Trombone Study at Hartt
Success for a professional career in music must include the highest possible performance skills and the broadest possible musicianship. The Hartt Trombone Program is uniquely designed to assure this.
Trombone study at Hartt involves highly personalized attention to the individual needs and abilities of every student enrolled in the program. Students learn to be conversant in music of different musical periods (Renaissance, Baroque, classical, modern), with varying nationalistic styles and, in the diverse roles of solo, chamber and orchestral musician. The program offers eight hours of study per week combining elements that create a comprehensive and inclusive training regimen designed to mold the complete trombonist.
During each semester students attend a one-hour weekly lesson, studio class, Trombosthentics, performance seminar, orchestral repertoire class, master classes and trombone ensemble, large performing organization and chamber music rehearsals. In addition, every student is involved in three to more than a dozen performances each semester.
The Hartt Trombone program thrives on student interaction and is genially competitive. Its size gives each student maximum individual attention and performance opportunities.
Private lessons
The student-teacher relationship is at the core of the developmental process of a performer. One hour weekly lessons focus on developing the complete player by reinforcing already-strong areas in the student's playing and addressing less developed areas that need attention. All aspects of classical and contemporary styles and techniques are learned through the use of scales, exercises, etudes, concertos, sonatas and other solos. Additionally, all students are required to attend weekly studio class and guest master classes. Graduate students present two full recitals and undergraduate performance majors, a least one.
Trombone Studio Class
Studio class is a collaborative forum, a kind of laboratory, which meets one hour weekly. Students gain experience performing for each other for comments, get and give collegial support and discuss issues of common interest. It is required of all students studying privately.
Trombosthentics
From trombone + sthentics (Gr., strength), this is a techniques/warm-up/exercise class that meets one hour weekly. The class addresses areas of common physical and technical conditioning required of all trombonists as a foundation for their performing acumen. Participation is required as part of the private lesson syllabus.
Hartt Trombone Ensemble
The ensemble rehearses and performs original and adapted repertoire written for trombones in 2 to 12 parts. Students play alto, tenor and bass trombones and, as well, have an opportunity to learn to play the precursors, alto, tenor and bass sackbuts. A wide range of repertoire is performed including literature from the Renaissance, baroque, classical and contemporary periods as well as popular, jazz and rock compositions. The ensemble is an elective, open to all students, with the permission of the instructor.
Performance Seminar
The seminar meets 4 to 5 times a semester to work specifically on trombone orchestral excerpt repertoire. Students perform "mock auditions" for each other from an assigned list. Comments and discussion ensue and issues of style, tempo, phrasing, articulation etc. are discussed. The seminar is required of all performance majors and open to others as interest and time allow.
Brass Orchestral Repertoire Class
For performance majors this weekly meeting of an orchestral brass section concentrates on major orchestral repertoire specifically relevant to players of those instruments. Students prepare and play repertoire that is important for brass and that often appears on audition lists.
Chamber Music
Brass majors are required to participate in six semesters of chamber music, playing in trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, etc. A student is assigned to one ensemble per semester and combinations include mixed instruments as well as homogeneous ones. In addition to the curricular ensembles, many ad hoc ensembles that rehearse and perform are also formed.
Large Ensembles
The Hartt Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band and Capitol Winds are open to all students, by audition. Every student is required to be in one of these. Auditions (held in a professional setting, behind a screen) are held at the beginning of each semester for assignment and seating. Additionally, there are numerous performance opportunities in ensembles such as Collegium and pit orchestras for musical theatre and opera productions rehearse and perform regularly.
Master Classes
Regular master classes by visiting performers/teachers of international stature are scheduled. All trombonists are expected to attend and perform at these professional coachings. The guest provides comments, criticism and feedback. A partial list of past guests include Joseph Alessi (Principal, The New York Philharmonic, Juilliard School), Abbie Conant (former Principal, Munich Philharmonic, Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik, Trossingen, Germany), Glenn Dodson (former Principal, Philadelphia Orchestra), Bradley Edwards (Univ. of So. Carolina), Douglas Farwell (Getzen clinician), Julie Josephson (Prisma Trb. Quartet, Bang On A Can, performance art soloist), Mark Kellogg (Eastman School of Music), Will Kimball (Brigham Young Univ.) and Keith Underwood (flutist and breathing guru).