Basics Plus - Wolfgang Guggenberger

[Paul Evans]

Does anybody on this forum have experience with this method? I found it on Steven Mead's website and am intrigued:
http://www.euphonium.net/articles/Basics/basics.html
Also, I couldn't seem to find a U.S. distributor for this book. Any thoughts, help, etc. would be appreciated.

[ufoneum]

Paul,

This book is great. I have been using it for about a year, and I find it very beneficial. It is a tutor for brass players of any skill level.

Here is the breakdown of the book:

- Mouthpiece exercises
- Long Tones
- Arpeggios
- Tone Development
- Range Studies
- Scale Studies

What makes this book great is that you can work any facet of your playing in any way that you want. Also, you can practice with a friend. All of the exercises are written in duet.

Also, with each exercise there is a flip out page that reminds you of fundamentals that you should be looking for when practicing these exercises, also how to practice the exercises.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to improve their tone, stamina, dynamics, anything!

The only problem with this book, well tuba players will think it's a problem, it is currently only available in treble clef. I contacted Thomas Ruendel (the publisher) about a bass clef version, and it should be out by April 1. As for a US vendor, I will have them available in my online store www.patstuckemeyer.com in bass clef version as soon as they are available from the publisher. I am sure that once this book catches on with the big boys, everybody will stock it.

Hope this helps.

- Pat Stuckemeyer

[Paul Evans]

Thanks for the info. I've been looking for a good method for my students (and myself) that fits in with my concept of brass playing. This seems to be exactly what I've been looking for.

Paul