Hello!
I'm selecting 8 pieces to record this year (4 per semester), and the the first I've chosen is Brahm's Sonata for Cello and Piano. It's pitched relatively low throughout the piece (although it jumps up to the E5-F5 range a few times), and the big draw for this piece to me was the gorgeous sound that a good cellist can produce in the Bb2-D2 range of the instrument. It's so rich and resonant. I consider myself to be pretty good (for a high school senior), and I think I have a pretty good tone, but my tone starts to dull around D2 or so, and gets progressively worse until it opens back up at a pedal Bb. What can I do to enrich my tone below the staff? I've started doing daily long tones and lip bends in the low register, and have been playing some etudes out of a tuba studies book. It's improving, but not as quickly as I'd like.
I play on a W. Nirschl I-800. Not a great horn, but it's gotten me through nearly a decade of playing. It's got it's issues, but it plays fine, and the tone issues in the low range persist on other horns.
I also play bass trombone whenever the Wind Ensemble needs it (we don't have a dedicated bass), and the issue is present there, although to a much lesser degree.
I'm recording these pieces for college auditions, as well as various honor bands. I got into the Honor Band of America last year, and couldn't have had more fun! Can't wait to explore more honor bands.
I'm selecting 8 pieces to record this year (4 per semester), and the the first I've chosen is Brahm's Sonata for Cello and Piano. It's pitched relatively low throughout the piece (although it jumps up to the E5-F5 range a few times), and the big draw for this piece to me was the gorgeous sound that a good cellist can produce in the Bb2-D2 range of the instrument. It's so rich and resonant. I consider myself to be pretty good (for a high school senior), and I think I have a pretty good tone, but my tone starts to dull around D2 or so, and gets progressively worse until it opens back up at a pedal Bb. What can I do to enrich my tone below the staff? I've started doing daily long tones and lip bends in the low register, and have been playing some etudes out of a tuba studies book. It's improving, but not as quickly as I'd like.
I play on a W. Nirschl I-800. Not a great horn, but it's gotten me through nearly a decade of playing. It's got it's issues, but it plays fine, and the tone issues in the low range persist on other horns.
I also play bass trombone whenever the Wind Ensemble needs it (we don't have a dedicated bass), and the issue is present there, although to a much lesser degree.
I'm recording these pieces for college auditions, as well as various honor bands. I got into the Honor Band of America last year, and couldn't have had more fun! Can't wait to explore more honor bands.
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