: Reading and notating music.
NAfME 2014: Creating
Materials:
Computer, Internet Connection, and Current Browser with Macromedia Flash Player.
Objectives:
The Brass Students will drill the fingering and positions of their own instruments. They will know their own notes and fingerings faster and better.
Procedures:
1.) Arrange for your brass lesson class to go on a “field trip” to your building’s computer lab. (or you could use 1 computer if that is all you have) 2.) Open your browser (i.e. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.) 3.) Go to the website, Ricci Adams’ Music Theory Page @ www.musictheory.net and book mark at each computer for your students to find. 4.) Open the Trainer box, and open the Brass Trainer Box. 5.) The direction are on th trainer. Allow the students to experiment with the trainer. 6.) Allow the students to use a fingering chart, they will quickly learn enough from drilling to get away from the chart. I have them try for 40 correct with 0 wrong. 7.) When they reach the class goals, have them print the page with thier score and sign it. You could use it for assesment. 8.) Send how a letter about what was done in class and give the directions for parents to help encourage drilling at home, (Also the Note Trainer is great too.)
Evaluation:
My students loved to try to get the best score that they can. All of them, without exception, learned more of their fingerings and note names. Also, some parents got more involved with their childrens musical education.
Follow Up:
Students can drill at home, provided that they have access to the internet. Explore the site. Students can learn a lot about music and theory.
