MS Band Director

For music educators - By music educators

Legato Playing with younger bands

I'm curious to know what successful techniques others are using to get their bands to play legato. A couple of major concerns I'm having is with clarinets playing with fast air, filling the horns up, as well as low brass playing connected. We're playing chorales every day, however what I've been saying hasn't broken through to them yet. I'm modeling on my instrument, playing recordings etc. Just curious to see what others are saying/doing to get their groups to play legato. Anyone in the Atlanta area?

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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on September 13, 2011 at 7:27am

Gregory,

Hold Bb concert with metronome click at 65. 4 counts of holding, then 2 half notes with "Da" tongue (repeat 10 times).

Idea: not to hear "tah" and not to have the balance/blend/timbre messed with... no one sticks out. After this, move to quarter notes, then eighth notes.

Move this around the world...flutes, clars, saxes...etc. Fast 3-5 warm-up that gets them ready for that chorale!

Also, the most important thing here is to have them sing it first and then have them play it with the idea that they sound like when they sing. Takes a while, but the results last a lifetime.

talk soon,