Taming Your Young Low Brass Section

Taming Your Young Low Brass Section
by Bridgett Randolph

So you have recruited your rear end off and have a huge crop of beginning low brass students...now your job is to keep them! Low brass kids have a history of dropping out after the first year or two. You will hear a variety of excuses, but the real truth is they just don't want to do it anymore. If they did, they wouldn't drop out. So what is causing this? The simple answer is boredom. In the beginning, the low brass players are playing the same things as the flutes, clarinets, trumpets. Everybody is happy. Everybody is playing the melody. Then, you start to play more concert band music and the low brass section is no longer the same as everyone else. This is where you as the director have to step up and make sure that they feel appreciated.

Low brass players need to know that what they do makes everyone else sound better and even if they are just playing whole notes, they have to do it in a way that makes the trumpets sound better. You also have to give them some meat every once in a while. Low brass players know that they aren't going to have the melody all the time, but they should always have it at least once in a concert. Also, make sure that other pieces you play have "cool" background parts. These are the kiddos that get a kick out of hearing how their part fits in with everyone else.

Here is a list of pieces ranging from Grade .5 to Grade 2 that low brass sections have liked in the past. They are not all low brass features, in fact most of them are not, but they still have a good part. When planning for a concert, try and pick songs that each section in the band will say is their favorite. If you can get them evenly divided, bonus points! Happy (Almost) Concert Season!

• 12 the Clock Strikes by Rob Grice
• Above the World by Rob Grice
• As Winds Dance by Samuel Hazo
• African Alleluia! by John O'Reilly
• Alien Invasion by David Gorham (go Team PMC!)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 2 arr. Michael Sweeney
• Daydreams by Robert Sheldon
• Defender of Time by Rob Grice
• Dr. ROCKenstein by Steve Hodges
• The Eagle's Triumph by David Shaffer
• Egyptique by William Owens
• Equinox by Ed Huckeby
• Free Spirit Overture by Jerry Williams
• Flight of Eagles by Elliot Del Borgo
• Gypsydance by David Holsinger
• A Joyful Journey by Robert Sheldon
• Just a Closer Walk with Thee arr. Johnnie Vinson
• Kachina: Chant and Spirit Dance by Anne McGinty
• Legend of the Eagles by David Shaffer
• From the New World (Suite) arr. Michael Story
• Night on Bald Mountain arr. Michael Sweeney
• Primordium by Mark Williams
• Procession of Heroes by Robert W. Smith and Michael Story
• Rites of Tamburo by Robert W. Smith
• Shackelford Banks by Jay Bocook
• Shine by Rob Grice
• Spirit of the Wolf by Michael Oare
• Superheroes R Us arr. Michael Story
• Swahili Folk Hymn arr. Kevin Mixon
• Turbo Rock by Michael Sweeney
• Tyrannosaurus Rocks! by Mike Hannickel
• Union March by Mekel Rogers

If you are looking for a finale that will allow all of your middle school groups to play together check out "Highlights from 1812 Overture" arr. Robert Longfield. On this arrangement, your older students can play the "meat" of the piece and you can purchase grade 1 and 2 supplements for your younger players! 

Bridgett Randolph Palen Music Center -- Columbia bridgett@palenmusic.com Bridgett Randolph received her B.M.E. from Central Methodist University and her M.Ed. from William Woods University. She has taught instrumental music for the last 18 years with the latter 10 years in the Columbia Public Schools. Bridgett also taught high school and middle school at Orrick R-IX, Mid-Buchanan R-V, and Southern Boone R-I school districts. Bridgett is a member of MMEA, NAfME, MNEA, MBA, and Phi Beta Mu. Bridgett has performed with the Columbia Community Band, Columbia Civic Orchestra, Memories Dance Band, Capitol Kicks Dance Band, Ray Auburn Big Band, and Kerry Strayer Big Band. She is active as a clinician and adjudicator and enjoys playing in big bands and community ensembles so give her a call if you need a trombone player! Bridgett currently resides just outside of Columbia, MO with her husband Mark, and their two wonderful children Olivia and Logan.