Bucks County Woodwind Studio

News

Congratulations to the following students for their acceptance into Bucks County's most selective ensembles. This is a true testament of your dedication to excellence and exceptional musicianship.

  • Zach Drummond 11th grade - Pennsbury High School Jazz Band, second alto
  • Clara Pinsky 7th grade - Pennsbury Middle School Jazz Band, second tenor

Schedule

  • Nov. 7 • lessons as scheduled
  • Nov. 14 • lessons as scheduled
  • Nov. 21 • lessons as scheduled
  • Nov. 28 • No lessons
  • Dec. 5 • lessons as scheduled
  • Dec. 12 • lessons as scheduled
  • Dec. 19 • lessons as scheduled
  • Dec. 26 • No lessons
  • Jan. 2 • lessons as scheduled
  • Jan. 9 • lessons as scheduled
  • Jan. 16 • lessons as scheduled
  • Jan. 23 • lessons as scheduled
  • Jan. 30 • lessons as scheduled
  • Feb. 6 • No lessons
  • Feb. 13 • lessons as scheduled
  • Feb. 20 • lessons as scheduled
  • Feb. 27 • lessons as scheduled
  • Mar. 6 • lessons as scheduled
  • Mar. 13 • lessons as scheduled
  • Mar. 20 • lessons as scheduled
  • Mar. 27 • lessons as scheduled
  • Apr. 3 • lessons as scheduled
  • Apr. 10 • lessons as scheduled
  • Apr. 17 • lessons as scheduled
  • Apr. 24 • lessons as scheduled
  • May 1 • lessons as scheduled
  • May 8 • No lessons
  • May 15 • lessons as scheduled
  • May 22 • lessons as scheduled
  • May 29 • lessons as scheduled
  • June 5 • lessons as scheduled
  • June 12 • No lessons
  • June 19 • lessons as scheduled
  • June 26 • lessons as scheduled

Practice Techniques

Follow these guidelines to increase your progress.

  • 1. Warm-up before each practice session with 5-10 minutes of longtones:
    • grades 4-6 - each note of a major scale ascending for 8-12 seconds
    • grades 7-9 - each note of a chromatic scale ascending and descending for 8-12 seconds
    • grades 10-12 - each note of your instrument ascending chromatically from the lowest note to the highest note for 8-12 seconds
    • Advanced students - tone matching exercises should follow longtones warm-up to increase tone-color consistency throughout the range of your instrument
  • 2. Use a metronome throughout your entire practice session, adjusting the tempo for each exercise or song. If you are unsure about which tempo to use, start between 60 and 80 beats per minute.
  • 3. Always review your scales - they are the building blocks of our music.
  • 4. When trying to play difficult songs or exercises, break them into phrases or parts of phrases and practice each part very slowly until it feels comfortable and natural. Then increase the tempo by 4 to 8 beats per minute (turning up the dial on your metronome).
  • 5. When you have become technically capable of playing your songs and exersices, think of expression. Always remember - music is feelings and ideas translated through sound!
  • 6. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

Scale requirements:

  • Grade 4 - C, F, G, Bb, D Major
  • Grade 5 - C, F, Bb, G, D, Eb, A Major
  • Grade 6 - C, F, Bb, Eb G, D, A, Ab, E Major
  • Grade 7 - C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D, A, E, Db Major
  • Grade 8 - all 12 Major scales
  • Grade 9 - 12 Major scales and arpeggios; 12 natural minor scales and arpeggios
  • Grade 10 - 12 Major scales and arpeggios; 12 natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales and arpeggios
  • Grade 11 - All Major and minor scales and arpeggios; scales in thirds

Jazz Students

  • Check back soon for jazz studies curriculum.