Tone quality and intonation
- Tune the instrument with guidance
- Recognise and play with reasonable intonation:
- developing some ability to adjust and effect change
- Make a controlled sound with more consistency at two or more dynamic levels
Encourage learners to explore the use of the tuning slide. While the teacher or another learner plays a sustained note, ask learners in turn to play the same note, starting with the tuning slide out and gradually pushing it in until the sounds match.
Ensure that learners understand the essential aspects of care and maintenance of the instrument, e.g. cleaning valves and tuning slides.
Ask learners to listen and try to match their intonation to that of the teacher.
Help learners to establish whether the instrument is sharp or flat. Learners should determine in
which direction the tuning slide should be moved.
Encourage learners to buzz tunes over a backing track, matching intonation.
Introduce a larger dynamic range into known repertoire, listening for consistent quality of tone, e.g. play alternate phrases f and p.
Ask learners to listen to and evaluate the tone quality produced by the teacher, other learners and themselves, analysing how improvements can be made.
Help learners to make audio recordings of their playing as a tool for evaluating their sound, using an audio recording app.
Trombonists need to be taught to listen to intonation carefully, using the slide to effect subtle changes.
Relate the concepts of sharp and flat to learners’ embouchure and breathing.
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