How would you prepare for this? Contra and (very) high tenor in one concert...
Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 4:14 pm
Every two years I organize a trombone ensemble project with some friends. It's a mix of amateurs and >=1 semi-pros (including myself). For me this is always a highlight and a really fun project that's challenging on the one hand, but also allows some experimentation and fun. Also as I contribute to the programming and allocating the parts to the players, I can kind of pick what to play myself.
This year in October (first rehearsal in June) we are again having a great program. And I have - for whatever reason - decided to:
1) Play contra in a nice arrangement from Rhinegold which includes some original parts. Not super challenging by itself, but also not easy to play it well. I might also play contra on one or two other things.
2) Play lead (small) tenor on this wonderful arrangement of Here's that rainy day It goes up to high Bb. The one an octave higher than what you might first think. It's not much more than an effect, but still I want it to be there
3) Play probably some other challenging high tenor parts (including one of the wonderful Bohannon/Kaplan arrangements)
4) Play some more bass or tenor
In the time until October I also have some other projects planned and always have to balance my practicing with my day job, family etc.
How would you prepare for this? Any hints how you would organize your practice, what you would do specifically?
My current plan can be summarized as:
- Try to play all relevant instruments on as many days per week as possible
- Be really focused with my limited practice time
- This includes lots of basics such as long tones, scales and expanding intervals
- Obviously spend much time in the upper register and cover the required register (plus some more if possible) every days
- Take a few lessons to address some specific topics
- Practice the full program in the given order a few times before the actual concert (and rehearsals with the full group)
This year in October (first rehearsal in June) we are again having a great program. And I have - for whatever reason - decided to:
1) Play contra in a nice arrangement from Rhinegold which includes some original parts. Not super challenging by itself, but also not easy to play it well. I might also play contra on one or two other things.
2) Play lead (small) tenor on this wonderful arrangement of Here's that rainy day It goes up to high Bb. The one an octave higher than what you might first think. It's not much more than an effect, but still I want it to be there
3) Play probably some other challenging high tenor parts (including one of the wonderful Bohannon/Kaplan arrangements)
4) Play some more bass or tenor
In the time until October I also have some other projects planned and always have to balance my practicing with my day job, family etc.
How would you prepare for this? Any hints how you would organize your practice, what you would do specifically?
My current plan can be summarized as:
- Try to play all relevant instruments on as many days per week as possible
- Be really focused with my limited practice time
- This includes lots of basics such as long tones, scales and expanding intervals
- Obviously spend much time in the upper register and cover the required register (plus some more if possible) every days
- Take a few lessons to address some specific topics
- Practice the full program in the given order a few times before the actual concert (and rehearsals with the full group)
Actually a good idea! It would be interesting how he prepares for this kind of things.