What a great master class with Milwaukee Symphony principal trombonist Megumi Kanda! A big thanks to LSU trombone professor Hana Beloglavec for inviting the UL trombones. We had a great time working with Megumi and hearing some great trombone playing! I wanted to share some notes from the class. As I have before, I find Megumi’s story very inspirational and teaching to be full of information.
Megumi Kanda Master class
LSU
November 15, 2019
TONE PRODUCTION
Application of a flutter tongue and a free buzz can help to achieve the air support you need for success.
- Pushing the lips forward instead of out helps to get a better buzz.
- Slightly pushing the corners down rather than out
- especially in a free buzz situation
- Should never free buzz for more than five minutes in a day.
- The idea of using the muscles around the lips instead of the lips to make a buzz
HIGH RANGE TIPS
- motion of moving downward instead of applying pressure to the upper lip.
- This works as a training wheel for the shift in octaves.
- The image of a trampoline spring boarding to the upper notes
- Crescendo into lower register notes
- maintaining air support for those registers.
- Octave lip slur exercise in Daily Routine
- Spring board from lower note to higher note
- Sub divide the lower note, providing direction and energy to the upper note
BREATHING TUBES…
- Exercise: hands on abdomen and lower back to check the breathing. Breathing tube should help the shape: same shape with the tube out of your mouth as in. Try this at 90 degree upper body angle, 45, and upright.
LONG TONES
- Use long tones daily
- Remington preferred the return to “tonic” (in handout)
- Sometimes the physical motion gets in the way, work to eliminate
RECOMMENDED STUDIES
- Remington (but not the whole book, every day)
- Marsteller (flexibility)
THOUGHTS ON PERFORMANCE ANXIETY AND OVERDOING PRACTICE
- Be aware that everyone gets nervous
- Find ways to control/ convert that energy
- Fear or failing should not drive performance. Excitement of performing is the drive.
THOUGHTS ON THE TROMBONE WORLD
- Always be nice, you never know who will be in the audience
- Examples of horn teacher for 15 years back, LSU trombone prof, etc.