Balancing SA and Other Responsibilities

Pallady · New Member Joined: 15 May 2020 Posts: 9

I recently started looking into the Systematic Approach and began a daily routine to improve on the trumpet, which I think has been working so far. However, I just finished my college marching band application and will soon be receiving music to start working on.

My question is to how I should properly take on this new responsibility while still being able to properly do the Systematic Approach, as this is the first time I actually put a decent commitment into practicing.

Thank you in advance!

JayKosta · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 4:20 pm Post subject:

There's no need to make a decision NOW. But start thinking about the process of how you'll make the decisions and trade-offs.
e.g.
1) Examine the marching music regarding what you need to do to play it, and also how long to memorize (if that's necessary).
2) There are probably some 'key elements' of SA that are most beneficial to you, identify them and perhaps develop your own condensed routine.
3) Learn your limits about the amount of daily practice, and when it's most effective.

Jay
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

mafields627 · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 5:53 pm Post subject:

Are you going to be a music major or are you just doing band for fun?
_________________
--Matt--

No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher!

gwood66 · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 6:16 pm Post subject:

If you are going it alone (no instructor) and performing the material as laid out in the book, then you may do more harm than good unless you are careful. Look though the forum threads and you can find several posts on how to implement SA. Depending where you live, I would take a lesson or two from a previous Claude Gordon student to ensure that you are playing the exercises correctly and not trying to work through too much material at one time. Some of the more prominent names post here frequently:

John Mohan - Chicago Area (can only be reached through this website)
Eric Bolvin - San Fransico Bay Area (contact through personal website)
Bruce Haag - Cincinnati Area (contact through personal website)
Jeff Purtle - Greenville SC (contact through personal website/this website)
Matt Graves - New York Area

A lesson will probably cost you $75 for an hour but it will be worth it to learn how to play the exercises correctly. I studied with John for awhile and SA can really help your playing.

kehaulani · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 6:27 pm Post subject:

Question asked seriously.

These are standard materials that SA uses and Gordon's own exercises are based on, what I would also call standard, although not as widely used but certainly used on the Wet Coast (i.e Maggio etc.).

How does doing it without a teacher do any harm beyond any bad habits one may pick up without a good teacher, in the first place?
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Pallady · New Member Joined: 15 May 2020 Posts: 9

Thank you for the responses, I will keep them in mind as I go about my practice, and I may take a lesson with a proper teacher.

mafields627 · Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 5:31 am Post subject:

MrOlds · Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 8:26 am Post subject:

Another way to condense SA (or any method) is to not do every key and/or every repetition every day.

Monday & Thursday play the keys of C, Eb, F#, A
Tuesday & Friday play the keys of B, D, F Ab
Wednesday & Saturday Play keys of C#, E, G, Bb

I’d do this scheme for all parts of SA. Arpeggios down in just those keys. Arpeggios up in just those keys, Clarke in just those keys, etc.

You could also think about whether the recommended repetitions are necessary for you. Are 6 repeats materially less beneficial than 8? How many are enough for you to get the benefits of the exercise efficiently?

Food for thought.

Pallady · New Member Joined: 15 May 2020 Posts: 9

I decided to stick to the third part this year, nothing above a G on top of the staff. I suppose the adjustments that will be made during the marching season will be decided based on what practices are actually like.

solo soprano · Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:56 am Post subject:

You do not have to practice your routines in the order they are listed. Rather, you can rearrange them to fit your needs. For instance, if double tonguing is the weakest item in your playing, and you happen to have all the range you need, practice the double tonguing exercises first, and the upper register studies last.

As an example,

Claude Gordon / Systematic Approach
*if needed stay on each lesson for 2 weeks*

1. Play Part 1, then rest 15 minutes

2. Play Part II, and the Lip Relaxer, then rest one hour.

3. Play Part III, then rest 15 minutes.

4. Play Part IV, then rest one hour.

5. Play Part V, then rest 15 minutes.

6. Play Part VI, and you are finished.

If time does not allow you to practice in this manner, practice Parts I, II, and III one day, and Parts IV, V, and VI the next, and take two (four) weeks to complete each lesson.
While practicing a particular routine, rest as much as you play. Between routines, rest long enough for the muscles to rebuild themselves, and then some.
_________________
_________________
Bill Knevitt, who taught me the seven basic physical elements and the ten principles of physical trumpet playing and how to develop them.
https://qpress.ca/product-category/trumpet/?filter_publisher=la-torre-music

gwood66 · Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 1:40 pm Post subject:

kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 2:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks, but isn't that universal?
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Trumpetingbynurture · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Nov 2015 Posts: 898

Having a teacher will mean that you do different exercises in a slightly different order. The up and down routines are done in order, but the other stuff tends to get adapted for the level of student in question.

The only word of caution is to not approach the book with a meat-head attitude and force yourself to the end of the routine. If you're feeling beaten up at the end or are really feeling it the next day, then you will want to cut back significantly. It's a lot of work.

You'd be better off most likely taking an alternating-days approach I reckon. For the up study, just do that every other day. For the other studies like clarke etc. do 1,3,5,7,9 etc on one day, and 2,4,6,8, etc on the other days. That way you're covering the material but not abusing your lip. You can do the same thing with the range study as well if you like.

You'll know it's okay to add a little more, because you'll get to the end of the routine and feel like you still have an hour or two of juice left to work on repertoire. You shouldn't get to the end of the routine and be totally worn out.