The Online Brass Institute
MEMBERS ONLY PAGE
TOBI member discount for digital lessons is approximately 30% off the normal rate. Digital lessons occur over Zoom meetings and Cleanfeed audio. It can be helpful to submit a video in advance via unlisted YouTube link, but it is not necessary. Those who purchase a lesson are allowed to make a recording of the lesson for personal use only.
GENERAL SCHEDULE
OFFICE HOURS
Fridays 2:30 - 4 pm EST
GROUP WARM-UP SESSIONS
Saturdays & Sundays at 1:00pm EST
TOPICAL MASTERCLASSES
Every other Sunday from 2 - 4:30 pm EST
Warm Up Routines
LONG TONES
TECHNICAL ROUTINES
Put on headphones and play with me - make my routine your routine. Begin at 00:45
CANTABILE
ENSEMBLE WORK WITH BACH CHORALES
Click the image to download the Bach chorales PDF.
CHORALE NO. 1
CHOOSE A PART AND PLAY ALONG WITH ME
MASTER CLASS ARCHIVE
BREATHING STRATEGIES
MAY 9, 2021
STUDIES ON THE NATURAL SLUR
MARCH 28, 2021
YOUTUBE ARCHIVE OF PRE-MASTER CLASS WARM-UP.
WARM-UP SONGS WITH SPOTIFY LINKS
MASTER CLASS ARCHIVE VIDEO WITH PDF HAND OUT FOR NATURAL SLUR ROUTINES
USE THI 4 STEP METHOD TO PERFECT NATURAL SLURS IN ANY LEGATO PASSAGE
VIBRATO FOR THE CLASSICAL TROMBONIST
MARCH 14, 2021
In this TOBI class we discussed the practical application of vibrato for the modern classical trombonist. Assuming that the modern working trombone player will need to cover a wide range of repertoire where vibrato will be appropriate we surveyed the best examples of vibrato for:
POPS SOLI - COMMERICAL SLIDE VIBRATO
CLASSICAL SOLO - EMBOUCHURE VIBRATO
JAZZ BALLAD SOLO - COMMERCIAL, WIDE SLIDE VIBRATO
ORCHESTRAL SOLO - EMBOUCHURE VIBRATO
The fundamental rules for vibrato we discussed are:
Vibrato is more about rapid color shift (warm to bright) rather than pitch variation (low to high).
Vibrato usually colors a diminuendo or decay on a note rather than a crescendo or an articulation.
VIBRATO EXAMPLES VIA YOUTUBE
DECEMBER EXIT/HIATUS MEETING
MASTER CLASS HANDOUT
Articulation Suggested Exercise
Click the image to download the vocal score
Click the image to download transcription PDF
Strauss - Ein Heldenleben - Battle Scene
November 22, 2020
Click the image to download section parts!
Interview with Nick Platoff - Associate Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
November 15, 2020
Interview with Mark Fisher - Assistant Principal Trombone of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
November 3, 2020
How to build a trombone studio for ages 11-18
Interview with Mike Oft
October 11, 2020
Schumann No. 3, Mvt. 4 Chorale
September 27, 2020
Intonation
September 20, 2020
In this video we discuss tips and tricks for intonation in chamber ensemble and in the orchestra. Two resources I cannot stress enough as ESSENTIAL to your method books are the Stephen Colley and Benjamin Coy tune up books. You can explore and purchase them using the links provided.
Interview with
Stephen Lange
September 12, 2020
How to breath when you’re nervous
&
Pops Tricks/Strategies (John Williams)
September 6, 2020
00:00 Breathing when you're nervous
04:52 Tuba Mirum slide position theory
08:36 Pops Strategies and Tricks
00:00 Star Wars, Main Title
01:57 Superman
How to Nurture Your Ambition
Interview with Christan Griego
of Edwards Instruments & Griego Mouthpieces
August 30, 2020
Christan Griego
Director of Development & Marketing
Christan Griego is Director of Development & Marketing for the Edwards Instrument Company. Christan joined Edwards in 1998 as the company’s trombone rep. He was promoted to his current job in 2002; his responsibilities then expanded to include Edwards Trumpets. Christan has made significant contributions to both the Edwards and Getzen lines of brass instruments.
Traveling to annual trade shows is one of Christan’s most important responsibilities. He has “fit” thousands of players with Edwards Trombones and Trumpets while on the road. As Edwards is a factory-direct company, Christan’s presence at conferences and festivals allows musicians to simulate a visit to the Pro Stop in Elkhorn.
Christan also works closely with the Edwards/Getzen in-house production manager to bridge the gap between production and customers. He can often be found working on order fulfillment, as well. Christan is a freelance tenor and bass trombonist in the southern Wisconsin area.
Mahler 3 Solos
August 27, 2020
Warm up for Mahler No. 3 with the following song from Wagner’s Tannhäuser ….
This video is Toby Oft performing Mahler Symphony No. 3, Solo #1
How to Win a College Teaching Job
Thorough discussion on how to prepare and win a college job
by TOBI guest, Doctor Elisabeth Shafer
August 16, 2020
Tips for Low Register
August 2, 2020
My favorite “non Arbans” simple routines. Play down an octave for 15 minutes every day to develop low your consistent low register.
How to Teach a Masterclass
July 26, 2020
Tips from BSO Associate Principal Trumpet, Tom Siders
July 19, 2020
In this TOBI exclusive interview, BSO Associate Principal Trumpet Tom Siders discusses strategies for performance practice, including techniques to improve musicianship, how to overcome stage fright, and interpersonal communication. Most importantly, Mr. Siders discusses at length what a Principal Trumpet needs from a Trombonist in the orchestra.
