Author: Holden, Allison

Ped^5 Project
FLUTE

1. Right Wrist / Fingers
No wrist wrinkle.  Fleshy finger tips on keys.

2. Relaxed Upper Lip
Avoid curling or pursing the upper lip.

3. Fingers Close to Keys
A focused air stream hits the back of the tone hole.

4. Corners Down
Keep corners firm.  Avoid smiling.

5. Aim Air at Back Wall
Avoid finger flying.  Crucial for speed and accuracy. 

♫	______________________________

Suggested Listening:
James Galway; William Bennett; Jean Pierre Rampal; Paula Robinson; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
OBOE

1. Thoroughly Soak Reed
Always in fresh water, not above the string. (4-5min.)

2. Left Hand Position
Use tip of 1st finger, 2nd joint nearly on side octave key.

3. Half-Hole Technique
Don’t remove finger from  key.  Slide or roll to half-hole.

4. Right Hand Thumb
Rest near thumb nail, supporting almost the entire weight.

5. Avoid “Forked F” (without Full Cons.)
Use only when going/coming from D, Db, Eb

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Nancy Ambrose-King; John Mack; Eugene Isotov; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
BASSOON

1. Thoroughly Soak Reed
Always in freshwater, not above the string (4-5 min. )

2. Strap Adjustment/Inst. Angle
Instrument hits mid-thigh, from right hip to left shoulder

3. Tune with Embouchure
All tuning is done with embouchure not bocal or reed

4. Proper Whisper Key
Whisper Key is on in the low register, off in the high register

5. Half-Hole Technique
Half-hole the “G’s” (G, Gb, G#)

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
David McGill; Bob Williams; Klaus Thunemann; Karen Geoghegan; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
CLARINET

1. Mouthpiece Set-up
Wet entire reed. Align top & bottom. Proper ligature tension.

2. Mouthpiece Placement
Place thin bottom lip at break point. Approx. 35°

3. Right Hand Thumb
Rest near nail.  Use pad if needed.  Don’t rest on Eb key.

4. Left Hand Technique
“Roll” to A. Only touch tip of register key.

5. Throat Tone Fingering
Right hand down can improve sound, pitch, and fingering.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Sabine Meyer; Richard Stoltzman; Martin Frost; Ted Oien; Daniel Bonaed; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
SAXOPHONE

1. Proper Strap Adjustment
Sit up straight.  Mouthpiece finds tall head.

2. Mouthpiece Set-up
Wet entire reed. Align top & bottom. Lig. tension. 

3. Mouthpiece Placement
Place cushioned bottom lip at break point. Approx. 90°

4. Finger Tips on Keys
No “finger flying.”  Maintain proper hand position.

5. Pitch Tendencies
Middle D is sharp.  Map tendencies. Tune to F#w/oct.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Eugene Rousseau; Don Sinta; Claude DeLangle; Otis Murphy; Joe Luloff; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
TRUMPET

1. Left Hand Technique
Holds instrument. Ring finger must operate 3rd valve slide.

2. Right Hand Technique
Right hand held away. Finger pads on valves.  Pinkie on top.

3. Use 3rd Valve Slide
Low D,C#,G, F# always require adjustment.

4. Fingering Technique
Keep contact with caps.  Push straight down. 

5. Avoid Pressure/Tension
Develop range through proper support, not with face.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Wynton Marsalis; Maurice Andre; Alison Balsom; Christopher Martin; Herbert Clarke; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
HORN

1. Proper Hold
Bell away from body, not resting on leg. Leadpipe down. slightly.

2. “Swimmer’s Hand”
Rt. hand—no gaps between curved fingers & thumb.

3. F/Bb General Guidelines
Below 2nd line G, use F side. Above 3rd space C, use Bb side.

4. Unique Embouchure
Embouchure approx. 2/3 upper lip, 1/3 lower lip.

5. Learn Intervals
Use interval knowledge to improve pitch placement. 

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Philip Farkas; Dale Clevenger; Dennis Brain; Hermann Baumann; Adam Unsworth; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
TROMBONE

1. Slide Maintenance 
Check regularly. Dent free, properly aligned & lubricated.

2. Slide Hold (Requires item #1. )
Pinch bottom corner with middle & ring fingers. Relax thumb.

3. Position Accuracy (Requires item #1. )
Especially 2nd. Use eyes & ears.  Be consistent & meticulous.

4. Legato Tongue (Requires item #1. )
Start phrase with “tah.” Remaining notes “da.”  Fast slide.

5. Alternate Positions
“D” in 4th when surrounded by “3rd. “F” in 6th as needed.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Joe Alessi; Christian Lindberg; Denis Wick; Randall Hawes;
______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
BAR./EUPH.

