Chops

Description

Trombone — It is with great pride that I write the foreword for this book by one of my mentors and friend. Frank Williams isone of the best brass pedagogues in the world—period! Most of what I know about playing a brass instrument,and teaching people to play a brass instrument, and writing and editing books about playing brass instruments Ilearned from Frank. Frank is a master teacher. He has instructed countless students around the world in privatelessons, in high school bands and in award-winning drum and bugle corps. Frank’s students range from peoplelike me in the publishing business to hundreds of band directors and professional musicians, all the way up to thetubist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He knows what he is doing, and he continues to do it day in and day out.I am pleased to be able to get Frank to put down on paper what it is that he does to help his students succeed andimprove their “chops.” These exercises are not glamorous, but they are the vegetables that all brass players must eatin order to improve their tone, technique and flexibility. This is a one-of-a-kind collection of exercises and insightsinto mastering the skills necessary to be a solid player on a brass instrument. They are proven: They work, and withdiligent work they will help you succeed, too.Frank is not the famous professor at the big-name university or conservatory of music, but that does not in any waydiminish his expertise in this area. He lives in the trenches, helping students of all ages become wonderful brassplayers and better musicians. I know that you will find these exercises daunting at times, perhaps even painful atothers. But trust me: Push ahead, try harder, and do what is necessary to succeed. Frank has another wonderfulquality as a teacher that rings true in this book. He accepts nothing but your best at all times and helps his studentsunderstand that through consistent hard work and dedication, even sometimes painfully, you will get better. I knowin my heart this to be true.It is my pleasure to be able to present the work of Frank Williams in this book for Carl Fischer so that manygenerations to come can continue to know of the legacy of this great brass pedagogue and fantastic musician.Thank you, Frank, for instilling in me the work ethic necessary to succeed as a musician and in life. Chops: The Ultimate Guide to Building Tone, Technique and Flexibility is a thorough method for brass instruments written by Frank Williams, one of the most respected brass pedagogues in the world. These exercises are not glamorous, but they are the vegetables that all brass players must eat in order to improve their tone, technique and flexibility. This is a one-of-a-kind collection of exercises and insights into mastering the skills necessary to be a solid player on a brass instrument. Williams’ students are living proof that these exercises work, ranging from private students, high school bands, award-winning drum and bugle corps, current composers, band directors, and professional musicians, including Mike Roylance, tubist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. With diligent work, Chops will help current students succeed too.