Topic
Category: Advice
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The Little Things
I often think of a story I once heard about Cal Ripken Jr (possibly apocryphal): to help avoid hand/wrist injuries he could be found slapping his hands against the asphalt after practice to build callouses/thicken bones/become generally more badass. The point being…
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Impediments to Progress: Holes and Loops
David Waters, my professor in grad school, referred to deficiencies in technique as “holes.” Just like a depression in your yard, the hole could be filled with the right tools and some hard work. Others call them hurdles or obstacles.…
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Everything You Never Cared To Know About the Trombone Glissando
The Trombone Glissando The single most common “mistake” I see from composers in trombone parts is the unplayable glissando. Perhaps the most famous is from the fourth movement of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra: Can’t do it (for reasons I’ll explain…