Who can take brass lessons? 

We offer trombone and trumpet lessons to beginner and advanced students of ages 8 and older. Private brass lessons are customized to the individual needs and preferences of the students. The curriculum differs from student to student and it considers age, developmental stage, previous experience, and goals. Unlike our other private instrumental lessons (e.g, piano, cello), there are several choices of instrument for brass. We are happy to work around the student's goals to design a curriculum for their choice of instrument.  

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What are brass instruments? 

As defined by Merriam Webster, brass instruments are: 

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"Usually characterized by a long cylindrical or conical metal tube commonly curved two or more times and ending in a flared bell, that produces tones by the vibrations of the player's lips against a usually cup-shaped mouthpiece, and that usually has valves or a slide by which the player may produce all the tones within the instrument's range".

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They are usually the shiniest ones in an orchestra! Examples of brass instruments include trombone, trumpet, french horn, tuba, and euphonium. At Miami HofCA, our faculty specializes in trumpet and trombone. However, upon demand, we will consider the addition of faculty that specializes in other brass instruments. Feel free to send us a message if you are looking for a specific instrument! Your opinion and interests matter. 

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What teaching methods do we use? 

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Our teachers are familiar with a variety of pedagogical methods that take into account each student's learning style and potential. We want the learning experience to be rewarding and fruitful. Our teaching style is child-centered, meaning that our teachers are willing to work around the student's musical goals and objectives. The students have a sense of agency in their own learning, which empowers them and allows them to build positive experiences with music and to become successful musicians.  Additionally, our teachers have an eclectic teaching style, meaning that they borrow the best aspects from a variety of methods, as opposed to blindly following a single method with all of its flaws. Our teachers use a variety of method/technique brass books including but not limited to, the Arban, Brandt, Schlossberg, Charlier, Pearson, Rochut, Pares, and Gordon brass technique books. 

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Needless to say, we take a hands-on approach to teaching music (because what better way is there to do it?!) This means the teacher models the technique and sound they want the student to attain and the student gets to try it out and make modifications during the lesson. The teacher provides verbal feedback, but we believe in the importance of playing music to learn music! 

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What will I/my child learn during a brass lesson? ​

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Brass lessons are not just about playing the brass instrument. Our lessons want to develop healthy habits that allows the student to perform at their best and feel well while doing it. Brass instrument teachers will spend some time each lesson to monitor and correct performance habits including embouchure adjustments especially with braces and retainers, tightening or rolling of the lips, and hand/finger placement on the actual brass instrument. We want our students to also be well-rounded musicians. Each lesson covers a variety of musical elements, such as note-reading, sight-reading, rhythm training, brass techniques, brass flexibilities, lip slurs, range training, scales (major, minor, blues, and more) ,endurance training, music theory, music history, and performance readiness. This includes preparation for marching band competitions, all-county, all-state, solo and ensembles, magnet and college auditions.

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But what do these all mean? Click here

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​Do I need an instrument at home? 

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Ideally, yes! There is only so much the teacher can do during a weekly lesson. The greatest growth happens when the student practices from lesson to lesson. This is the time during which they put into effect what they learned during the lesson. Without practice time, the lessons can become very repetitive and stagnant. We want the children to have positive experiences with music and to be challenged to come close to their fullest potential! 

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We are more than happy to help you find an instrument that fits your budget. One can very often find used instruments that are being sold or even given away for free! Please communicate with our professional team and we will assist you in finding an instrument. 

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