Brass are often one of the hardest sections to build for your music program whether you teach band/orchestra or own a music school/studio.
School Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, etc)
- Ask!
This may sound overly simple, but directors often forget the power of being honest, and upfront. Simply telling students that you need a tuba or french horn player for your ensembles is sometimes enough to motivate them to take up a new instrument or switch. - Know What Switches Are Easier
The switch from trumpet to horn is common, but sometimes doesn’t work out so well. The embouchure is actually a bit different and can be hard for trumpet players to adjust to, even good ones. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try it and see what happens, but you do have other options. The small aperture required for flute sometimes transfers very nicely to horn. Speaking of flute, the lack of resistance to the air flow usually makes a switch to tuba easier than from other instruments. Going from a smaller mouthpiece to a larger one is usually easier than the opposite, which means if you need more low brass you can sometimes recruit them from the higher brass. - Program Brass Ensemble Music
The Brass section often plays a more supporting role in school ensemble music and can often be overlooked because the woodwinds or strings need more immediate attention. This can lead to brass players quickly getting bored during the music period. Programming music for the brass gives them a chance to play something more interesting and show of their ability. Pieces such as the Fanfare from La Peri by Paul Dukas and the antiphonal music of Gabrielli are two staples. The recordings linked are ones I was proud to be a part of during my undergraduate degree. - Partner with a Local Brass Teacher
Partnering with a local brass teacher can simnifically improve the engagement of your brass players. Having someone has knowledge and experience in brass repertoire will help you to program music that is the best fit for your players. The added attention and instruction they receive will make them better players which means they will have more fun, which means coming back next year. I still remember the feeling after playing a particularly fun wind ensemble concert in college and leaving feeling on top of the world because it felt like I had just played on the soundtrack for a James Bond film. Feelings like that are what make students sign up year after year.
Music Schools and Colleges
- Hire A Brass Teacher
It sounds almost comical, but many schools lose out on enrolling brass players because they don’t have a brass teacher yet. You don’t have to necessarily PAY someone until after you have students for them, but at least have someone lined up you can put on your website. Often owners or administrators plan to simply hire one once a student signs up. But students don’t work that way! The good ones will do their research about who they would be studying with. With easy access on the internet student want to read about their teacher and maybe even listen to some recordings. If you don’t have a teacher advertised on your website they will skip over you to the next school who does! That’s lost revenue! - Advertise!
Students won’t know about your brass program if you don’t tell them about it. Some of this goes along with point # 1. Once you have someone lined up, advertise them on your teachers list so students can read about them. A well written teaching philosophy can go a long way toward encouraging students to sign up. Students want to be comfortable that they will like the teacher. Also reach out to local band and orchestra programs and tell the directors you have hired a new brass teacher! They want their students taking lessons. Make it easy for them! - Host a Brass Day
Students love meeting people with similar interests! There is always a lot of excitement in the air at an event like that. And that excitement is exactly what you want perspective students to associate with your school. Have your current ( or recently hired) brass teacher present a masterclass. What better way to advertise their skills then letting your perspective customers see them in action. They are free, live testimonials for your school. A brass event will help to draw players to your school who otherwise wouldn’t have come. That’s perspective customers for you, and more contacts and opportunities for your students. There are many different activities that can go on at such an event. If you would like help planning something special for your school, please contact me. I would love to help!