How to Study and Prepare a Solo
July 12, 2020
Gröndahl Concerto 1st page
Breath dictation - Alessi (red) vs Lindberg (blue)
Toby’s Grondahl Concerto markings
Audition Solo Preparation
June 28, 2020
David Concertino - 1st Page
PRACTICE TIPS
Use the “Breath Bump - No Tongue” technique to rhythmically synchronize slide, embouchure, and breath support. When you go back to articulating with tongue, the air should be smooth, but you will have eliminated scoops and smears.
Be sure the sixteenth in the first statement is late enough.
Remember that this is a piece of contrasting style. Martial fanfares v.s. romantic legato. Exaggerate the difference with playful agility.
Memorize this… it’s never going away.
ALTO TROMBONE BASICS
JUNE 21, 2020
ALTO TROMBONE: DO’S AND DO NOT’S
Do Sound Elegant
Do sound smaller/brighter
Do not sound like a toy
Do not sound overly thick or thuddy
Do sound pretty/exciting
Do not sound strained
Simplified Sound Concept
The similarities/contrast between tenor and alto trombone are like the style, articulation, and sound comparison of clarinet and oboe.
Toby’s favorite Alto Trombone recordings
Practice PDF’s: Click the picture to download the full PDF. Click the caption to listen to the aria on SPOTIFY
DIE WALKÜRE
JUNE 14, 2020
PRACTICE TIPS
Avoid common traps:
The Pickup is a triplet, not a duple
Do not allow note length and/or tessitura to dictate volume. You may need to back off on beat 2 and 3 to make the accent volume more obvious
Avoid playing this excerpt too aggressively on the trombone. Remember, the overall brightness in the tone of the melody for the low brass is given to the Bass Trumpet. Trombones should sound at a noble fortissimo, with exciting momentum throughout.
Tap and sing the pattern above to get the style and rhythm correct….
The dotted eighth, sixteenth, eighth, is often played incorrectly by many MANY trombone audition candidates. Get the feel of the rhythm by practicing, tapping on right and left hands “Hot-Cup-o-Tea” which is duple eighths against triple eighths. When you are comfortable with that, sing the trombone excerpt from “Die Walküre” while you tap the “Hot-Cup-o-Tea” pattern on your right and left hands and the rhythm should be just right.
PRACTICE PSYCHOLOGY
JUNE 7, 2020
THE CURIOUS STOIC
This week we talked about where to put your focus when you practice as a deliberate daily agenda. We strategized ways to cultivate emotional detachment and relentless curiosity regardless of performance anxiety or boring practice of daily fundamentals.
Face your fears and win! The Curious Stoic develops a practice culture of calm focus to see previously invisible avenues of success by emotionally equal examination of success and especially failure.
Begin with the end in mind. Identify what you want long term and plan backwards (rather than forwards) to clarify smaller goals that will streamline and focus your daily practice towards long term achievements. Assume what you want is already yours and if you don’t put the work in, it will be taken from you.
No one is coming. You must learn to count on yourself so show up every day. Practice will be most effective if you can break a problem down to manageable parts and assume that no one is going to save you. Ideally a mentor will help you succeed, but learning to trust your own discipline and ambition will build confidence and carry you much further than a teacher alone ever will.
We are what we repeatedly do. We are therefor aggregates of our habits. Avoid the toxic belief that singular events define you and your playing. Make as beautiful a sound as possible and take care to create relentless consistency with that sound.
Never play the victim. When we play the victim, we absolve ourselves of personal empowerment. Bad luck finds all of us from time to time, but if we look hard enough into our failure, we will see there is always another way. “Why me?” is the enemy of mental toughness.
Avoid nay sayers. Don’t take it personally, but some people just love saying “Nay!” “Nay”, or overly critical advice makes nay sayers feel intelligent when they may not be well informed. You will do yourself and your career a great service if you aggressively seek out honest feedback from experts.
Water seeks its level. Your character is defined by the 5 people with whom you spend the most time. Therefore, you must surround yourself with individuals that are either doing what you dream to become, or are nearly there already. Matching the habits of winners will make clear paths to your goals in ways you cannot imagine. You must deliberately choose your friends as well as the media you consume because you are choosing who you will eventually become.
Job #1 is to stay motivated. Although we often want talent to be what ordains success, consistently disciplined work and ambition is what ultimately wins. Most all of us already know what garners success in music, but few of us have the desire to put in the work. Therefore, protect and nurture the motivation to succeed as if it was your child who would otherwise perish alone and afraid without your care.
Peak Performance, by Sulberg & Magness
Learn how to consistently reach a lifetime of potential while avoiding burnout.
Peak Performance, by Charles Garfield
Learn how to brainstorm your goals and achieve them.
The Inner Game of Tennis, by Timothy Gallwey
Learn where to put your focus while you practice so that you can perform at your best.
BOLERO
MAY 12, 2020
Toby’s part. Track the solos before you come in = no worries for where you are 😊. Remember to taper the release of the long notes tied to sixteenths so you don’t sound late after the tie.
TOBY’S FAVORITE BOLERO RECORDING
WARMING UP
MAY 12, 2020
Style & Articulation
Songs
Match tessitura to your “service” or whatever you’re warming up to do. Remember, the following should be a springboard to your own search for good arias on Spotify and IMSLP
Toby’s Warm Up Tools
TUBA MIRUM
MAY 5, 2020
This is a video that demonstrates the most common mistakes in Mozart's, "Tuba Mirum". Good: 00:50 Bad: 01:49 Ugly: 03:07
Toby’s annotated part.
Tuba Mirum: English Translation
MOZART’S “TUBA MIRUM” HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT
LISTENING EXAMPLES