1. Hold Instrument Properly
Bring mouthpiece to your tall head.  Don’t rest on leg.

2. Cradle with Left Hand/Arm
Left hand supports the instrument.  Right operates valves.

3. Finger Pads on Valves
Don’t “stack” fingers, or rest them between valves.

4. Adjust 6th Partial
F,E,Eb  These are particularly sharp, and played often.

5. 4th Valve, or Adjust
Use 4th in place of 1&3, or lip down 3rd valve notes.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Steven Meade; Leonard Falcone; Bert Sullivan;
______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
TUBA

1. Inhale!
Expand lungs in all directions with free floating shoulders. 

2. Control Embouchure
Consistent pitch requires firm corners and pointed chin.

3. Support with Left Hand/Arm
Left hand supports the instrument.  Right operates valves.

4. Finger Pads on Valves
Don’t “stack” fingers, or rest them between valves.

5. 4th Valve, or Adjust
Use 4 in place of 1&3, 2&4 in place of 1,2 &3or lip down.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Carol Jantsch; Deanna Swoboda; Arnold Jacobs; Gene Pokorny; Aaron Tindall; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
SNARE

1. Proper Set-Up/Tuning
Drum should be at belt level or slightly below

2. Proper Grip
Relaxed grip.  No protruding thumb or index finger.

3. Proper Stroke
Make “A” shape.  Use wrist.  Allow natural rebound.

4. Resonant/Even Sound
Strike the head slightly off center.  Tips near each other.

5. Flam Technique
Flam stroke stays within an inch off the head.

♫	________________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project

TIMPANI

1. Proper Grip
Thumb nails “looking up.”  Grip “loosely.”

2. Proper Stroke
Use a “legato stroke.”  Allow natural rebound.

3. Single Stroke Rolls
NEVER use a multiple bounce roll.

4. Roll Hand to Mute
Roll your fingers to ensure silent muting.

5. Find the Sweet Spot
Strike the head mid-distance between center and rim.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Ped^5 Project
Hand Cymbals

1. Proper Grip
Hold straps between thumb and forefinger like holding a key in a lock.

2. Proper Hold (D=dominant hand / W=weak hand)
Weak hand holds cymbal upside-down parallel to floor.

3. Up Stroke (Relax arms)
Lift cymbal in top (dom.) hand. Drop to (bottom) weak hand. 

4. Down Stroke (Relax arms)
Lift top (dominant) off weak after contact. Pull bottom away.

5. Avoid Air Pockets
Strike with slightly “off-set” alignment to avoid vacuum pop.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Ped^5 Project
Mallet Perc.
1. Alternate Hands
Alternate whenever possible. Practice consistent sticking.

2. Proper Stroke Placement 
Lower bars-middle above resonators. Uppers-at the ends.

3. Down/Up Strokes (Relax arms and wrists)
Full stroke down. “Pull” sound from bar back to original height.

4. Proper Grip (same as matched grip for snare)
Relaxed grip.  No protruding thumb or index finger.

5. Use Only Proper Mallets
Build a complete collection.(hard,soft,plastic,rubber,yarn,etc.)

♫  ___________________________________

Suggested Listening:
Evelyn Glennie; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
VIOLIN/VIOLA

1.	Relax Shoulders
Use a shoulder rest that promotes proper chin placement.

2.	Straight Left Wrist
Avoid bending wrist either inward or outward.

3.	Bow Hand Shape
Fingers naturally curved.  Thumb bent outward

4.	Finger Tips on Fingerboard
“Box” first finger.  Avoid flat tips.  Keep nails trimmed.

5. Left Elbow Position
Left elbow never joins body to support the instrument.

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Itzhak Perlman; Joshua Bell; Janine Jansen; Hilary Hahn; Rachel Barton Pine; Isaac Stern; William Primrose; Lionel Tertis; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
CELLO
1. Contact Points
Upper bout on sternum.  Lower bout hook on right thigh.

2. Left Hand Shape
“C” shape w/ thumb opposite middle finger.

3. Right Hand Shape
Curved relaxed shape. Hand pronates toward 1st finger.

4. Thumb Bumps
Both thumbs always maintain convex curve.

5. Extend Bow Hand Outward
Move right hand outward for proper bow path. 

♫  _____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Yo-Yo Ma; Pablo Casals; Steven Isserils; Lynn Harrell; Soo Bae; Mstislav Rostropovich; Truls Mork; Janos Starker; Pierre Fournier; ______________________________

Instructional Links:

Ped^5 Project
STRING BASS

1. Playing Position
Standing or seated, let the bass come to you. Neck is near ear.

2. Left Hand Thumb
Unlike VL/VA,  tracks back of neck, opposite finger tip.

3. Slow Bow	
Unlike VL/VA, a slower bow speed produces robust  tone.

4. Right Wrist/Pin Adjustment.
Avoid a bent wrist.  Check left hand. Instrument size is crucial.

5. Vibrato
No “door knob” motion.  Energy originates from the elbow.

♫.	_____________________________________________________.

Suggested Listening:
Edgar Meyer; Gary Karr; Oscar Zimmerman; Larry Hurst; Timothy Cobb; ______________________________

Instructional Links: