Just Brass Things

Come along, brass musicians, and share your wit and wisdom! (LGBTQIA+ supportive!) ~Margaret~

[justbrassthings]

im a freshman that plays tuba and am first chair. my school is weird & we dont march until sophomore year. there are 4 tubas in my grade, 2 girls, & 2 guys (im a girl). two of the other tubas have connections w/ the marching band and the BD through older siblings and being family friends, we live in a tiny town. the second chair (a guy w/ connections), is trying to get me to switch to trombone/baritone before next year & convincing me that im too small and weak. i love tuba but idk what to do.

Don’t listen to that guy, Anon! He might feel threatened by your skill, and he’s realizing that these connections won’t get him far without the skills he actually needs. Stand your ground and stick up for what you love. You deserve to be recognized for your talent. If you’re really committed to tuba, you should be able to play it!

Tell that guy to stuff it and play your heart out. Show him that you deserve to be there and that nothing will change your mind about doing what you love. 

Best of luck to you!!! 

[justbrassthings]

Do you think it's hard to march and play at 220 bpm?????

IT’S VERY DIFFICULT like breaking a sweat after 5 yards difficult 

[justbrassthings]

Hey everyone, I’m back and ready to party.

[justbrassthings]

Just Brass Things #96

Getting ready to enter, taking a huge breath, and the director cuts the band off right when you play.

[justbrassthings]

Just Brass Things #95

Quarter note = 160. Eighth notes. Lip-slurred. Fortissimo. 

[justbrassthings]

Sorry Again

I’m sorry I’ve been inactive for so long. I’ve not been in the best place mentally, what with college and life happening. That’s no excuse, I know. But I’m trying really hard to balance things out. 

I have gotten a couple asks concerning where I’ve gone, so I want to thank you for your concern. However, I’ve also gotten several that berate me for ‘giving up’ on this blog when ‘someone else could run it better.’ To those anons, I apologize, but also: what’s the point of saying that? It serves neither of us any good. 

So yeah, I’m sorry again. I can’t guarantee I’ll be on in the near future, but I had some time to breathe and got to thinking about Just Brass Things. Sorry to have let you all down.

[justbrassthings]

Just a Quick Apology

Hey guys,

So I just wanted to apologize for all the random reblogs and things that I keep posting. I have an aesthetic-art-memes side blog that I used to use on my laptop only, while Just Brass Things was on my phone. I’ve recently switched, so that Just Brass Things is on my computer, and I keep forgetting about that.  I’m sorry if I’m clogging up your dash with non-music stuff!! 

[justbrassthings]

Do you have any suggestions for a trumpet having trouble trilling F to G at the top of the staff (over a partial)?

I’d say just go slow when you practice! Try holding the F, then slurring to the G, then back to the F, and so on until you can transition to each note smoothly. Once you’re confident, try going faster and faster, practicing each speed until it’s smooth. Don’t try to go too fast too soon though, because you might not be able to maintain a good sound with your fingers flying everywhere. It takes time to master something, so don’t give up hope if you can’t get it at first!

I know you’ll kick that trill’s butt! I’m sorry it took me so long to respond to your ask :( I hope all goes well!!!!

[justbrassthings]

Just Brass Things #94

When everyone thinks your instrument is a trumpet.

[justbrassthings]

Just Brass Things #93

Being able to wear gloves with fingers.

[justbrassthings]

I know literally nothing about music but I'm so desperate to join band freshman year. I don't really know what to do I feel like everyone already knows how to play and I'll just be judged

Do not fear, Anon!! I've known plenty of people who are completely new to band. The top timpanist in my state started playing french horn his junior year!! It's never too late to learn music. If it's something you are really invested in and you're willing to put in the time and practice, go for it!! The band will be lucky to have someone as dedicated to music as you are. Talk to your school's band director, too, and ask what they think is best to start with. They'll probably be able to hook you up with a school instrument that you can borrow and a mentor or private lesson teacher for your instrument. They might even help you themselves! Like I said, it's never too late to start. If anything, it's awesome that you're making this choice in your freshman year. It gives you four whole years to learn and excel at your instrument!! Don't be afraid of what other people think of you when you first join. They were in your position as well, be it years ago, or mere months ago. Yes, there will be some people who sneer and laugh, but those people are insecure with their own playing and find splice in the fact that they aren't the only beginner. Most will be willing to help you find your bearings if you ask. Asking for help is a-okay. Lastly, be patient with yourself! The great musicians we know and love didn't become masters of their art overnight. Practice takes lots of time. There will be points where you don't think you're progressing at all, or that you're stuck in a rut you'll never get out of. But don't give up when that happens! Just keep pushing, and soon enough you'll be unstuck and on the track to greatness!! I wish you the best of luck Anon. I'm so glad that you're choosing to look into band, it's really a fantastic environment and the friends you'll make will be some of the best you'll ever have. It's such an inclusive environment, I know you'll love it. Good luck, and all the best!!!!!

