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Weissenborn Study #28

Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #28 for advanced bassoon students. Guest performer Austin Davis. Practicing with rhythms in 6/8 time. More practice with drones. The five components for sound production. First discussion on tuning.

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Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #28 for advanced bassoon students. Guest performer Austin Davis. Practicing with rhythms in 6/8 time. More practice with drones. The five components for sound production. First discussion on tuning. By Terry B. Ewell, Bassoon Digital Professor. BDP #136.

The original transcript is available here.

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Transcript

0:18Introduction: Practicing Rhythms in 6/8

Welcome, this is Terry Ewell. Weissenborn study #28 provides us the opportunity to develop our tools for practicing in 6/8. Pull out your "toolbox" of rhythms and get to work! I want you to come up with at least six practice rhythms for the first two measures. Some should coincide with the beat and others won't. Stop the video now.

0:53Comparing Practice Rhythms

How did you do? We are now over half way through the Weissenborn studies and I expect that your understanding of how to use rhythms to practice is now well developed. Let's compare notes. Here some of the possibilities.

1:06Rhythms That Coincide with the Beat and Meter

Rhythms that coincide with the beat and meter:

Figure 1Open full-size figure
Figure 1
Figure 2Open full-size figure
Figure 2
Figure 3Open full-size figure
Figure 3

1:34Rhythms That Change the Meter

Rhythms that coincide with the beat but change the meter:

Figure 4Open full-size figure
Figure 4
Figure 5Open full-size figure
Figure 5

1:43Rhythms That Depart from the Beat and Meter

Rhythms that depart from the beat and meter:

Figure 6Open full-size figure
Figure 6
Figure 7Open full-size figure
Figure 7
Figure 8Open full-size figure
Figure 8
Figure 9Open full-size figure
Figure 9

2:17Be Creative with Rhythmic Patterns

Naturally there are more rhythms as well. Be creative! Be sure to practice all of the difficult portions of this study with many rhythmic patterns.

2:32Subdivisions for an Even Tempo

Students struggle with keeping an even tempo and correct rhythms in line 2. The key to a steady rhythm is subdivisions. Hear in your mind eighth notes when you perform this passage.

2:56Hearing Eighth Notes

(singing) etc. So if you hear those eighth notes that will help you with this passage.

3:06Intonation Practice with a D Drone

Let's also concentrate on good intonation. Set your drone to D and practice through the first four lines up to the fine.

3:13Practice Demonstration

Let me do a little practice for you to observe:

Figure 10Open full-size figure
Figure 10

4:25How Do We Tune Notes on the Bassoon?

The intervals are difficult to tune. So my questions to you are, "How do we tune notes on the bassoon?" "Have you carefully thought about this or examined the issue of tuning?" The next three reflections will be devoted to answering this question more fully. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ # REFLECTION

4:47Reflection: Wind Performer's Guide to Increasing Endurance

In this and the next reflection I am briefly sharing material from my monograph "Wind Performer's Guide to Increasing Endurance." Some of the principals introduced there will help you to better understand how to adjust intonation on the bassoon. http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-b-ewell/wind-performers-guide-to-increasing-endurance/ebook/product-20941958.html

5:04Five Components of Sound Production

Here are the five components used for the production of sound: 1. the lungs 2. the throat area 3. the back of the tongue 4. the front of the tongue, and 5. the embouchure (lips and jaw)

5:33Independent Roles of the Components

My system for playing the bassoon treats each component independently. In other words, each component has a unique role.

5:41Faucet and Hose Analogy

An analogy that helps explain the roles is a faucet with a hose and trigger sprayer or nozzle. Please observe the numbers and how they correlate to the five components in the previous figure.

5:57How the Five Components Function

In number 1 the faucet provides the flow of water. Numbers 2 and 3 direct and modify that flow of water. In number 4 the trigger on the sprayer can quickly start or stop the water. And last of all in number 5 the nozzle can direct the stream of water into a loose or tight spray.

6:22Components That Influence Intonation

Each of these components influences intonation. However, for our purposes here we will pay attention to the intonation adjustments made by the back of the tongue and the embouchure. These are components 3 and 5. We will discuss this more in the next reflection.

Credits

  • author Terry B. Ewell
  • composer Julius Weissenborn