[justbrassthings]

Trombone debate: best slide lubricant?

Yo bone players, hit us up with those lubricants

[justbrassthings]

i have to play a solo for my semester final and i HAAAATE playing solos. how can i get over these jitters??

I'm so sorry about the delayed answer to this, anon!!! I hope your solo went well!! I've given this advice to some other before, but I'll try to rephrase in a concise manner: don't think of it as an evaluation or performance until it's over. You've most likely been practicing the music for a long time, and somewhere in that time you've had an amazing run-through that left you smiling. Imagine, when the day arrives, that you're just practicing running the piece. It's the same instrument, the same you, the same music, just a different audience. Again, I'm so sorry for the late response!!!! I hope this helps for the future, and I know that your solo went amazingly!!!!

[justbrassthings]

I'm in 8th grade, started in 5th. My section started with 10 players IN OUR YEAR, and now total in our combined band there's 4 of us. Help.

It's almost saddening how often this happens. I don't know if it's because new players are intimidated by older ones, if they clash with the band director, or if they lose their passion for music, but something was derailed along the way. I'm not saying that they're wrong for quitting band, because they know what they need to do. I think it's a little disheartening to realize that music doesn't do for others what it does for you. Hopefully they find something that makes them happy, though. There's no point in pursuing music if it makes you miserable. Just focus on how happy music makes you, and keep your sights on the best you that you can be!

[justbrassthings]

Just Brass Things #92

That one brass player that doesn't know what dynamics are.

[justbrassthings]

In Light of the Holiday Season-

I would like to wish all of my religious and/or foreign followers happy holidays!

-  رمضان‎  (Ramadan) 

-  عيد الفطر (Eid al-Fitr)

-  عيد الأضحى (Eid al-Adha)

-Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe)

-Saint Lucia Dag (Saint Lucia’s/Lucy’s Day)

- חֲנֻכָּה or חנוכה (Hanukkah)

-Boxing Day

-Kwanzaa

- 大晦日 (Omisoka)

-Yule

-Saturnalia

-Saint Nicholas Day

-Christmas Day

-Three Kings Day/Epiphany

-Winter Solstice

If I’ve forgotten anything or spelled anything wrong, please correct me! Every belief and celebration, nationality, religion, and spelling of said celebrations is important and should be correctly represented!

[thecuriouspianist]

How to Practice

One of my favorite teachers had a paper on his office bulletin board that read Practicing Sucks.

Here are my favorite ways to make it not suck. 

Most technical difficulties can be fixed by breathing deeper and smoother.

Never practice unless you want to.

Find ways to want to practice every day.

Stop your practice session when you feel like it.

Find ways to not feel like stopping until work is done.

Use sleep to your advantage: nap or go to bed one hour after practicing to learn faster. Practice hard music in the evening and then again first thing in the morning.

Consistency is essential. Five minutes a day on one passage for five days in a row will yield better, longer-lasting results than twenty-five minutes on that passage once.

Improve 1-2% in every area instead of making unrealistic goals.

Pause between repetitions of difficult passages. My favorite pause is taking three breaths.

Stretch or do yoga for five minutes before practicing.

Be aware of your fingertips.

Allow your sternoclavicular joint to move freely.

Don’t push on the piano keys while holding a note.

Be OK with the process. It probably won’t be finished today.

There is no such thing as “finished.”

Failure is fine and helpful.

Technical trick for fixing the hardest passages: stop, walk around the room, take full breaths, consciously release tension, and return to the piano. Now play the passage again.

Keep water in the practice area.

Don’t go more than a couple hours without stopping to eat.

Sightread a lot - easy things and small pieces of hard things.

Listen to every sound you make.

Know that all solutions are simple.